Wastewater Plant Safety Officer

Job Description:

Wastewater Plant Safety Officer

Description

Summary

This is a competitive posting, and the position is open to all qualified candidates.

About the Role:
In this role, you will have the exciting and continuously challenging opportunity to gain and demonstrate highly unique experience directed towards addressing a myriad of advanced wastewater & combined-system conveyance, treatment and construction project safety, hazardous material and emergency program subjects.

This position provides an excellent opportunity to apply safety, hazardous materials, training and emergency response skills and knowledge toward assisting WTD staff with a wide variety of technical issues and advanced safety issues, problems, questions, concerns, issues, national consensus standards and regulatory requirements. Such assistance often requires innovative problem-solving, brainstorming and decision making along with rewarding and sometimes challenging interactions with WTD staff, consultants and construction workers. The position will be working in a team with a dedicated team of high-performing safety staff targeting innovative approaches aimed at troubleshooting problems and pursuing solutions through a variety of approaches.

The position also provides an opportunity to become a recognized subject matter expert, overseeing the development and implementation of safety management systems and specific technical programs. Essential technical assistance in the ongoing development and updates of division-specific safety programs and procedures, including but not limited to:

• Permit-Required Confined Space Entry
• Hazardous Energy Control
• Fall Protection and Prevention
• Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals
• Life Safety Management
• Wastewater Emergency Response Programs
• Personal Protective Equipment Program

Support the entire Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) and occasionally represent the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) in countywide efforts to ensure safe workplaces for employees. Assist in the DNRP Emergency Support Function 3 and the WTD Emergency Response and Resiliency Program. Ensure proper reporting of near-misses, employee injury accidents, and vehicle accidents. Conduct after-action reviews and implement necessary corrective actions to promote safe work practices.

Provide leadership to the Division Safety Committees and WTD Project Teams, comprising members representing all sections of WTD. Foster effective working relationships across a diverse division. Develop instructional materials, presentations, and conduct training sessions and program orientation tours. Conduct Emergency Response Drills & Exercises, as well as regular and required safety training classes.
About the Team:
The WTD Safety & Emergency Programs Unit is a dynamic, driven, and continuously evolving entity, dedicated to providing essential employee and facility safety, security, and emergency response management services for the entire Wastewater Treatment Division. Our goal is to protect employee and contractor safety and security, public safety, improve water quality, restore aquatic resources, safeguard properties, and ensure compliance with county, state, and federal regulations. Join our team dedicated to ensuring clean water for generations to come! With over 1000 employees engaged in planning, designing, building, and operating treatment facilities, our agency is at the forefront of environmental stewardship. Success for us means upholding our legacy while promising future generations a pristine environment. We partner with regulatory agencies to reduce harmful waste discharge and actively educate the public and businesses on water quality protection.

We prioritize accountability to our ratepayers and operate a well-managed agency that serves over 2.3 million King County residents . Our regional wastewater treatment system not only sustains a healthy environment but also fuels economic development, fostering prosperity in our region. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a collaborative environment, join us in our mission to safeguard our precious water resources.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Wastewater Plant Safety Officer , you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Wastewater Treatment Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits , and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Oversee the daily onsite implementation and compliance of all safety-related operations and procedures; direct and enforce safe work plans and practices onsite with employees, contractors, and visitors.
• Participate in ensuring safety protocol and personal protection equipment (PPE) compliance with all plant staff while working at any Wastewater Treatment facility.
• Conduct onsite and structure-specific compliance inspections and hazard assessments.
• Identify and eliminate hazards in the work environment which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to onsite staff.
• Coordinate the training and certification of equipment such as overhead cranes, aerial lifts, forklifts, trucks, backhoes, and other onsite heavy equipment.
• Authorize or suspend work due to unsafe conditions or failure to comply with required safety requirements.
• Manage all onsite safety and emergency response elements of the Wastewater Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Life Safety Management (LSM) Program.
• Review safety-related work orders; coordinate with O&M staff to ensure safe work associated with scheduled preventive maintenance assignments and plant system outages.
• Provide site-specific training and health & safety information to employees.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Experience in wastewater safety; or any combination of experience and education which provides the skills, knowledge, and abilities to perform the key roles and responsibilities of the position.
• Advanced knowledge of federal, state, and local industrial safety and health regulations and applicable national consensus standards, including the Washington Administrative Code, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), American National Safety Institute (ANSI) and Department of Homeland Security.
• Knowledge of safety program development, implementation, management, evaluation practices, and skill in project management.
• Knowledge of Emergency Response, emergency management, disaster preparedness operations, and techniques.
• Knowledge of accident and incident investigation practices, procedures, protocols, and hazard analysis.
• Knowledge of training principles and adult learning styles.
• Knowledge of Permit-Required Confined Space Entry programs, hazard assessment, permit procedures, training, equipment, and emergency response & rescue.
• Knowledge of Chemical Safety programs, hazard assessment, storage and use procedures.
• Knowledge of Fall Protection programs, hazard assessment, procedures, training, equipment, and emergency response & rescue.
• Knowledge of Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemical System programs, procedure elements, management of change, process hazard analysis, pre-start-up safety review and hot work operations.
• Knowledge of Personal Protection Equipment programs, hazard assessments, procedures, training, and equipment.
• Knowledge of Hazardous Energy Control Programs, hazard assessment, procedures, training, equipment.
• Knowledge of Accident Prevention Programs and site-specific/ project-specific Contractor Health and Safety Plans (HASPs).
• Knowledge of occupational health risks and interventions.
• Skill in reviewing, assessing, developing and implementing policies and procedures.
• Skill in verbal and written communication and public speaking
• Ability to work weekends, evenings, holidays, and on-call 24-hour emergency response.
• Ability to effectively engage in and sustain relationships with people from diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds
• Ability to work independently and as a team member
• Demonstrated proficiency with business applications, such as Microsoft Office suite.

Competencies You Bring :

• Customer Focus - Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Cultivates Innovation - Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
• Ensures Accountability - Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Manages Ambiguity - Operating effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear.
• Decision Quality - Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.

Required Licenses:

• Washington State Driver's License.
• Ability to drive County vehicle to various job sites each day.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• CSP, CIH, CHMM, WDOE Wastewater Certification
• Documented training certification: Permit-Required Confined Space Entry, Fall Protection, Hazardous Energy Control, and First Aid/CPR/AED.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Onsite Work Details: The primary onsite location is the Collaboration space at King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104 and King County Treatment Plants. Employees in this role will report onsite at the treatment plants beginning at the West Point treatment plant, later many of the forecasted capital projects, will begin at South Treatment plant and the report to location will be onsite at South Treatment Plant. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104) and treatment plant facilities.
• Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by Service Employee International Union (SEIU), Wastewater Local 925.

Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

Anticipated Timeline for this recruitment (subject to change):

• Technical Assessment Interview (20 minutes) - first two weeks of August
• Panel interviews (50 minutes) - Week of August 17th, 2026

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Responses to the supplemental questions

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

W ho to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Emiliya Makaryan at [email protected]

Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , YouTube , and the WTD Blog .

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our DNRP website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 7/27/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$119,465.01 - $151,428.99 Annually