Safety Specialist – Electric

Safety Specialist – Electric

The City of Naperville seeks a Safety Specialist – Electric to serve as the primary safety resource supporting Naperville's electric utility operations and construction activities. This position will coordinate and deliver targeted training, strengthen hazard identification and job planning, develop and maintain electric utility safety procedures, partner with employees to conduct field inspections, and support incident/near miss investigations and corrective action management.

The role emphasizes practical, field-ready risk controls applicable across electric utility environments including contractor oversight. Serves as a liaison between safety and electric operations to promote consistent, practical, and field-ready safe work practices.

Naperville's public-sector operations are covered under the Illinois OSHA-approved State Plan (Illinois Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health), and work activities are subject to applicable OSHA requirements.

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $74,020.50 to $81,422.55 annually commensurate with credentials and experience. The Pay Grade for this position is E235.

The Safety Specialist – Electric position requires routine field presence and may include walking on uneven surfaces, climbing stairs/ladders, and working outdoors in varying weather conditions while wearing appropriate PPE. Work may require exposure to dirt, drafts, fumes, noise, electrical hazards, and/or extreme temperatures.

• Develops and delivers targeted safety training and briefings aligned with electric operation needs and coordinates training with departmental resources as needed.
• Supports monthly safety meetings by developing and/or reviewing content and reinforcing key safety expectations.
• Partners with supervisors and crews to identify hazards and recommend practical risk controls and corrective actions that can be implemented in the field.
• Develops, revises, and maintains written safety procedures, safe work practices, and supporting forms/checklists for electric utility operations.
• Reviews and strengthens job planning and job briefings (tailboards) for high-risk or non-routine work; provides coaching to supervisors and crews to improve hazard recognition and control selection.
• Participates in and/or facilitates Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), Job Safety Analyses (JSAs), and risk assessments for new, changing, or non-routine tasks, equipment, processes, and work methods.
• Conducts routine field inspections/observations for electric distribution operations, substations, switching activities, and utility construction work. Documents findings and tracks corrective actions to closure.
• Conducts and/or supports incident and near-miss investigations; applies root cause methods and ensures corrective and preventive actions are defined, assigned, tracked, and verified for effectiveness.
• Serves as a liaison to employees and supervisors by providing responsive guidance, mentoring, and credible field support to improve compliance and safe work performance.
• Provides technical input for PPE and equipment readiness expectations (selection, use, inspection, and care) aligned with task hazards and operational conditions.
• Supports contractor safety interfaces on electric projects by helping align safety expectations, reviewing field conditions, and verifying safe work practices.
• Maintains records and documentation associated with inspections, training, corrective actions, and program activities for compliance and historical purposes.
• Prepares reports on safety activities, inspection findings, training participation, and corrective action status as directed.
• Coordinates with the Safety Manager and departmental leadership to support safety goals, leading indicators, and continuous improvement activities aligned with Naperville's safety program roadmap.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in safety, engineering, industrial technology, construction management, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of experience supporting safety in electric utility operations, electric distribution, substation operations, and/or…