Introduction

The goal of the City of Charlotte's General Services Department is to guide agencies through innovative and efficient deployment of resources to meet their missions and fulfill the needs of the City in a rapidly evolving and complex environment. General Services consists of Fleet Maintenance, Landscape Management, Facility Maintenance, capital project management, Construction Management and Utility Services, Procurement, Real Estate, and other support services.

Overview
The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 15th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 897,000 citizens. A major commerce center, Charlotte hosts several of the nation's largest banks and technology companies.

Also known as the Queen City, Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We work hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone - a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Join us in helping to keep our City thriving, ensuring upward mobility and advancement in the workplace.
Function

Management

Summary

The Safety Officer manages and has responsibility for all aspects of the Department's Safety Program; protects Department employees by developing and implementing safety programs, policies & procedures and providing safety training & guidance; manages and supervises the Departmental Safety staff and the Departmental Safety Teams; represents the Department in all safety matters at the City-wide level; and ensures compliance with all applicable OSHA regulatory requirements. The Safety Officer is the Safety Lead for General Services Department for over 400 employees and may supervise staff in the future.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Foster a safety-conscious culture by promoting awareness, training, and open communication regarding safety matters.
• Encourage and support employees' participation in safety improvement initiatives, such as suggesting hazard controls or process enhancements.
• Regularly assess the effectiveness of safety programs, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement continuous improvement strategies. Lay out a vision for safety.
• Conduct comprehensive safety audits of divisional operations, reviewing compliance with safety policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with division heads to develop and update safety protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and emergency response plans.
• Facilitate safety drills and exercises to test the effectiveness of emergency plans and identify areas for improvement.
• Review and evaluate incident investigations, ensuring root causes are identified, and corrective actions are implemented to prevent recurrence.
• Create and track safety-related objectives, metrics, and goals for the organization.
• Enforce safety standards and processes.
• Drive employee engagement and meaningful involvement.
• Act as the representative that can speak to safety and health as needed for the organization.
• Create, maintain, and improve policies and systems related to safety-all designed to create a culture of continuous improvement.
• Perform regular patrols, inspections, evaluations, and/or walk-throughs of facilities and/or properties.
• Conduct toolbox meeting and other ongoing learning opportunities for staff.
• Ensure all staff have completed necessary training and are equipped for roles.
• Promote and reinforce safe behaviors across projects and job sites.
• Take measures to drive accountability for safety.
• Organize and maintain all safety and compliance-related forms.
• Lead various Departmental Safety Teams.
• Verify, approve and submit injury logs and reports.
• Stay updated on relevant safety regulations, industry best practices, and emerging trends, incorporating new knowledge into departmental safety practices.
• Interact and respond/communicate with Department of Labor and other governing bodies as it relates to safety and health.
• Record, investigate, and follow-up incidents to determine cause and to assist in responding to workers' comp claims.
• Manage safety complaints or safety concerns.
• Identify leading indicators and other metrics for the organization that can be used to support safety, safe practices, and employee engagement in general.
• Support the Department's 'Continuance of Operations Plan' and Facility-level 'Emergency Action Plans'.
• Must be available for occasional on-call after-hours work.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• In-depth understanding of relevant occupational safety and health regulations, such as OSHA standards, and local/state safety codes and regulations.
• Familiarity with industry-specific safety guidelines and best practices applicable to the Landscape Division, Facilities Division, and Fleet Management Division.
• Knowledge of safety management systems, hazard identification and assessment, incident investigation techniques, and risk management principles. Understanding of safety training methodologies and the ability to develop and deliver effective safety training programs.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify potential safety hazards, evaluate risks, and develop appropriate control measures.
• Excellent communication skills to effectively convey safety-related information to employees, management, and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency in conducting safety inspections, audits, and incident investigations, and the ability to analyze data and develop actionable recommendations.
• Skill in developing and implementing safety policies, procedures, and programs tailored to the unique needs of each division.
• Ability to lead and facilitate safety committees, meetings, and training sessions.
• Ability to work collaboratively and establish positive relationships with employees, managers, and external agencies to promote a culture of safety.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to enforce safety protocols and standards consistently.
• Adaptability to changing priorities and the ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
• Leadership skills to inspire and motivate employees to actively participate in safety initiatives and cultivate a safety-conscious work environment.
• Ability to stay updated on emerging safety trends, technologies, and regulations and apply them to improve safety practices within the organization.
• An understanding of industrial engineering concepts and must be knowledgeable and decisive in consistently applying the OSHA standards.
• A self-motivated professional who has outstanding time management skills.
• Must be physically, mentally and emotionally capable of conducting independent safety inspections.
• Have excellent documentation and writing skills to write legally defensible reports and must be proficient in keyboarding using word processing programs, i.e. Microsoft Word.
• Have excellent verbal communication skills. Duties include speaking with staff at every level of the organization, state and local agencies and NCDOL personnel.
• Ability to analyze problems, make sound recommendations.
• Ability to lead, plan and supervise a team of volunteer employees serving on the Departmental Safety Team.
• Ability to establish good working relationships within General Services and with other departments.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree preferably with a major in occupational safety, industrial management or technology, industrial engineering, industrial arts, engineering operations, or a closely-related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and five to seven years of experience in occupational safety and health inspections; or Associate's degree in industrial safety and health technology, or a closely-related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and seven years of experience in occupational safety and health inspections; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Conditions of Employment
The City's Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate's written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
How To Apply
Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby where we have workstations available. Our office is located at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

Anyone seeking an accommodation to apply for a job may call (704) 336-2285 for assistance or you may email questions to CityHrJobPostingsNotify@ci.charlotte.nc.us.
Benefits
The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte's benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.
In Conclusion

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