Senior or Principal Safety Specialist

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

The Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (ES) division has 1 vacancy for a Safety Specialist. The vacancy may be filled at either the Senior Safety Specialist or Principal Safety Specialist level based on the candidate's qualifications and the need of the business.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.


Join an award-winning wastewater industry leader in protecting our environment! Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (ES) operates and maintains the wastewater collection and treatment system in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. It also provides coordinated long-range water resources, supply planning, and air and water quality monitoring to meet future needs. ES treatment plants consistently earn state and national awards for complete compliance with their environmental permits. ES received a Governor's Award as a Great Place to Work.

To find out more about the Environmental Services division, please click on the link for more information: https://metrocouncil.org/Wastewater-Water.aspx.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

At the Senior level, the Specialist performs intermediate-level work with defined scope and guidance.
At the Principal level, the Specialist performs higher-level, more complex work, with greater independence, system ownership, and cross-functional leadership.

Core Responsibilities

• Manage, lead, and improve ES safety programs using systematic best-practice frameworks, with a focus on practical application in operational environments. Communicate program requirements clearly and work with stakeholders to resolve implementation challenges.
• Review existing safety programs and develop new or revised programs to address operational needs, regulatory requirements, and emerging risks.
• Assess and improve program effectiveness and workforce acceptance by evaluating how programs function in practice. Measure results, identify gaps, and communicate outcomes and recommendations to management and staff.
• Support implementation of changes to address safety and industrial hygiene issues, ensuring controls are workable, understood, and sustainable in day-to-day operations.
• Develop and implement exposure monitoring strategies and plans to inform safety and industrial hygiene programs, decision-making, and prioritization.
• Assist with sampling and monitoring activities, including field support, data review, reporting, and development of practical recommendations based on results. Lead or support site audits and investigations, including both field verification and document-based reviews.
• Conduct or support incident and exposure investigations with a focus on learning, system improvement, and prevention. Identify contributing factors, propose corrective and preventative actions, and assist with tracking actions through completion.
• Serve as a technical and operational resource to facility safety committees, chartered work teams, and task teams by providing subject matter expertise, guidance, and support aligned with ES safety systems and operational realities.

Senior Safety Specialist
Any of the following combinations of completed education (in occupational safety, environmental science or a related field) and relevant experience:

• Master's degree and 1 year of experience
• Bachelor's degree and 3 years of experience
• Associate's degree and 5 years of experience
• High school diploma/GED and 7 years of experience

• Master's degree and 2 years of experience
• Bachelor's degree and 4 years of experience
• Associate's degree and 6 years of experience
• High school diploma/GED and 8 years of experience

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):
The following skills and experience would be helpful for success in this role. Candidates may bring these through a variety of professional backgrounds, including safety, operations, maintenance, engineering, construction, or continuous improvement.

• Demonstrated experience applying safety requirements in real work environments, including industrial, operational, maintenance, or construction settings.
• Experience supporting change in how work is planned and performed, such as implementing new processes, improving existing systems, or helping teams adapt to updated safety requirements.
• Experience contributing to or leading improvement efforts that strengthen safety systems, work practices, or operational reliability over time.
• Experience working in unionized environments or partnering with represented crafts to support safe, consistent work.
• Experience working with diverse internal and external stakeholders, including field staff, supervisors, contractors, engineers, and leadership.
• Ability to work effectively in environments where roles, priorities, or conditions may evolve, requiring sound judgment, communication, and follow-through.
• Professional safety or industrial hygiene certifications (e.g. ASP, CSP, OHST, CHST, CIH) may be helpful but are not required.

• Working knowledge of safety and occupational health principles, laws, and regulations, sufficient to apply requirements appropriately in operational, maintenance, construction, and field environments.
• Working knowledge of standards, procedures, and practices applicable to construction and industrial work, including construction equipment, materials, utility systems, and typical work activities encountered in ES operations.
• Ability to observe and evaluate industrial work practices and conditions, such as machine guarding, facility layout, and work processes, and document findings with clear, practical recommendations for risk reduction and compliance.
• Practical understanding of applicable safety, occupational health, and environmental requirements, including the ability to explain the purpose of controls and requirements in a way that supports understanding, adoption, and effective hazard reduction.
• Familiarity with industrial hygiene concepts and sampling methods, including an understanding of when monitoring is appropriate and how results inform program decisions (hands-on sampling experience is helpful but not required).
• Proficiency with standard office and documentation tools (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite) to track work, document findings, and communicate outcomes clearly.
• Strong verbal and communication and technical writing skills, with the ability to convey expectations, findings, and recommendations to both field staff and leadership.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities while aligning work with broader safety system goals and operational needs.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across the organization, including working with employees, supervisors, managers, contractors, and other stakeholders in a variety of situations.
• Ability to identify safety program and training needs, and support development or improvement of programs, procedures, or training to address those needs.
• Ability to participate in and support risk assessments, including identifying hazards, evaluating risk, and contributing to strategies that reduce or control risk in practical ways.
• Ability to mentor, coach, and support employees and teams during periods of regulatory change, program updates, or implementation of new or improved work practices.

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Senior Safety Specialist
Union/Grade: AFSCME/Grade G
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No
Full Salary Range: $39.41 - $63.91 hourly/$81,973 - $132,933 yearly

Principal Safety Specialist
Union/Grade: AFSCME/Grade H
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No
Full Salary Range: $42.58 - $69.09 hourly/$88,566 - $143,707 yearly

What your work environment would be:
This position works part-time in a standard office setting, and the remainder of the time will be spent in an industrial/plant/construction environment or outside with the possibility of exposure to hot and cold temperatures, rain, snow, unpleasant odors, chemicals and other industrial elements.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. We conduct a selection interview.