Salary : $150,550.40 - $200,740.80 Annually
Location : Municipal Services Center, 3201 East Bayshore, Palo Alto, CA
Job Type: Regular Full-Time
Job Number:Department: Utilities Department
Opening Date: 08/05/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
DescriptionThe Utilities Safety Officer designs, implements, manages, and continually evaluates the Utilities Department's health and safety programs including utility-specific industrial safety, job-related training programs, and investigations within the Department. This position ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local workplace safety and environmental regulations, including timely completion of mandatory training requirements for the City's electric, fiber, water, gas and wastewater utilities staff. This position works in the office and field and requires independent judgment and knowledge of principles and practices of health and safety program administration, conducting audits, inspections, investigations and developing applicable training programs.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in utility safety (electric, fiber, gas, water, and wastewater) and a thorough understanding of utility operations, workplace safety, and environmental regulations to ensure organizational compliance. The successful candidate will possess extensive experience interpreting and implementing OSHA requirements, developing and delivering safety training programs, and identifying training needs through worksite audits, hazard assessments, and evaluations of work practices. This individual will be an engaging and collaborative leader who fosters accountability, influences safe work behaviors, and promotes a proactive, organization-wide culture of health and safety.
Compensation (UMPAPA): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click
Benefits: The City offers a fantastic benefits package including:
- Schedule: Option of a 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off
- Professional development: Tuition reimbursement, leadership training, and career growth opportunities
- Education benefits: Potential enrollment for dependents in the Palo Alto Unified School District (pilot program, subject to change)
- Childcare support: $10,000 in childcare subsidies (pilot program, subject to change)
- Commute benefits: Incentives for walking, biking and taking transit to work. The City of Palo Alto participates in the Clipper Bay Pass program (Employee Cost: $5 per month).
- Defined-Benefit Retirement Plan: with competitive pension benefits
This is a continuous recruitment and may remain open until the position is filled.
First review of applications will take place during the week of August 31, 2026.
Subsequent reviews will be conducted every two weeks thereafter.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early.
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Design, develop, and manage the Utilities Department's safety/health program; manage the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and procedures for the safety program in collaboration with others; identify resource needs.
- Lead Department managers and other staff in the development of a safety program.
- Conduct investigations and review injury/accident reports and evidence to determine cause, effect, liability, and prevention methods; recommend and implement modifications to working procedures as needed to reduce and/or eliminate the frequency and severity of accidents and incidents.
- Regularly track and report incident frequency and severity rates from personnel and vehicle accidents.
- Coordinate with risk management staff as appropriate.
- Review and assess risk and liability from third-party claims and take appropriate action to reduce and/or eliminate the frequency and severity of third-party claims and incidents.
- Participate in budget preparation and administration; prepare cost estimates for budget recommendations and submit justifications for materials and supplies; monitor and control expenditures.
- Coordinate safety training activities in response to management requests and regulatory compliance requirements; arrange for appropriate training to meet identified needs.
- Conduct training and/or arrange for outside vendors/consultants; schedule training and document attendance and maintain related records in a training database; manage contracts for contractors and vendors that provide training.
- Participate in safety inspections and audits conducted by outside agencies; Conduct independent audits of Department facilities/work locations to ensure compliance yearly and as needed to identify potential safety hazards and/or unsafe working conditions.
- Assist the Department's first responders in emergency events when appropriate.
To review the full job description, click .
Minimum Qualifications
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:
- A Bachelor's degree from accredited college or university with major course work in occupational health and safety, industrial hygiene or a closely related field; and,
- Four years of increasingly responsible experience in the development and administration of safety and training programs and experience in utilities operations; or,
- An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential job functions and possession of the required knowledge and abilities.
Supplemental Information
Working Conditions / Physical Requirements
Work is performed in both an office and outdoor setting. Outdoor activities take place in all weather conditions, including temperature extremes, during daylight hours and nights, and on various types of terrain. Incumbent may be exposed to conditions and hazards from obstacles, heights, and open trenches associated with construction sites. Work may be performed in proximity to electrical high voltage lines and equipment.
The Selection Process:
- Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email. Governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates.
- Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time.
- The screening process for this position typically will include a panel interview preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.
See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking
01
Do you possess a Bachelor's degree or higher in occupational health and safety, industrial hygiene, or a closely related field?
02
If you answered 'yes' to question #1, please specify your degree, major, and institution. Otherwise, write 'N/A'.
03
Have you completed a formal training program that meets OSHA's definition of a Qualified Electrical Worker (QEW), safety related Professional Certification, or Safety Management credentials?
04
If you answered 'yes' to question #3, please describe ALL programs and certifications and when they were completed. Otherwise, write 'N/A'.
05
Do you have field safety experience in an electric utility or similar high-risk environment?
06
If you answered 'yes' to question #5, please describe the type of work, environment, and your responsibilities. Otherwise, write 'N/A'
07
How many years of progressively responsible experience do you have in the development and administration of safety, occupational health, or risk management programs? - Less than 5 years
- 5 to 6 years
- 7 to 9 years
- 10+ years
Required Question 
