Description

Title - Safety & Emergency Management Program Director

Classification - WMS Band 4

Job Status - Full-Time-Permanent

WDFW Program - Director’s Office

Duty Station - Olympia, Washington – Thurston County

Remote Employment - This position may include telework options up to 2 days per week, at the discretion of the supervisor.

Posting Timeframe - Updated-This recruitment is scheduled to be posted until May 15, 2026. Application review is ongoing, submit your application materials as soon as possible, this recruitment may be closed at any time.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

A orange-crowned bird on a branch that is green with white flowers. Photo is zoomed in on the bird. Photo: Orange-Crowned Warbler – Photo Credit: Melissa Grant

Lead Safety. Drive Change. Protect People.

At Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), our mission includes safeguarding the people who protect Washington’s lands, waters, and wildlife.

With your expertise you will have an opportunity to build a world class safety program that promotes accountability and strengthens our culture of safety.

We are seeking a strategic and experienced leader to serve as our Safety & Emergency Management Program Director (SEMPD). A high-impact role responsible for shaping and driving a culture of safety across our agency.

This is more than just a compliance role; it’s a leadership opportunity for someone who thrives on collaboration, innovation, and proactive risk management.

The SEMPD will serve as the agency’s top safety expert, working directly with executive leadership, staff, and external partners to implement world-class safety standards and emergency preparedness strategies.

Join the Executive Team to set the vision for agency-wide safety and emergency management programs.

In this role, you will:

Lead a team of safety professionals to advance policies, training, and compliance.
Ensure regulatory compliance with OSHA, state, and federal safety laws.
Develop, deploy, and manage the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) and the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) for WDFW, providing services to an agency of approximately 2,500 employees statewide.
Advise executive leadership on critical safety decisions that impact employees, operations, and public trust.
Develop processes and procedures to stop unsafe operations when necessary to protect employees and resources.
Foster a proactive safety culture through communication, training, and continuous improvement initiatives.

This is a career-defining opportunity for a leader who is passionate about protecting people, preventing risk, and ensuring operational resilience. If you have the expertise, leadership skills, and vision to elevate safety at WDFW, we want to hear from you.

Landscape image of Big Bend Wildlife Area - sun is setting over the water - yellow purple and orange wildflowers fill the fields.

Photo Caption: Landscape of Big Bend Wildlife Area – Photo Credit: WDFW

What to Expect -

In this role, the Safety & Emergency Management Program Director provides strategic leadership for WDFW’s safety and emergency management program, fostering a proactive safety culture across the agency. Some of the key responsibilities include:

Establish a robust safety program with excellent safety professionals.
Provide the Executive Management Team (EMT) with real-time safety concerns, safety recommendations, and decisions to establish a safety culture with robust safety processes, expert personnel, and best practices training.
Develop and maintain robust and productive relationships with all EMT members to ensure full implementation of a safety culture throughout WDFW.
Communicate clearly and consistently with the entire agency about safety changes and safety culture.
Develop, implement, and administer 'best known' standards and practices with a focus on achieving world-class performance:
Oversee the implementation and management WDFW risk registers, deploy Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), and ensure documentation of mitigation actions.
Oversee implementation and management WDFW Safety Management System.
Develop, implement, and institutionalize a process to identify and eliminate high-risk occurrences.
Develop, monitor, and update safety regulatory and awareness policies and educational training for management, supervisors, and employees.
Distribute safety regulations and appropriate industry "best practices," as well as internal "best practices" to management, supervisors, and employees to ensure continuous learning and improvement in health and safety performance.
Analyze safety performance, make recommendations, and drive positive changes.

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards: Desk assignment with some field work for emergency management support.

Schedule: Typically, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday, may be required to work occasional weekends and evenings, depending on workload.

Travel Requirements: Some travel may be required throughout the State to attend trainings, meetings and conferences.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

Option 1:

Bachelor’s degree in occupational health & safety or a related field.

And

At least three (3) years of professional experience developing and/or applying safety management to field operations, including programs and procedures.

Option 2:

Nine (9) years of professional experience developing and/or applying safety management to field operations, including programs and procedures.

Both options also require all of the following:

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Working knowledge of risk management processes (e.g., risk matrices, risk assessment, controls evaluation, risk treatment/mitigation), risk registers, and Job Hazard Analysis (JHAs).
Budget development and cost management experience.
Strategic planning and project management experience.
Management and Senior level Leadership experience.
Proven experience providing safety support working at various levels of an organization.
Demonstrated experience in leading cultural change across an organization; experienced in leveraging multiple approaches to helping people adopt and implement sustained change.
Demonstrated experience in leading continuous improvement activities and programs, leveraging processes, tools, and best practices.
Excellent "soft skills" in communicating effectively with all levels of the organization.
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, etc.).

Certifications/Licenses:

Valid Driver’s License.

Preferred Qualifications:

In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess one or more of the following:

Post education certifications such as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) or Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM).

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Certificates of Completion for National Incident Management System (NIMS) Courses 700, 100, 200 and 800 to be completed within six (6) months of employment. (Additional certificates required as NIMS expands their training program).
Complete Incident Command System (ICS) 300 and 400 within one (1) year of employment.
Complete the basic Community Emergency Response Team training class within one (1) year of employment.
OSHA 30 training completion card.
Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or other applicable credentials, or the ability to obtain either within eighteen (18) months of employment.
First Aid, CPR and AED Certification to be completed within six (6) months of employment.

Your application should include the following:

A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
An up-to-date resume.
A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
At least three professional references with current contact information.

Supplemental Information

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.

Important Note:

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice:

Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following:

Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at valerie.rogers@dfw.wa.gov
Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2026-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Request an accommodation: Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

Technical Difficulties: If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.

Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to valerie.rogers@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2026-02121.

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Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife jobs

Safety & Emergency Management Program Director - WMS Band 4