Safety Culture Director - State Prog Admin Manager Sr

Safety Culture Director

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well‑being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. This position is responsible for leading and advancing a progressive agency‑wide safety culture and may be located at any MnDOT location, with the option for hybrid work.

This position may be located at any of the following MnDOT locations:
Duluth, Bemidji, Baxter, St. Cloud, Detroit Lakes, Moorhead, Rochester, Windom, Mankato, Willmar, Roseville or St. Paul. It may work a hybrid schedule or in the office pursuant to policy requirements.

Regular in‑state travel (approximately 30‑40% of the time) is required and may include overnight stays. Occasional out‑of‑state travel (typically 2‑4 times per year) is required for meetings, conferences, and other events.

• Develop and implement safety culture innovations across functional groups, districts, and specialty offices through onsite engagement.
• Provide leadership to strengthen psychological safety and promote a consistent, proactive safety culture.
• Maximize the safety culture budget to support agency‑wide safety innovation.
• Collaborate with Emergency Management, Safety & Workers’ Compensation, the Safety Director, and the Assistant Safety Culture Director to integrate safety culture and compliance.
• Work closely with the Safety Leadership Team, Department‑wide Safety Committee, Safety Professional Group, and other teams to achieve shared safety outcomes.
• Represent the department on matters related to safety culture advancement, including presenting recommendations to Senior Leadership and other leadership groups.
• Represent the department at national safety conferences, peer reviews, and other safety‑focused events.
• Engage all staff to reinforce their responsibility for personal and team safety and adherence to safe work practices.
• Support managers and supervisors in fully embracing their roles as safety leaders.

• Two (2) years of managerial experience OR three (3) years of professional level supervisory experience OR four years of advanced professional experience leading safety and safety culture efforts in a large organization.
• Leadership:
  Ability to develop alternative approaches to safety policies, programs, and behavior through collaboration, innovation, and creativity.
• Technical:
  Experience identifying organizational safety issues, applying appropriate solutions and resources, interpreting state and federal workplace safety regulations, and developing safety culture improvements and innovations.
• Policy Development and Budgeting:
  Ability to identify and secure annual funding needed for safety culture implementation and recommend priorities.
• Communications/Human Relations:
  Experience communicating and engaging with agency staff and leadership to address workplace safety risks and hazards, reporting progress, and developing expectations for safe workplace behavior.

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health, Environmental Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene or a closely related field.
• Experience leading or facilitating organizational cultural change initiatives.
• Experience and knowledge of psychological safety in workplace settings.

Successful candidate must pass past‑employer reference checks and criminal history check. Background investigation may include SEMA4 records check, criminal history check, employment reference check, education/license verification, and driver’s license check.

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays each year
• Low‑cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans (including fertility care, diabetes care, and dental/orthodontic care for adults and children)
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
• Pension plan that provides income after at least three years of service
• Employer paid life insurance
• Short‑term and long‑term disability insurance
• Tax‑free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
• Resources to promote physical,…