Salary : $66,496.75 - $111,405.25 Annually
Location : 2205 McKann Avenue, Norfolk, VA
Job Type: Permanent Full-time
Job Number: 14494
Department: Public Works
Division: Director's Office
Opening Date: 11/04/2026
Closing Date: 11/15/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Description City of Norfolk's Department of Public Works is seeking an experienced professional to serve as Program Manager of Safety. This position is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive safety programs across all departmental operations, ensuring regulatory compliance, managing safety budgets, and continuously improving safety management systems. The Program Manager of Safety will respond to safety concerns from internal and external stakeholders, participate in regional safety initiatives, and manage the Department's emergency response activities including coordination during emergency events and directing recovery operations. This position serves as a key member of the department's leadership team, providing strategic direction for all safety initiatives throughout Public Works operations.
The Program Manager position in the Director's Office division of the City of Norfolk, is a leadership position that will focus on strategic safety program management, policy development, resource allocation, regulatory compliance, and emergency coordination at an executive level.
The position requires advanced judgment, decision-making authority, and management expertise while developing and implementing safety programs. The role involves substantial collaboration with both internal departments and external organizations including state and federal agencies.
The Department of Public Works builds, maintains and operates the physical facilities that support and enhance the lives of Norfolk's citizens, businesses and visitors, including the City's Street Network, Storm Water System, Waste Management and Recycling Systems.
Departmental Hiring Salary Range: $66,496.75 - $76,306.55Essential FunctionsEssential functions include but are not limited to:
- Direct and oversee safety and health programs while ensuring strategic compliance with federal, state, and city occupational health and safety regulations
- Develop and execute comprehensive program plans including design, implementation, operation, and evaluation of departmental safety initiatives
- Establish systems for maintaining departmental safety records, direct accident investigations, oversee safety audits, and provide executive leadership to safety committees
- Serve as the departmental emergency coordinator by developing emergency response plans and directing necessary revisions to existing plans
- Design and implement strategic safety training programs by assessing departmental risks and ensuring appropriate safety training complies with OSHA requirements
- Establish and direct safety committees by developing committee structures, appointing representatives from each division, reviewing accident findings, and implementing corrective actions
- Direct complex accident investigations by mobilizing safety committee resources, determining root causes, implementing corrective actions, and establishing new policies and procedures as needed
- Develop and implement compliance monitoring systems by analyzing computerized reports, ensuring program compliance with OSHA standards, and establishing comprehensive methods of assuring compliance with local, state, and federal safety policies, procedures, and guidelines
- Utilize advanced data analytics to identify trends in program outcomes, evaluate complex patterns, and develop strategic plans to address safety program deficiencies
- Oversee the maintenance and update of the department's Emergency Operations Manual ensuring annual updates are completed before each storm season AND Emergency Action Plan annually
- Direct safety and security operations, manage damage assessment processes and documentation through STORM application, and coordinate updates during events utilizing HSIN
- Establish protocols for daily, weekly, monthly, and long-term safety inspections of facilities and field personnel throughout the department
- Develop and present executive reports for department leadership detailing safety incidents, comprehensive year-end analysis, and strategic recommendations for program improvement
- Lead public relations efforts related to safety initiatives by resolving complex conflicts, addressing escalated complaints, managing safety concerns, chairing safety committees, and interpreting safety programs to other agencies
- Oversee the development of safety-related contracts and direct the creation of safety training manuals for department use
- Establish protocols for annual fire extinguisher inspections, crane and hoist inspections
- Direct the Department of Public Works Entry-level Driving Training Program (ELDT)
- Lead key internal and external stakeholder meetings, develop strategic meeting frameworks, ensure appropriate documentation, and maintain effective communication channels with stakeholders
- Manage staff and program resources by making hiring decisions, conducting performance evaluations, allocating work assignments, establishing performance standards, developing and implementing training and staff development initiatives
- Collaborate with department leadership to establish appropriate workload distribution by implementing performance monitoring systems and resource allocation strategies
- Develop, manage, and optimize program budgets and resource allocation plans to maximize safety program effectiveness and efficiency
Education/Experience Work requires specialized knowledge in a professional or technical field. Work requires professional level of knowledge of a discipline equivalent to that which is acquired in a Masters degree-level of study or equivalent.
Five years' experience in specialty area.
Additional Information & Requirements - Valid Driver's License may be required depending on assignment.
- Professional certification and/or licensure may be required for assignment in special areas.
- Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.
- Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.
- Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.
- Retirement
If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.
If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.
- The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant's school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.
NOTE:
The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.
Non-CityPositions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.
01
The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.
- I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.
02
Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?
- Yes - I am a current City of Norfolk Employee
- Yes - I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee
- No - I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee
03
Please provide an explanation of any periods of unemployment that are 30 days or longer. Indicate N/A if you have not experienced any periods of unemployment.
04
Please select the highest level of education you have completed.
- High School Diploma/GED
- Some College (6 months or more)
- Vocational/Technical Degree
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree or higher
05
How many years of safety program experience do you have?
- No experience
- Less than a year
- 1-3 years
- 3-5 years
- More than 5 years
06
Do you currently hold any safety certifications?
07
If yes, please list each one. If no, type N/A.
08
Which computer programs are you proficient in using? (Select all that apply)
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Teams
- Database management systems
- Safety management software
- Emergency management systems
- Other
- None of the above
09
Have you supervised safety staff or managed safety teams?
10
If yes, how many people have you supervised and for how long? If no, type N/A.
11
Have you been involved in emergency planning or response activities? This could include developing emergency plans, coordinating during emergencies, or serving as an emergency coordinator.
12
Do you have experience conducting safety training or overseeing safety training programs?
13
Have you developed safety training materials or managed training compliance?
14
Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)
- I am not a Veteran
- I am a Veteran
- I am a Disabled Veteran
Required Question
