The Walnut Creek Coal Mine is a prominent surface coal mine featuring state-of-the-art equipment, including an 80-cubic-yard dragline, a 29-cubic-yard mass excavator, a 24-cubic-yard hydraulic backhoe, and a fleet of 150-ton end-dump trucks. The Walnut Creek Mine is a captive lignite operation with an impressive capacity, producing over 2 million tons of lignite annually. Additionally, the mine operates a blending program to ensure consistent quality lignite for fueling a 308-megawatt power plant.

Opportunity Summary

The Mine Safety and Environmental Coordinator is responsible for fostering and strengthening the NAES safety culture at the Walnut Creek Mine by developing, implementing, and maintaining safety and environmental compliance programs. This role requires a strong understanding of Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations, risk management principles, and safety leadership. Primary responsibilities include implementing safety initiatives, ensuring regulatory compliance, delivering safety training to employees and contractors, supporting environmental compliance activities, and administering the site's safety programs. The coordinator serves as a key resource to site leadership, promoting continuous improvement and a proactive safety culture.

Your scope of responsibility as Mine Safety and Environmental Coordinator will include the following primary functions:

• Partner with site leadership to develop, enhance, and administer new miner and annual refresher training programs while providing site-specific safety training resources.
• Administer the MSHA Part 48 training program, ensuring compliance while using data and performance trends to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Develop and deliver engaging safety training for employees, contractors, and visitors while continuously improving training methods and materials.
• Identify and implement alternative training resources and instructional approaches as needed.
• Effectively respond to complex safety situations with professionalism, sound judgment, and empathy.
• Champion the site's Guardians of Safety Program and promote employee engagement in proactive safety initiatives.
• Conduct incident, injury, and near-miss investigations, identifying root causes and recommending corrective actions.
• Participate in workplace inspections and audits, analyzing findings to identify trends and drive continuous improvement at the site and regional levels.
• Facilitate and mentor Root Cause Analysis (RCA) teams, present findings to leadership, and support implementation of corrective actions and best management practices.
• Promote accountability by recognizing positive safety behaviors and addressing behaviors that increase organizational risk.
• Serve as the primary site liaison during MSHA inspections by interpreting regulations, responding to citations, and leveraging knowledge of site operations, historical data, and hazard trends.
• Maintain required safety records and documentation while ensuring contractor compliance with regulatory, insurance, and company requirements.
• Coach and mentor supervisors and mine personnel on safety leadership, regulatory compliance, documentation, and adherence to company policies and procedures.
• Support the Environmental Manager by assisting with water and soil sampling, monitoring permit boundaries, and completing other environmental compliance activities as assigned.
• Build positive working relationships across all levels of the organization while promoting strict adherence to safety and environmental requirements.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned to support safe, compliant, and efficient mine operations.

NAES Safe

Safety is a core value at NAES, and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to remain mentally alert and work safely at all times. Employees must also adhere to all safety warnings and posted signs while on company property. Additionally, they are required to follow all NAES safety rules and procedures. Adherence to these safety responsibilities is one of the key factors in the evaluation of each employee's performance.

Working Relationships

The Mine Safety and Environmental Coordinator position reports to Mine Safey Manager, and coordinates with all other personnel on matters relating to the safe operation of the Walnut Creek Coal Mine.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Physical requirements include standing and walking for extended periods of time on uneven, rough, or inclined surfaces; climbing stairs, ladders, and equipment; and working from elevated platforms or confined locations at varying heights. Frequent lifting, carrying, and maneuvering of materials or tools weighing up to 50 pounds is expected.

Coal mining environment working in a surface mine setting, which can include confined spaces, low-clearance areas, or restricted pathways. Tasks may require crawling, kneeling, or stooping in tight quarters. Exposure to coal dust, fumes, vibration, high noise levels, moisture, extreme temperatures, and low-light conditions is common. Work may also occur in remote or outdoor environments subject to changing weather.

Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required and may include hard hats, safety glasses or goggles, steel-toed boots, respiratory protection (air-purifying or supplied-air respirators), hearing protection, gloves (including hot and cut-resistant), flame-resistant clothing (FRC), and fall protection harnesses. Respirator fit testing may be required. Strict no-smoking policies apply in and around the mine site and designated work zones.

Fitness for Duty

All employees will participate in the Fitness for Duty Program. This program includes a post-offer physical examination and drug screening and post-employment random drug screening.

Work Schedule

The Mine Safety and Environmental Coordinator works a standard Monday to Friday day-shift schedule, ensuring consistent plant operation and support during regular business hours. However, the position may necessitate extended working hours and flexible shifts as needed, including weekends and holidays, in response to schedules, workload demands, and mine conditions. Periodic callouts may also be necessary as part of the role. Some travel may be involved to participate in Owner, User Group, or other offsite meetings.

Compensation

This position offers an annual base salary ranging from $85,000 to $111,000 and includes eligibility for an annual performance bonus.

Professional Expertise & Qualifications

We are seeking an experienced professional with a strong passion for regulatory safety standards, reporting, and ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal safety regulations.

• A High School Diploma or GED is required, with a Bachelor's degree in Safety Management, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, or a related field preferred. Relevant industry or military experience may be considered in lieu of education on a year-for-year basis.
• Preferred certifications include the MSHA Blue Card - MSHA Approved (IS) Instructor, MSHA Surface Certification, MSHA Dust Certification - Gravimetric Sampling, and CPR, AED, and First Aid certifications.
• Demonstrated leadership in mine safety, applying extensive knowledge of MSHA regulations, industry best practices, and risk management principles to strengthen safety performance across industrial mining operations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of MSHA Part 48 and OSHA regulations, with experience implementing proactive safety programs, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving continuous improvement in workplace safety.
• Proven ability to develop and deliver effective safety training programs for employees, contractors, and other site personnel.
• Proficient in conducting incident investigations, hazard analyses, risk assessments, and Root Cause Analyses (RCA) to identify contributing factors and implement effective corrective actions.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and data analysis tools used to evaluate safety performance and compliance trends.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships with employees, contractors, leadership, and regulatory agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to influence others, promote accountability, and foster a culture of safety, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver's license and ensure it remains in good standing at all times.