Senior or Principal Safety Specialist - St Paul - Metropolitan Council

Description

Senior or Principal Safety Specialist

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Senior or Principal Safety Specialist

Salary

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Location

Metro Plant Childs Rd. St. Paul MN 55106, MN

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

Division

Environmental Services

Department

MCES Safety

Opening Date

02/09/2026

Closing Date

2/23/2026 11:59 PM Central

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

WHO WE ARE

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 aSafety Specialist. The vacancy may be filled at either theSenior Safety Specialistor Principal Safety Specialistlevel 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:

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

TheSeniororPrincipal Safety Specialist manages and leads health and safety programs within best practice frameworks to ensure safe and reliable operations. This position identifies and eliminates root causes of hazards at the workplace, instills a safe work culture, and inspires safety advocacy at all levels. This position also creates and supports training programs and investigates major accidents to determine preventative and corrective measures.

The Safety Specialist works within ES to support safe, reliable operations by strengthening safety systems, improving program effectiveness, and supporting practical application in the field.

Candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.This posting will create a six-month eligibility list for current and future openings.

What you would do in this job

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 programsusing 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 programsto address operational needs, regulatory requirements, and emerging risks.

• Assess and improve program effectiveness and workforce acceptanceby evaluating how programs function in practice. Measure results, identify gaps, and communicate outcomes and recommendations to management and staff.

• Support implementation of changesto 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 plansto 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 investigationswith 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.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

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

Relevant experience may include work in safety, operations, maintenance, construction, or industrial settings where safety requirements are applied directly to real work activities, hazard controls, and field execution.

Principal 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 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

Relevant experience may include work in safety, operations, maintenance, construction, or industrial settings where safety requirements are applied directly to real work activities, hazard controls, and field execution.

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 effortsthat strengthen safety systems, work practices, or operational reliability over time.

• Experience working in unionized environmentsor 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 arenot required.

What knowledge, skills and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

Within the first six months, the Safety Specialist is expected to develop and demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities and in support of safe, reliable operations.

• 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 prioritieswhile 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 teamsduring periods of regulatory change, program updates, or implementation of new or improved work practices.

What you can expect from us:

• 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 )

Additional information

Senior Safety Specialist

Union/Grade: AFSCME/Grade G

FLSA Status: Exempt

Safety Sensitive: No

Full Salary Range:$ $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:$ $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:

• We review your minimum qualifications.

• We rate your education and experience.

• We conduct a structured panel interview.

• We conduct a selection interview.

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please emailHR-

We believe our employees are a key to our agency's success In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below:

• Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund

• Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan

• Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%

• Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council. You will have access to free:

• clinic

• bus/rail pass valued at over $1200 per year

• parking at many job locations

• fitness centers at many job locations

• Employee Assistance Program

• extensive health and wellness programs and resources

01

Applicant Instructions: It is important thatyour application shows all relevant education and experienceyou possess. The supplemental questions listed below are to further evaluate your education and experience and to determine your eligibility for this position. Answer each question completely, and please do not type "see resume" otherwise your application will be considered incomplete, and you will not receive further consideration for this position. The experience you indicate in your responses should also be consistent with the Work History section of this application. If you attach a resume and/or cover letter to your application, it will be reviewed at the education and experience review step. I have read and understand the above instructions regarding my application and supplemental questions.

• Yes

• No

02

How did youfirsthear about this job opening?

• CareerForce Center

• Community Event/Organization

• Employee Referral

• Facebook

• Glassdoor

• Indeed

• Job Fair

• LinkedIn

• Metro Transit Bus Advertisement

• Twitter

• Website:

• Website:

• Website:

• Website:

• Other

03

If you selected 'Other', please describe where you first heard about this job. if you selected 'Employee Referral' please enter the employee's first and last name, ID number (if known), and job title. Type N/A if not applicable.

04

Please select the option that best indicates your completed education (in occupational safety, environmental science or a related field) and relevant experience. Relevant experience may include work in safety, operations, maintenance, construction, or industrial settings where safety requirements are applied directly to real work activities, hazard controls, and field execution.

• Master's degree or higher AND at least 1 year of experience

• Bachelor's degree or higher AND at least 3 years of experience

• Associate's degree AND at least 5 years of experience

• High school diploma or GED AND at least 7 years of experience

• Some relevant education AND/OR some relevant experience, but less than the options above

• None of the above

05

Describe your experience supporting safety in industrial, operational, maintenance, or construction environments. Include the type of work being performed, the environments you worked in, and how safety requirements were applied in day-to-day operations (not just written programs). You may include examples of safety programs you supported, improved, or helped implement. If you do not have this experience, indicate 'N/A.'

06

Describe a safety-related system, process, or program that you have helped build, fix, or improve. Include what problem the system was trying to solve, your role in the work, what changed as a result, and how you knew the system was working. If this does not apply to you, indicate "N/A."

07

Describe a time you had to apply safety or risk requirements in a situation where there were competing priorities (time, cost, operations, staffing, etc.). How did you decide what to do, and what was the outcome? If this does not apply, indicate 'N/A.'

08

This role supports improvements in how safety shows up in real work. Describe a situation where you helped improve how safety was understood, applied, or sustained. What was your role, what changed, and what was the outcome? If this does not apply to you, indicate "N/A."

09

Describe your experience contributing to or leading improvement efforts. This may include continuous improvement, fixing processes that weren't working, strengthening systems, or coordinating work across teams. Describe your role and what changed as a result. If this does not apply to you, indicate "N/A."

10

Describe your experience working with people who have different roles, backgrounds, or perspectives than your own. This may include differences in job function, experience level, work environment, communication style, or culture. How did you adapt your approach to get work done? If this does not apply to you, indicate "N/A."

11

The Metropolitan Council recognizes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and generative tools are increasingly used in application processes. While the Council permits the use of AI to assist in the preparation of application materials, all applicants must certify to the following:

• I affirm that all information provided in my application including any uploaded documentation is true and accurate. I further affirm that I have personally reviewed, verified, and approved all content, including any content generated with the assistance of AI.

• I will provide all interview responses directly and in real-time without unauthorized assistance. I will not use AI avatars, external assistance in answering including computer-generated suggestions, or any recording and transcription tools during the interview process unless I have received prior approval from Human Resources for a disability-related reasonable accommodation.

Required Question

Employer

Metropolitan Council

Address

390 Robert St. N.St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101

Website

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