Health & Safety Director

Requisition ID: *[[id]] * Share Our Purpose. Be Yourself. Feel Valued. 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 Director, Health & Safety (Ops) will be overall responsible for driving and managing Health & Safety initiatives/programs for State Operations, including metrics, safety apps, contractor safety, training, Process Safety Management and audits (compliance reviews). The role will have direct reporting to the VP of Operations and matrix reporting to the Regional Director of Health & Safety _ Key Accountabilities _ * Responsible for managing the State Operations Health & Safety program to reduce injury and illness frequency in accordance with established company and regional targets. * Program activities to ensure compliance with Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA) regulations, State OSHA regulations, as applicable and local regulations when they apply. * Manage and lead health and safety professionals in their duties which include training, auditing, accident investigations, database management and recordkeeping. * Interface with all levels of management to ensure that programs are carried out in accordance with company goals and targets. * Maintain records and associated metrics for safety performance as required by regulation or American Water. * Responsible for creation and managing the state budget for the Health & Safety function. * Responsible for working in conjunction with Risk management/ Insurance. Provide and/or work with Third-Party Administrator to thoroughly review and manage all incidents and injuries. * Administer or supervise staff that administers property/casualty insurance claims. * Serve as a focal point for claims administration for field personnel, insurance adjusters, third party administrators and customers. * Responsible for negotiating claim settlements, conducting file/claim reviews and attending mediation hearings on behalf of American Water. This includes management of all workers’ compensation and general liability claims across the business unit * Ensure that claims and accidents are investigated in a timely manner and necessary reports are submitted for compliance * Prepare and submit required annual reports per regulatory requirements. * Provide support for Community Right to Know, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Risk Management Program, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), OSHA PSM, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS), Underground Storage Tanks, Hazardous Waste Operations, Spill Prevention and Control Plans, Superfund, medical and solid waste disposal. * Closely interface with the Regional H&S Director and HR team * Responsible for administration and management for compliance with Federal and State Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. This includes DOT driver license renewals, driver qualification, vehicle and trailer inventory, annual inspections, and driver substance abuse program, FMSCA, hazardous materials transpiration security and permits. * Responsible for the administration and management of a driver pull notice program _ Knowledge/Skills _ * OSHA, Federal, State and Local regulations as applicable utilities, construction, and related industries. * 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. * Water utility industry strongly preferred Knowledge of Environmental Regulations * Knowledge of DOT regulations * Strong process, project, and program management skills. * Proven ability to lead through influence and deliver results through others. * Ability to be both visionary and 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 with issues effectively and maintain collaborative relationships) _ 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. Master’s Degree preferred. * 15+ years of related experience * 5 + years of experience with managing direct reports _ Travel Requirements _ * Up to 30% within the State _ Work Environment _ * While performing the duties of this job, you will regularly work in construction environments, near moving mechanical parts and in outside weather conditions and could include a work environment where possible exposure to physical hazards, weather extremes, wet and/or humid conditions and chemicals exist. * The ability to wear appropriate personal protective equipment is required. * Occasionally works at elevated levels, in confined spaces and in a construction environment. * Use of respiratory protection may be required in certain instances. * There may also be instances of potential noise exposure. _ Competencies _ Builds Effective Teams & Network Drives Safety Culture Drives Vision & Purpose Persuades Political & Organizational Savvy Situational Adaptability Strategic & Learning Agility * 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.