Lead, Health & Safety (Ops)

Requisition ID: 108707

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People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals.

We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey.

About American Water

American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across 14 regulated jurisdictions and 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.

As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $40 to $42 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities.

American Water has been recognized on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the fifth consecutive year, ranked 18th on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2023 List, earned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® Excellence Award, among additional state, local and national recognitions.

For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Primary Role

The Lead, Health & Safety (Ops) will be overall responsible for driving and managing Health & Safety initiatives/programs for medium sized State Operations, including metrics, safety apps, contractor safety, training, PSM and audits (compliance reviews). This role will have direct reporting to the VP of Operations and matrix reporting to the Director of Health & Safety Corporate

Key Accountabilities

- Responsible for Health & Safety strategy, systems and processes at the state level operations.

- Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, and American Water safety standards for both employees and contactors.

- Partner with Corporate Safety team in implementing Standard Safety Procedures.

- Partner with Corporate Safety team in delivering health and safety related training.

- Document and investigate accidents or injuries, provide records or evidence as required during grievances or legal proceedings.

- Implement corrective measures meant to reduce future risk.

- Closely partner with HR and LR team at the state level.

- Assist with worker’s compensation, general liability and product liability.

- Responsible for selection and oversight of insurance company or independent counsel with regard to litigated claims.

Key Accountabilities (cont'd)

- Prepare or oversee the preparation of litigation report updates and financial exposure with regard to litigated claims.

- Ensure that claims and accidents are investigated in a timely manner and necessary reports are submitted to ensure compliance.

- Responsible for the administration, management and approval of local insurance services including, but not limited to, certificates of insurance, bonds, builder’s risk and railroad protective insurance.

- Responsible for Community Right to Know, OSHA Process Safety Management, EPA Risk Management Program, RCRA, NESHAPS, Underground Storage Tanks, HazWopr, Spill Prevention, Control Plans, Superfund, medical and solid waste disposal.

- Responsible for preparing and submitting required annual reports per regulatory requirements. Administration of driver pull notice program.

- Responsible for compliance with Federal and State Department of Transportation regulations. This includes DOT driver license renewals, driver qualification, vehicle and trailer inventory, annual inspections, and driver substance abuse program, hazardous materials transpiration security and permits.

Knowledge/Skills

- Knowledge of OSHA, Federal, State and Local regulations as applicable utilities, construction, and related industries.

- Knowledge of and familiarity with health and safety program management and OSHA regulatory requirements for construction and general industry with increased opportunities to apply expertise across disciplines or organizational areas.

- Knowledge of water utility industry strongly preferred

- Knowledge of environmental regulations

- Knowledge of Department of Transportation regulations

- Strong process, project, and program management skills.

- Proven ability to lead through influence and deliver results through others.

- Ability to be both strategic in thinking, as well as tactical in executing training strategies while anticipating and considering how the business may be impacted by training initiatives.

- Strong quantitative skills (e.g., analytical, technical, problem solving).

- Effective people management skills (e.g., planning, organizing, recruiting, controlling, and leading individual staff and teams)

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills (e.g., fluency in report writing and presentations)

- Effective interpersonal skills (e.g., persuasion, negotiation, listening, cooperation, tact, diplomacy, problem solving, internal consulting).Leadership presence (e.g., ability to deal effectively and maintain collaborative relationships with Company senior management and other key stakeholders

Experience/Education

- 10+ years of related experience

- Bachelor's degree in safety management, safety engineering, industrial hygiene, occupational environment health and safety, or a related field. Master’s Degree preferred.

- Equivalent role-related work experience in lieu of a degree will be considered

Travel Requirements

- 10% to 20% within the State

Certifications & Licenses

- At least one relevant/related nationally recognized professional certification like Certified Safety Professional (CSP)

Competencies

Champions safety

Collaborates

Cultivates innovation

Customer obsessed

Drives Results

Nimble learning

Join American Water...We Keep Life Flowing™

American Water is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based on his or her age, race, color, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, citizenship, or because they are an individual with a disability, protected veteran or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.