Safety Specialist

Job Description:

Safety Specialist

Description

CAREER DESCRIPTION

SAFETY SPECIALIST

This position is scheduled to receive salary range increases on the following date:

Effective June 27, 2025 - 4.00% increase

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
This recruitment will establish an open eligible list that will be used to fill current and future Safety Specialist positions. The eligible list established may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY
This recruitment will be open for a minimum of five (5) business days and will close on Sunday, June 29th, 2025, at 11:59 P.M. (PST).

COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE - RISK MANAGEMENT | SAFETY AND LOSS PREVENTION
The County Executive Office - Risk Management (CEO-RM) preserves and protects the human and capital assets of the County of Orange to allow County departments and agencies to meet their missions without unnecessary cost. Each of the seven programs within this office are designed to promote the prudent financial management of funds entrusted to the County of Orange for the provision of its services to the public. For more information, please visit CEO-RM or the County website .

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Risk Management Office is seeking an experienced Safety Specialist professional who is self-motivated, proactive, and enthusiastic about promoting and supporting Countywide safety protocols. Safety Specialists are responsible for guiding and supporting the establishment and implementation of worker safety programs, and for participating in County initiatives that promote community goals. This may include supporting the development, coordination, and administration of employee occupational safety and loss prevention programs, and safety training programs as they interface with Countywide Risk Management programs.

Under the supervision of the Assistant Safety and Health Manager, responsibilities and duties for this position include:

• Performing hazard assessments of job tasks
• Conducting incident investigations using root-cause analysis methods
• Providing guidance to ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations
• Evaluating work conditions and identifying risk factors
• Supporting development and upkeep of enterprise safety applications for standardized tracking and reporting across departments
• Monitoring, coordinating, and assisting in safety program activities
• Serving as a technical resource on safety matters and compliance
• Promoting the importance of safety and loss prevention through management support
• Analyzing, evaluating, and monitoring accident/incident losses and trends
• Preparing and presenting safety training and awareness classes
• Participating in safety program audits

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES
In addition to the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will demonstrate an extensive background in implementing and managing safety and training programs.

Possession of a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), or Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification is preferred but not required.

The ideal candidate will also have extensive experience in the following key competencies:

Technical Experience | Technical Knowledge

• Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local occupational safety rules, regulations, standards, and guidelines (e.g., California Division of Occupational Safety and Health [Cal/OSHA], Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA], National Fire Protection Association [NFPA], American National Standards Institute [ANSI], National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health [NIOSH])
• Applying investigative methods such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to identify underlying causes of incidents, determine contributing factors, and recommend effective corrective actions
  
• Understanding office practices, procedures, and equipment, including computers and applicable software applications such as Word processing, spreadsheets, and databases
• Applying knowledge of workers' compensation and general liability issues related to safety
• Understanding loss prevention practices and financial impacts of safety programs and injuries
• Interpreting risk management principles and utilizing risk matrices
• Coordinating accident prevention and investigation programs including safety inspection practices and procedures

Strategic Planning | Analytical Skills

• Analyzing and interpreting safety laws, rules, and regulations to ensure compliance and risk mitigation
  
• Preparing, updating, and executing safety strategies
• Planning and leading the execution of procedures to ensure that projects are resourced, budgeted, scheduled, planned, and implemented in a timely manner
• Working independently and effectively prioritizing multiple, competing tasks to meet departmental and project goals and deadlines
• Preparing clear and concise training curriculum, developing programs, and strategizing how to share and implement these programs with employees

Relationship Building | Interpersonal Skills

• Identifying with the larger organizational team and the role required, sharing resources, responding to requests from other parts of the organization, and supporting the agency's agenda
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships; working with others to find mutually agreeable solutions to problems; using persuasion, influence, and diplomacy to obtain cooperation and reach mutually agreeable objectives

Oral | Written Communication Skills

• Organizing and delivering public presentations that effectively inform or persuade diverse audiences
• Summarizing and presenting information to management or a "non-technical" audience both verbally and in writing
• Writing clearly and concisely and demonstrating proofreading and editing skills, composing informative memos, e-mails, formal correspondence, reports, and other documents

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Click here to learn more about the minimum qualifications and the physical, mental, environmental, and working conditions for the Safety Specialist.

NOTE: Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (N.A.C.E.S.).

LICENSE REQUIREMENT
Must have a valid California Class C Driver’s license and a driving record that would enable the candidate to use a County issued vehicle.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After the screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the recruitment.

Structured Oral Interview | (Weighted 100%)
Candidates will be interviewed and rated by a qualification appraisal panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.

Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

Veterans Employment Preference

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EMAIL NOTIFICATION
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.
NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ceo.oc.gov." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com .

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Chisom Okafor at chisom.okafor@ceo.oc.gov or (714) 834-7312.

EEO INFORMATION

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Non-Management Benefits
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

Closing Date/Time: 6/29/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$79,476.80 - $107,099.20 Annually