Safety Officer (Risk Management / HR)

Safety Officer (Risk Management / HR)

Salary

$59,554.00 - $76,170.00 Annually

Location

Risk Management, 272 Benton Rd, Suffolk, VA

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

04608

Department

HUMAN RESOURCES-RISK MGMT

Opening Date

07/29/2026

Closing Date

8/12/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

Under limited supervision, responsible for course development, training scheduling, training, documentation, field inspections, and compliance monitoring. The Safety Officer is the designated person for the City responsible for developing and implementing the safety compliance program for the City. The position is responsible for safety training program development, training of staff, training documentation, routine site inspections, special inspections, and site consultations, Virginia Occupational and Safety Health Act (VAOSHA) and Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) compliance verification, work site accident investigation, and assistance with equipment procurement. The Safety Officer will work with Department Administration, Division Managers, field staff, engineering consultants, and contractors associated with City projects, State safety officials, and the public. The Safety Officer reports to the Risk Manager.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Essential Job Functions

• Develops or procures all necessary training materials or training professionals for presentation on the full range of safety programs necessary to ensure VAOSHA compliance for the City.
• Conducts all necessary safety training for the full range of safety programs necessary to ensure the Citys VAOSHA and federal MUTCD compliance.
• Ensures that the safety training program documentation, including employee training files, meet the requirements of the VAOSHA regulations.
• Directs the affairs of the Safety Committee and maintains close communication with administration.
• Establishes the training programs to ensure that all safety needs are met.
• Ensures that both existing and new employees are adequately trained in all safety related areas and that special training efforts are set up to accommodate staff down time associated with inclement weather, in addition to the normal schedule.
• Conducts regular work zone inspections, spot inspections, and facility audits of all City Department work sites including swimming pool, playgrounds and recreation centersto assist in establishing safety procedures and to ensure safety procedures are being understood and utilized.
• Assists staff with special situations, advising on special procedures and processes required when necessary.
• Documents non-compliance by City staff or contractors working for the City.
• Works and consults with Departmental Administrative staff and Division Managers to implement corrective action measures.
• Conducts safety program assessments to identify department program deficiencies.
• Maintains OSHA 300 Logs for all departments
• Implements special training efforts as necessary.
• Develops and implements safety policies to help reduce accidents/injuries and ensure VAOSHA compliance.
• Conducts and develops job hazard analysis to determine and establish proper work procedures that will eliminate/ prevent hazards and result in fewer injuries; assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment, engineering controls, and/or work practice controls.
• May review city vehicle accidents/ incidents and making recommendations for corrective actions and possible measures to be taken for future prevention.
• May represent the City of Suffolk on The Hampton Roads Disabilities Board.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications

Requires a High School Diploma or equivalent and at least 2 years of progressively responsible experience in Safety; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required skills, knowledge and experience and abilities. Requires a valid drivers license.

Supplemental Information

• Knowledge of federal, State and local laws, rules and regulations governing safety administration.
• Knowledge of the Citys organization and operational policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of safety principles, practices and techniques.
• Knowledge of the current literature, trends, and developments in the field of municipal safety, construction industry, and roadway safety administration.
• Knowledge of administrative, managerial, and supervisory practices and techniques involved in directing safety programs and services.
• Ability to operate a variety of office machines, including popular computer driven word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs.
• Ability to provide leadership and to supervise the planning, development and establishment of new, modified and/or improved safety programs, services and activities.
• Ability to organize and supervise effective personnel management programs and services, and to promote personnel management practices as a part of the total management process.
• Ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing.
• Ability to make oral presentations before large groups of people.
• Ability to work with a variety of officials at different levels of government under differing managerial controls and at different physical locations.
• Ability to exercise tact and courtesy in frequent contact with employees, outside service vendors or agency representatives, and the general public.
• Ability to exercise tact and discretion in handling confidential personnel matters.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
• Ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information, includes giving instructions, assignments or directions to subordinates or assistants, and receiving instructions, assignments or directions from superiors.
• Ability to read a variety of reports, letters and memos, etc.; to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, budgets, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
• Ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages.
• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; understand and apply theories of descriptive statistics.
• Ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape.

