Safety Compliance Specialist-(Administrative Analyst Ii)-Fire & Rescue Services, Occupational Safety

Howard County

Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.

Howard County Government

Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, sustainability, and consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2023, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 51 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) - the most in the state of Maryland. NACo is the leading organization representing county-level government operations. These awards recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policymaking.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.

What you'll like most about working at Howard County Government:

• We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.

• We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace.  Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!  

• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.

• As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Safety Compliance Specialist (SCS) functions as a management team member within the Department of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS), Bureau of Occupational Safety & Health (BOSH). The Safety Compliance Specialist provides technical expertise in development, management, and implementation of safety projects/programs and ensures compliance with applicable regulations, laws, and policies This position supervises one or more major functional programs and has responsibilities associated with developing, managing, and leading bureau projects and programs, including but not limited to creation, planning, technical application, budgetary, training, outreach, and maintenance of projects/programs. This position performs project management tasks appropriate to a management role, including providing analysis and recommendations regarding policy, functional program management, bureau, and departmental business strategy in consultation with the County's Safety and Risk Management Division as necessary.

This position must be able to travel to meetings, events, and job sites independently to conduct inspections, investigations, audits, assessments, and other related work.

CLASS DESCRIPTION

Performs intermediate professional level administrative work, which may include liaison and supervisory responsibilities, under supervision from an administrative superior. Work includes managing the safety and compliance program for the department, providing development and oversight of current and future safety and compliance program, administrative intermediate professional level analysis and coordination of complex administrative matters, programs, and activities.    Include the following, as well as other duties as assigned.

• Oversees, directs, and manages a full range of programmatic aspects of DFRS's Safety Compliance Program within BOSH.

• Provides recommendations, research, and guidance to assist DFRS in maintaining compliance with department regulations and procedures, Howard County Government policies and procedures, Federal and State statutes with respect to occupational safety and health requirements, and other applicable standards and established precedents.

• Facilitates an atmosphere of openness, approachability, and inclusion so personnel feel comfortable discussing safety and compliance issues.

• Develops and implements a DFRS-specific written hazard communication program that integrates with the County program maintained by Safety and Risk Management, and trains employees on the hazards they are most likely to be exposed to in their line of work and the proper precautions to take to minimize or mitigate potential accidents, illnesses, injuries, or damages.

• Authors and maintains safety guidelines, procedures, programs, and policies which are current and comprehensive, reflect industry best practices, and satisfy the requirements of Federal, State, and County safety and industrial health standards.

• Conducts routine and follow-up safety and hazard inspections, risk assessments, and audits of department facilities to ensure conformance to applicable safety and health standards and ensures corrective actions and safeguards have been completed on a routine basis.

• Maintains applicable records and submits all required documentation to the appropriate parties.

• Completes thorough compliance audits of DFRS's internal safety & health programs and projects to ensure programs are compliant with all applicable County, State, Federal, and consensus standards. Evaluates programs for efficiency improvements or modernization.

• Maintains a detailed understanding of departmental programs, outside bureau job functions, department assets, and work locations to classify safety & health concerns and identify programmatic needs, ensuring confidentiality and privacy.

• Maintains knowledge of new and existing regulations, and interprets new regulations, standards, and guidelines to incorporate changes, in coordination with Safety and Risk Management division and DFRS leadership.

• Presents regulatory updates to department stakeholders to ensure DFRS's continued compliance with all applicable County, State, Federal, and consensus standards.

• Performs advance level administrative functions which support safety & health such as: maintaining accurate training records, completing, and evaluating compliance assessments, and serving on  safety & health committees, attending  related meetings as necessary.

• Conducts research, compiles information resources, prepares written briefings, writes technical reports, drafts, and disseminates correspondence, and creates presentations, including the presentation of materials to internal or external groups.

• Identifies and evaluates hazards through statistical reports to propose and implement appropriate preventative measures, safeguards, and controls in coordination with Safety and Risk Management division.

• Creates and conducts classroom training and/or orientation sessions for new and current employees, on a full range of topics related to department-specific workplace safety, health, and compliance concerns in coordination with Safety and Risk Management division.

• Analyzes current program parameters and ongoing projects' performance, including any current limitations and areas for improvement, and identifies any unmet needs within that framework. Devises, proposes, and incorporates potential strategies and solutions, creating new strategic projects where warranted.

• Spearheads DFRS's Safety Review Program, to include a full range of programmatic duties and responsibilities, such as planning, training, editorial authoring of technical reports, records management, presentation, and distribution of results to internal and external stakeholders. Provides research assistance, facilitates corrective action when needed, and develops, recommends, and integrates program updates.

• Serves as the technical expert in injury and accident investigations in coordination with Safety and Risk Management division.

• Identifies and analyzes data associated with safety and compliance trends and develops statistical analysis reports to be utilized for educational targeting, program development, and budgetary planning.

Bachelor's Degree and two (2) years related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Bachelors' Degree in related field or with college level course work in occupational safety and health technology or related field.

• At least 4 years of experience in safety compliance performing design, development and delivery of workplace safety training, compliance inspections, and interpreting/applying Federal and State safety regulations.

• Experience working within safety and compliance program, with specialization in Occupational Safety.

• Experience with formal presentations and training.

• Advanced or expert ability to work with MS Office and other technical applications.

• Working knowledge of State and local government administration as it pertains to best organizational practices, planning, budget development, policies, and operations.

• Preferred professional designations including Certified Safety Professional (CSP); Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH); Associate in Risk Management (ARM).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.

• The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to touch, handle, or feel.

• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

• The employee must be able to travel to meetings and job sites independently. Job sites may involve uneven or rough terrain, climbing stairs and ladders. The person must be able to pass a respirator fit test.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and fumes or airborne particles.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS AND REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to apply the principles, methods, techniques, and practices of workplace safety and environmental health in a wide range of programmatic work.

• Knowledge of Federal, State and County occupational safety and health standards and industry best practices.

• Knowledge of workplace operations, hazards, and environmental concerns across a wide array of occupations (including law enforcement and an array of skilled trade and labor jobs) to identify safety and occupational health issues, violations and practical ways of alleviation and remediation.

• Ability to learn and perform all essential job duties accurately, including laws and regulations applicable to the industry, to guide the department.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents and policies.

• Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.

• Ability to write reports, speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style.

• Ability to make effective presentations to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

• Ability to independently troubleshoot and problem solve, or collaborate a team approach, in a timely manner and in high-pressure situations.

• Ability to apply principles of logical or legal thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.

• Ability to travel to and move around job sites independently to conduct inspections, investigations, audits, assessments, and other related work.