Principal, Health & Safety Compliance

Requisition ID: 108984

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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.

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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.

Position Information

Principal, Health & Safety Compliance

Camden, NJ

$98,800 - $165,100

The base salary range represents a good faith salary range for this position. This position is eligible for annual incentive pay and has the opportunity for continued salary growth. If you are hired at American Water your base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as market, geography, skills, education and/or experience. At American Water, we are committed to pay equity.

In addition to compensation, you will be offered a comprehensive benefits package including 401(k), Defined Contribution Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage, plus disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs and much more!

American Water is also proud to offer employees learning opportunities and work experiences to grow professionally!

Primary Role

Reporting to the Sr Director, Health & Safety, this role is responsible for architecting and driving American Water’s Health & Safety compliance, oversight and monitoring programs. This includes ensuring the continuous improvement and expansion of H&S governance program; defining and implementing risk management and compliance systems; setting and refining policies and procedures; overseeing the development of standards, tools, audits, metrics, and employee training; ensuring effective engagement by Health and Safety (H&S) teams on company initiatives, including American Water’s sustainability goals; providing expertise; and engaging with State Operations leadership; providing scalable and effective compliance strategies that support current and future business objectives to ensure employee safety and compliance with H&S regulations.

Key Accountabilities

- Support strategic delivery of American Water’s safety performance by building a robust oversight and monitoring program and establishing appropriate mechanisms and metrics

- Support and drive continuous improvement of American Water’s safety management systems and compliance with safety regulations

- Ensure continuous improvement and expansion of the safety program including training and strategic audit initiatives

- Design and develop plans to assess risks and recommend measures to enhance existing safety management systems

- Gather, interpret, and use complex data to develop actionable steps that will improve processes and optimize results

- Assess company and customer needs, analyze and provide trends and network areas for improvement

- Analyze company-wide trends in audit reports to identify common issues and provide advice on corrective actions

- Collaborate with American Water Enterprise Risk Management and Internal Audit teams

- Support and guide State Operations leaders on appropriate corrective actions for recommendations or action plans from internal or external audit or inspection reports

- Report on key metrics and provide recommendations for process and system improvement

- Recommend new strategies/programs/technology that enhance existing strategy, leading from concept to delivery

- Earn the trust of State Operations Managers through proactive and continuous engagement, identify emerging risks and educate

- Stay attuned to changing regulations and internal H&S performance to recommend changes to oversight and governance priorities as required

- Work with Operations and State H&S leads and early intervention teams to recommend changes that address deficiencies

- Work with relevant stakeholders to address systematic and repeated compliance gaps, and support the adoption of H&S strategies, and influence change across regional stakeholders

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.

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

- 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).

- Have a high degree of flexibility and agility, including the ability to change course quickly to meet business needs

Experience/Education

- Bachelor's degree in safety management, safety engineering, industrial hygiene, occupational environment health and safety, or a related field. Equivalent role related work experience in lieu of a degree will be considered.

- 12+ years’ experience in safety management, utility, construction, or industrial setting that provides the knowledge and exposure to the fundamentals, principles and concepts of the Health & Safety function.

Travel Requirements

- Up to 30% travel

Work Environment

- In addition to a regular office environment, will occasionally have to work in construction and utility operations environments, near moving mechanical parts and in outside weather conditions. May include an environment where possible exposure to physical hazards, weather extremes, wet and/or humid conditions, and chemicals

Certifications & Licenses

- CSP (Certified Safety Professional) from BCSP or other preferred

- SAC (Safety Auditor Certification) from NASP or other preferred

- Valid Driver’s License

Competencies

Champions safety

Collaborates

Cultivates innovation

Customer obsessed

Nimble learning

Drives Results

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.