Seasonal Employees- No Benefits

Part-time Employees - Sick Leave (See below)

Full Time Employees are eligible for the following benefits;

Retirement (Virginia Retirement System employer) for employees hired on or after 1/1/14 - Hybrid Members

Hybrid plan members contribute 4 percent of creditable compensation to the defined benefit plan and 1 percent to the defined contribution plan each month. Members may voluntarily contribute up to an additional 4 percent in 0.5 percent increments to the defined contribution plan each month. Members can increase or decrease their voluntary contributions on a quarterly basis. With the mandatory and voluntary contributions to the defined contribution component of the plan, members can contribute a maximum of 5 percent with a 3.5 percent match from the employer. Members invest in various investment options that best fit their needs.

Vested after 5 years in the defined benefit part of the plan. Vested in phases based on years in the Defined Contribution part of the Plan. The retirement eligibility for a full or reduced retirement pension in the Hybrid Plan is very detailed. Please contact the Virginia Retirement System or the Human Resources Department for details.

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Yearly earnings

120 Hours (1-59 months), 144 Hours (60-119 months), 168 Hours (120- 179 months), 192 Hours (180 and over)

Sick Leave

Part Time employees earn 4 hours per month Sick leave accrues at the end of the month and may be accrued with no ceiling.

Personal Leave

All regular full time employees are granted 24 hours of personal leave each calendar year. Personal leave must be preapproved and is not cumulative.

Health Insurance

Coverage available for you and your eligible dependents using pre-tax payroll deductions if elected.

Supplemental Insurances

Employees may purchase the following supplemental insurance policies: short term and long term disability, cancer, accident, supplemental hospitalization, and group universal life insurance.

Employer Sponsored Short Term and Long Term Disability

Provides disability coverage for employees work and non-work related disabilities. Work related disabilities are covered starting on day one (1). Non work related disabilities are covered starting on day eight (8), after you have been employed for one year.

Flexible Spending Accounts

Employees may participate in the Health Reimbursement, Dependent Care Reimbursement and Premium Reimbursement Accounts. All deductions are made on a pre-tax basis and will reduce your taxable income.

Life Insurance

The city pays the entire premium for life insurance coverage in the amount of 2 times annual salary for natural death and 4 times annual salary for accidental death.

Optional Life Insurance

Employees have the option of electing additional life insurance coverage in the amount of 1, 2, 3 or 4 times their annual salary. Employees may only purchase optional life insurance on spouses and children if they are enrolled in optional life insurance for themselves.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

12 weeks of job protected leave for leaves approved in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act. Employees receive continuation of health insurance, job protection and consideration for a comparable job when available, or an equivalent job, upon return to work.

Funeral Leave

24 hours of paid leave of absence in case of death in immediate family.

Holidays

Suffolk follows the Virginia State holiday calendar as set by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jury Duty

Time off with pay with difference between jury pay and regular pay or use annual leave and keep check.

457 Deferred Compensation, ROTH IRA, Traditional IRA

Offered through ICMA Retirement Corporation as a way to shelter a portion of your salary from income taxes and save for retirement.

Employee Assistance Program

Offers employees and immediate family members (3) free, confidential counseling sessions related to a broad range of issues such as marital or family conflict, job or personal stress, alcohol or drug abuse, financial or legal worries, etc.

Workers Compensation

Should an employee have an on the job injury, he/she could be eligible for Workmens Compensation Benefits, except in cases of willful neglect.

Pay Days

Employees will be paid on the 15th and last working day of each month.

Credit Union

A Suffolk Credit Union is available to employees.

Legal Services

Employees may prepay for access to legal assistance.

Notary Public Services

Services available in the Human Resources Department.

Alternative Work Schedule

For some positions -Offers 4 Alternative Work Schedule options to provide employees with greater control over their personal and professional time, as well as reducing absences.

01

Do you have a valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have a high school diploma or GED?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have any experience working for a local government or municipality?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have 2 years progressively responsible experience in Safety?

• Yes
• No

05

Select your experience in training employees on safety policies and procedures

• 0 to 12 months
• 1 to 3 years
• 3 to 5 years
• 6 to 9 years
• 10+ years

06

Have you had training or formal course work related to Occupational Health and Safety Association (OSHA) and Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Association (VOSHA) rules and regulations

• Yes
• No

07

Select experience you have as it pertains to the following safety matters:

• Driver Safety
• Log Out/Tag Out
• Health & Safety Compliance
• Safety Teams
• Building Inspections
• Vehicle Accident Reviews
• Safety Program Audits
• Safety Training Facilitation
• Other (must be specified in application)
• None

Required Question

Employer City of Suffolk

Address 442 W. Washington Street, Suite 1044

Suffolk, Virginia, 23434

Phone 7575144110

Website http://www.suffolkva.us