State Health & Safety Manager

Job Title: State Employee Health & Safety Manager

Agency: Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT)

Supervisory Organization: Chief Engineer - Director of Ops - Assistant Director of Ops

Location: ODOT Central Office, 200 NE 21st St, Oklahoma City, OK (Full‑time in office; remote work not authorized)

Full/Part‑Time: Full Time

Job Type: Regular

Compensation: $129,000 (Annually)

Posting End Date: Continuous if blank; applications accepted until 11:59 PM the day prior to posting end date.

• Annual benefit allowance covers up to $20,538.24 for employees and their dependents.
• Comprehensive insurance plans: medical, dental, vision, with Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options.
• Retirement savings plans:
  • Pathfinder Defined Contribution Plan (available to employees who began State employment after Nov 1, 2015). Employer matches 6% with employee contribution 4.5%, or 7% with employee contribution 7% or above.
  • OPERS Defined Benefit Plan (available to returning employees previously enrolled in OPERS).
• Annual and sick leave (PTO): 15 days first 1–5 years; 18 days 5–10 years; 20 days 10–20 years; 25 days over 20 years; sick leave accrues at 15 days per year.
• Paid holidays: 11 per year.
• Longevity pay: paid annually to eligible employees with a minimum of 2 years of service.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): access to professional services for personal and workplace issues.

Department: Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT)

Division | Branch: Operations | Employee Health & Safety

Reports To: Assistant Director of Operations

FLSA Status: Exempt

State Employee Status: Executive Management | Exempted Employee

Management Level: Manager

The State Employee Health & Safety Manager provides senior authority for the development, implementation, administration, enforcement, and continuous improvement of ODOT’s statewide employee health and safety programs. The role delivers strategic leadership and executive‑level oversight of complex safety programs governed by federal, state, and industry regulations, and supports a workforce of more than 2,500 employees across diverse environments. The manager serves as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, providing data‑driven insights, policy guidance, and strategic direction to foster a proactive, compliant, and safety‑focused organizational culture.

Provides direct supervision and management oversight to eight (8) management‑level safety professionals, two (2) staff‑level program support personnel, and indirect oversight of divisional safety program coordinators.

• Provide executive oversight and strategic direction for all statewide employee health and safety programs.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and industry safety regulations, standards, and best practices.
• Lead planning, implementation, and evaluation of safety initiatives that reduce risk, prevent injuries, and support operational excellence.
• Serve as agency’s subject‑matter expert and senior authority on employee safety, occupational health, and regulatory compliance.
• Represent ODOT in interactions with regulatory agencies, auditors, industry partners, and external stakeholders.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce safety policies, procedures, and standards aligned with agency objectives and legal requirements.

• Direct and oversee statewide safety operations across construction, maintenance, administrative, and field environments.
• Analyze safety data, trends, incidents, and performance indicators to identify risks and improvement opportunities.
• Oversee incident investigation, root‑cause analysis, and correction action implementation.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting to regulatory agencies and executive leadership.
• Evaluate and manage high‑risk operations and emerging safety issues.
• Provide expert guidance during emergency events, serious incidents, and regulatory inspections.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a management‑level safety leadership team, fostering accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Establish clear expectations, performance standards,…