Safety Specialist II

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities.  If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. 

The Safety Specialist II ensures the safety of Aqua North Carolina and Aqua Virginia workplaces in accordance with Essential Utilities’ and general safety best practices.  Aqua North Carolina provides water and wastewater services to over 320,000 people and operates more than 700 water systems and 50 wastewater systems.  Aqua North Carolina has more than 170 staff, including field operations, engineering, environmental compliance, accounting, and administrative staff.   Due to the dispersed locations of these systems throughout North Carolina, Aqua NC staff travel more than 4,000,000 miles per year, and vehicular safety is of key importance.  Aqua Virginia has a smaller footprint equivalent to about 25% Aqua North Carolina’s footprint and staff.  This position will administer the safety program for both states. 

In addition to administering the safety program, the Safety Specialist II will have capital budgets in each state for continuous safety improvement capital projects.  The Safety Specialist II is the leader of safety teams at the state level and will also participate in corporate safety programs.  This position will include both office and field work, and will be observing work practices.

To perform this job successfully, individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function(s).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Measure safety program effectiveness using analytics and KPIs.
• Develop, implement, and update workplace safety policies and procedures, ensuring OSHA compliance.
• Conduct safety audits, field inspections, and compliance reviews.
• Deliver hands-on safety training and coaching for all employee levels.
• Investigate injuries and incidents, ensuring root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Administer procurement of safety gear, PPE, tools, and consultants.
• Maintain complete safety and training records.
• Develop and maintain rotating training schedules and onboarding programs.
• Foster a collaborative safety culture.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS (Required Experience, Education, Licenses, and Certifications)

• A bachelor's degree in safety management, safety engineering, industrial hygiene, occupational environment health and safety, or a related field preferred. Minimum of 3+ years of experience and knowledge of environmental and occupational health and safety. An established track record of success may be considered as a substitute for the educational requirements.
• Working knowledge of safety rules and regulations at all levels of government, including federal, state, and local.
• The candidate should also show an ability, through demonstrated experience, to accomplish the following: conduct safety audits and field inspections to ensure compliance with occupational and environmental health and safety requirements; develop, implement and maintain employee training programs; establish and maintain complete safety and training records; and develop, update and manage workplace safety programs, procedures and policies.
• Safety related certifications are preferred.
• Candidate must be competent in oral and written communications.
• The candidate must have demonstrated computer skills, including a proficiency in using common word processing software, spreadsheet software, database applications, project and presentation software, email, contact management and scheduling software.
• Must possess valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record.
• Must be able to analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action.

What You’ll Bring:

• Advanced ability to use Microsoft Office suite: Excel, Word‚ PowerPoint‚ and other technologies applicable to the position.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills; communicate effectively (clearly, concisely and professionally) with staff, peers, and management team.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• A team player able to work effectively in a team-fostered multi-tasking environment.

What You’ll Love:

• Your solution led, can-do approach will be empowered to add value from day one and affect change which will impact the entire business.
• Your participation in cross-functional teams to analyze business problems as well as recommend solutions or enhancements to current procedures or processes.
• Travel in North Carolina and Virginia interacting with staff and management to ensure a safe workplace.

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.  If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).  
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
• Family members cannot work in the same department.