Senior or Principal Safety Specialist

WHO WE ARE

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

The Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (ES) division has 1 vacancy for a Safety Specialist. The vacancy may be filled at either the Senior Safety Specialist or Principal Safety Specialist level based on the candidate's qualifications and the need of the business.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.


Join an award-winning wastewater industry leader in protecting our environment! Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (ES) operates and maintains the wastewater collection and treatment system in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. It also provides coordinated long-range water resources, supply planning, and air and water quality monitoring to meet future needs. ES treatment plants consistently earn state and national awards for complete compliance with their environmental permits.

ES received a Governor's Award as a Great Place to Work.

To find out more about the Environmental Services division, please click on the link for more information: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

The Senior or Principal Safety Specialist manages and leads health and safety programs within best practice frameworks to ensure safe and reliable operations. This position identifies and eliminates root causes of hazards at the workplace, instills a safe work culture, and inspires safety advocacy at all levels. This position also creates and supports training programs and investigates major accidents to determine preventative and corrective measures.

The Safety Specialist works within ES to support safe, reliable operations by strengthening safety systems, improving program effectiveness, and supporting practical application in the field.

Candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin. This posting will create a six-month eligibility list for current and future openings.

At the Senior level, the Specialist performs intermediate-level work with defined scope and guidance.
At the Principal level, the Specialist performs higher-level, more complex work, with greater independence, system ownership, and cross-functional leadership.

Core Responsibilities

• Manage, lead, and improve ES safety programs using systematic best-practice frameworks, with a focus on practical application in operational environments. Communicate program requirements clearly and work with stakeholders to resolve implementation challenges.
• Review existing safety programs and develop new or revised programs to address operational needs, regulatory requirements, and emerging risks.
• Assess and improve program effectiveness and workforce acceptance by evaluating how programs function in practice. Measure results, identify gaps, and communicate outcomes and recommendations to management and staff.
• Support implementation of changes to address safety and industrial hygiene issues, ensuring controls are workable, understood, and sustainable in day-to-day operations.
• Develop and implement exposure monitoring strategies and plans to inform safety and industrial hygiene programs, decision-making, and prioritization.
• Assist with sampling and monitoring activities, including field support, data review, reporting, and development of practical recommendations based on results. Lead or support site audits and investigations, including both field verification and document-based reviews.
• Conduct or support incident and exposure investigations with a focus on learning, system improvement, and prevention. Identify contributing factors, propose corrective and preventative actions, and assist with tracking actions through completion.
• Serve as a technical and operational resource to facility safety committees, chartered work teams, and task teams by providing subject matter expertise, guidance, and support aligned with ES safety systems and operational realities.

Senior Safety Specialist
Any of the following combinations of completed education (in occupational safety, environmental science or a related field) and relevant experience:

• Master's degree and 1 year of experience
• Bachelor's degree and 3 years of experience
• Associate's degree and 5 years of experience
• High school diploma/GED and 7 years of experience