Water Safety Officer

About This Opportunity  

As the Water Safety Officer, you will work with the Water Department, treatment plants, pumping stations, reservoirs, distribution operations, and field crews, to build and sustain a worldclass safety culture. Your work will directly protect our employees, contractors, and community by preventing injuries and illnesses, reducing risk, and driving continuous improvement in our safety culture and loss control programs. 

Reporting to the Risk and Safety Manager, you will act as a safety subject matter expert, partnering with Joint Water Commission (JWC), City of Hillsboro, and Willamette Water Supply System (WWSS) managers, supervisors, operators, safety committee(s), and employees involving all aspects of safety at the water treatment plants, transmission, and distribution systems,  to implement safety policies, procedures, training, and hazard specific programs aligned with OR-OSHA and other applicable standards.  

Position Summary

Leads the assessment, planning, implementation, and monitoring of the Water Department’s Safety & Loss Control Program through a continuous improvement approach. Ensures regulatory compliance, proactively mitigates hazards, and fosters strong employee participation.

 

What You’ll Be Doing

Program Leadership & Compliance 

• Enforce safety policies, procedures, and regulations across treatment, distribution, and field operations; exercise Stop Work Authority when immediate action is required to prevent injury or damage. 
• Monitor regulatory compliance and serve as the EHS point of contact with internal stakeholders and external agencies (e.g., OR-OSHA, DEQ, EPA, Oregon State Fire Marshal, ODOT, NFPA). 
• Review and refine safety SOPs, operating permits, and work permitting processes (e.g., hot work, confined space, excavation/trenching, LOTO) to align with standards and best practices. 

Hazard Identification & Critical Hazard Programs 

• Lead hazard identification and critical hazard processes for: confined space (vaults, tanks, basins), fall protection (clarifiers, reservoir access), cranes & rigging, trenching/excavation, energized work (NFPA 70E), respiratory protection, chemical handling (chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, coagulants), lockout/tagout, lone worker, and emergency preparedness. 
• Support, implement, and maintain Hazard Specific Programs including Hearing Conservation, Respiratory Protection, Confined Space, Hazard Communication (GHS/SDS), Fall Protection, LOTO, and Risk Management Plan/Process Safety Management (RMP/PSM) where applicable. 

Training & Culture 

• Coordinate and conduct required safety and health trainings (for example: confined space entry, respiratory protection program, chemical delivery/unloading, spill response, excavation safety, PPE, ergonomics, heat/cold stress, PSM). 
• Leverage the City’s Learning Management System to review, select, and add courses; evaluate training effectiveness using claims data, incident trends, and leading indicators; recommend program improvements. 
• Develop strategies that enhance employee participation, buy-in, and ownership—promoting a department wide safety culture grounded in Total Worker Health. 

Incident Prevention, Investigation & Reporting 

• Communicate hazards and risks to prevent injury; design and deploy mitigation tools, checklists, job hazard analyses (JHAs), and field level risk assessments. 
• Respond to and investigate incidents and near misses; perform root cause analyses; prepare reports; and partner with City’s Safety Officer and supervisors to implement corrective actions and verify effectiveness. 
• Serve as Department’s Safety Officer during emergencies, including after-hours availability for incidents, spills, and hazardous conditions affecting employees or operations. 

Collaboration, Data & Continuous Improvement 

• Collaborate with the City Safety Officer, managers and supervisors to identify hazards and protect employees through engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE. 
• Participate on the RMIS (Risk Management Information System) team by applying knowledge of RMIS and EHS systems to support data accuracy, reporting, and information sharing that help the department proactively address safety needs. 
• Collect, analyze, and report safety data to identify trends, leading indicators, and areas for improvement; prepare accurate, reliable reports and presentations for diverse audiences. 
• Serve on department safety committee and act as a liaison with allied agencies and regional water safety partners; host and coordinate cooperative training programs. 
• Engage in continuous education, staying current on emerging risks, technologies, and regulatory updates affecting water utilities. 

 

For full job classification details please click here. 

Minimum Qualifications 

Education & Experience 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Safety & Health, Environmental Science or a closely related field; four (4) years of related experience in occupational safety management, employee training and development; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties. 
• Spanish-bilingual preferred. 

Licenses/Certifications 

• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record. 
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Associate Safety Professional (ASP) preferred. 

 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 

Knowledge of: 

• Safety principles, safe work practices, complex theories/techniques, and program implementation/management. 
• Applicable local, state, and federal EHS laws, rules, and regulations including OSHA, OR-OSHA, EPA, ODOT, NFPA, FHWA, and Oregon State Fire Marshal. 
• Water utility operations hazards (treatment processes, distribution systems, chemical systems, energized equipment, excavations, traffic control). 
• Program development and administration; project and contract management; budgeting; records management; research methods; and modern office systems/software. 
• Emergency and incident safety management, ICS, and spill response fundamentals. 
• Positive and effective customer service principles. 

Skill in: 

• Developing and maintaining hazard programs (including RMP/PSM and related components). 
• Interpreting and applying laws, codes, regulations, and standards. 
• Monitoring, training, and evaluating staff; facilitating effective safety meetings and toolbox talks. 
• Time management, work prioritization, and multisite coordination. 
• Researching/analyzing data, identifying trends, and recommending solutions. 
• Preparing projections and estimates; facilitating and implementing projects or programs. 
• Managing and negotiating contracts; monitoring compliance and quality standards. 
• Maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information; interpreting and implementing policy; reviewing and revising policies as needed. 
• Reading and interpreting technical documents, SDS, permits, and specifications. 
• Building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders; preparing and delivering public presentations. 
• Monitoring budget and expenditures; developing reports, training materials, and documentation. 

Ability to: 

• Communicate clearly in both technical and nontechnical language, verbally and in writing. 
• Work effectively with diverse groups of stakeholders across ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. 
• Engage in growth, learning, and self-awareness related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and apply these principles in daily work. 
• Identify problems and implement practical, sustainable solutions focused on risk reduction and operational reliability. 

 

Work Environment & Physical Demands 

(Must be performed with or without reasonable accommodations) 

• Routinely working in the field partnering with the Joint Water Commission (JWC), City of Hillsboro, and Willamette Water Supply System (WWSS) managers and operators involving all aspects of safety at the water treatment plants, transmission, and distribution systems. Primary office space in the Risk and Safety division to collaborate with the team.   
• This is a Safety Sensitive position, work performed impacts the safety of the employee and others. 
• Positions in this class typically require reaching, standing, walking, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions. 
• Light Work: Exerting up to 20 lbs. occasionally, up to 10 lbs. frequently, and a negligible amount constantly to move objects; physical demands exceed those of sedentary work. 
• Incumbents may be subject to travel and variable environmental conditions; occasional afterhours emergency response is required. 

 

Application Limit

This recruitment will close after receiving 200 completed applications or on the posted closing date of May 17, 2026, whichever occurs first. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as the posting may close without notice once the cap is reached.

Recruitment Timeline 

Application Deadline: 5/17/26

App Review: 5/25/26

Interview: Week of 6/8/26

Interview II: Week of 6/22/26

Final Candidate Selection: Week of 6/29/26

Note: Recruitment timeline subject to change based on City needs.

Commitment to Diversity 
Hiring a workforce that reflects the diverse community we serve is essential to delivering exceptional City services and programs. The City of Hillsboro is committed to creating and supporting an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees to thrive. We value, respect, and empower employees as unique individuals with authentic voices and diverse ideas.

Salary : $89,221 - $117,409