Safety and Emergency Manager

Summary

Step into a pivotal leadership role where safety isn't just a responsibility-it's a mission. As our Safety and Emergency Manager (Classification: Special Projects Manager II), you’ll be the driving force behind building a resilient, prepared, and secure workplace. This is more than a checklist-driven position-it’s a chance to make real, lasting impact. From leading high-stakes emergency planning to shaping a culture of safety across all levels, your work will safeguard people, operations, and community trust.

Ideal for proactive thinkers and calm-in-the-storm leaders, this role blends strategic planning with real-time problem-solving. It offers exposure to executive leadership, cross-departmental collaboration, and professional development in risk management, crisis response, and organizational resilience. If you're ready to lead with confidence and leave a legacy of preparedness, this is your opportunity to thrive.

About the Role:

The Safety and Emergency Manager plays a central role in protecting people, property, and operations by developing and leading comprehensive safety and emergency preparedness strategies. The goal is to minimize risk, ensure regulatory compliance, and build a culture of readiness and resilience. By proactively identifying potential hazards and coordinating swift, effective responses to crises, this role directly influences the health, security, and continuity of the organization. It’s a high-impact position that transforms policies into real-world protection. This role is vital to keeping solid waste systems efficient, safe, and resilient-ensuring frontline workers are protected, the environment is safeguarded, and public trust is maintained. In addition to setting the strategic direction for the division’s safety and emergency management program, this role is a leadership position, and works within the Directors Office.

In this role you will enhance equity and community impacts by promoting inclusive safety practices, building community trust and engagement, and driving organizational and community change. You’ll ensure that emergency preparedness plans reflect the diverse needs of all community members, especially those who might be historically underserved or vulnerable. Your role directly influences how communities perceive safety and emergency management. By engaging with local organizations and incorporating community feedback, you help create a resilient safety network that empowers every neighborhood, ensuring that critical resources and support reach all sections of the community. Through effective leadership and policy advocacy, you contribute to systemic improvements in safety management practices.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the strategic direction of the Safety and Emergency Management Unit (SEMU). The top priorities in this role are:

1. Enhance Emergency Preparedness and Response - Review and update existing emergency action plans to address site-specific risks like landfill fires and hazardous material incidents. Lead regular emergency drills and ensure seamless coordination among on-site teams, external agencies, and community stakeholders.

2. Cultivate a Proactive Safety Culture and Ensure Compliance - Establish processes for ongoing risk assessments and incident analysis to continuously improve safety protocols. Elevate safety standards by reinforcing adherence to OSHA, EPA, DOT, and local regulations.

3. Develop and Empower a High-Performing Safety Team - Lead and mentor a team of safety officers, fostering an environment of continuous learning and accountability. Set clear performance metrics, implement tailored training programs, and encourage cross-department collaboration.

About the Team:

The Safety and Emergency Manager will lead a team that works very closely with the site-based operations team as well as remote based staff to assess risks, develop and implement policies, provide training, monitor performance, and achieve continuous improvement towards established goals. This includes working across the division, other County agencies, and external parties. This position works within the director’s office and reports directly to the Solid Waste Division Director. The director’s office includes our Deputy Director, Administrative Support Staff, Government Relations and Community Engagement team, and Equity and Social Justice team. The working environment is fast paced with high demands and fun at the same time because we strive to enjoy working as a team.

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 Safety and Emergency Manager 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 Solid Waste 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:

Emergency Preparedness & Response
Develop emergency action plans addressing risks unique to solid waste operations, such as landfill fires, hazardous material exposure, equipment malfunctions, and natural disasters.Coordinate drills and simulations at transfer stations, landfills, and collection sites to test readiness for spills, chemical leaks, and other emergencies.Serve as incident commander during emergency situations, ensuring swift coordination with operations teams and environmental authorities.
Safety Program Management
Oversee compliance with OSHA, EPA, DOT, and local safety standards related to refuse collection, facility operations, and waste handling.Conduct site-specific risk assessments at facilities and along collection routes to mitigate hazards such as vehicle collisions, exposure to sharps or biohazards, and heat stress.Analyze trends in injury reports and vehicle incidents to drive targeted improvements in worker and community safety.
Training & Education
Lead safety onboarding for drivers, operators, and facility staff, focusing on PPE use, vehicle safety, confined space entry, and handling of hazardous or unknown materials.Facilitate regular safety briefings customized for the challenges of solid waste operations.
Collaboration & Communication
Collaborate with fleet managers, operations supervisors, environmental engineers, and regulatory bodies to align safety practices with sustainability and service delivery goals.Represent the organization in safety committees, regulatory inspections, and community engagement related to emergency planning.
Documentation and Safety Policy Oversight
Maintain documentation for all safety inspections, incident investigations, and emergency responses in accordance with solid waste industry regulations.Update and distribute SOPs that reflect evolving risks in recycling, organics processing, and waste diversion technologies

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• 5+ years of progressive experience in safety, emergency response, or risk management-ideally including at least 2 years in a supervisory or leadership role. Experience in solid waste, public works, utilities, or similar operational environments is strongly preferred. OR the equivalent combination of training and experience necessary to demonstrate working knowledge in the above duties.
• Familiarity with emergency preparedness frameworks, hazard mitigation, and safety program development and a strong understanding of OSHA, EPA, DOT, and other applicable regulations.
• Knowledge and experience planning and leading incident command protocols for emergency response or equivalent experience in.
• Demonstrated ability to present complex information to a variety of audiences ranging from front-line employees to senior leadership.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for training, reporting, and cross-agency coordination.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt as required while working in a multi-faceted and sometimes ambiguous environment.
• Ability to analyze data and incident trends to improve safety outcomes.
• Willingness to respond to emergencies during off-hours as needed.

Competencies You Bring:

• Decision Quality: Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Interpersonal Savvy: Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.
• Develops Talent: Developing people to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals.
• Manages Ambiguity: Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Valid driver’s license, with ability to travel between facilities and incident sites.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Deep understanding of labor/management dynamics, including collective bargaining agreements, labor rights, and grievance procedures as they relate to safety.
• Experience conducting joint labor-management safety committees or collaborating with union stewards on compliance and training initiatives.
• ICS (Incident Command System) 300, 400, 700, 800 or ability to attain within two years.
• Ability to apply excellent customer service skills both orally and in writing, including the ability to provide professional and courteous service
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 including Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, PowerPoint, and OneDrive

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location 1 - 2 days a week, with onsite reporting requirements for the remainder of the week at the various solid waste transfer stations and landfill. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. 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). This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department’s vision of Green Where We Work.
• Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
• Work Schedule: The workweek is normally Monday through Friday, however, due to the 24/7 nature of the division’s operations, this position will be required to occasionally support emergency response during evenings and weekends. 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 not represented by a union.

Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. Please select Apply and complete the brief application profile information and attach your resume and cover letter.

We will review applications based on clarity, completeness, and alignment with the qualifications outlined in this posting. Be sure to highlight your experience in effectively writing and verbally communicating about training, reporting, and cross-agency coordination along with your reasons for wanting to work for the Solid Waste Division.

The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one virtual interview in early September 2025. Finalists will be invited to tour facilities and participate in onsite interviews currently planned in mid or late September 2025.

Who To Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Jemima.McMahon@kingcounty.gov.

Discover More About the Solid Waste Division: Visit our website at our website at Solid Waste Division and check us out at Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our 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
• 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal 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: 8/22/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• King County Wastewater Treatment Division

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