Employee Safety Administrator

State of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 61,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

UDOT's Risk Management Division seeks an accomplished Occupational Safety and Health leader to drive agency-wide strategies that protect lives, reduce risk, and ensure every employee returns home safely after every shift.

Reporting to the Director of Risk Management, the Employee Safety Administrator will lead a statewide team of 12 safety professionals protecting about 1,800 employees across Utah, translating safety strategies into lasting practices and strengthening accountability and culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in OSH or related field with 6+ years OSH experience.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel statewide.
• Experience supervising or leading teams.

Responsibilities

• Direct Safety Programs: Plan, coordinate, implement, and evaluate statewide safety initiatives, performance goals, and operational action plans.
• Team Supervision: Lead and mentor a statewide team of 12 safety specialists. Responsibilities include workload balancing, performance reviews, hiring, and staff development.
• Cross-Agency Collaboration: Partner with agency divisions, regional teams, external organizations, and committees to align safety initiatives with daily field operations.
• Clear Communication: Present technical findings and safety updates to field staff, senior management, and executives in a manner that aligns with UDOT’s Core Values (Respect, Integrity, and Caring).
• Regulatory Oversight: Ensure agency compliance with state and federal OSHA and UOSH standards, transportation safety rules, and internal policies.
• Site Inspections & Audits: Oversee workplace audits, incident investigations, root-cause analyses, and the implementation of corrective actions.
• High-Hazard Controls: Establish safety protocols for high-risk environments, including highway work zones, heavy equipment operation, trenching/excavation, and fall protection.

Skills

Leadership

Safety program management

Communication skills

Data analysis

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety and Health or related field

Tools

Safety software

Safety dashboards

Job description

If you are a driven safety professional with a proven track record of implementing agency-wide solutions, this is your chance to protect the great people who are on the front lines of Keeping Utah Moving - and we want to hear from you!

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Risk Management Division seeks an accomplished Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) leader to drive agency-wide strategies that protect lives, reduce risk, and ensure every employee returns home safely after every shift.

About The Role

Reporting directly to the Director of Risk Management, the Employee Safety Administrator serves as UDOT’s primary leader for safety and loss control programs. In this role, you will lead a statewide team of 12 safety professionals dedicated to protecting approximately 1,800 employees across Utah. Working alongside a diverse team of transportation risk management experts, you will turn safety strategies into lasting practices, strengthen accountability, and foster a positive safety culture throughout the agency.

Position Information

Salary Range: $44.22 - $70.14 per hour.

FT/PT Status: Full Time

Background Check: You must successfully pass a criminal history check.

Schedule Code: AX - Career service exempt (at-will)

Location: Calvin Rampton Building - 4501 South 2700 West, Taylorsville, UT

Primarily on-site office / field / flex schedule

Recruiter: Porter Cook I [e-mail]

Application Deadline: 11/2/2026*

• This job posting may close at any time after the minimum advertising period of three (3) business days has passed, should a sufficient applicant pool be received. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Management

• Direct Safety Programs: Plan, coordinate, implement, and evaluate statewide safety initiatives, performance goals, and operational action plans.
• Team Supervision: Lead and mentor a statewide team of 12 safety specialists. Responsibilities include workload balancing, performance reviews, hiring, and staff development.
• Cross-Agency Collaboration: Partner with agency divisions, regional teams, external organizations, and committees to align safety initiatives with daily field operations.
• Clear Communication: Present technical findings and safety updates to field staff, senior management, and executives in a manner that aligns with UDOT’s Core Values (Respect, Integrity, and Caring).

Technical Compliance & Hazard Oversight

• Regulatory Oversight: Ensure agency compliance with state and federal OSHA and UOSH standards, transportation safety rules, and internal policies.
• Site Inspections & Audits: Oversee workplace audits, incident investigations, root-cause analyses, and the implementation of corrective actions.
• High-Hazard Controls: Establish safety protocols for high-risk environments, including highway work zones, heavy equipment operation, trenching/excavation, and fall protection.

Resource Management & Continuous Improvement

• Budget & Resources: Evaluate staffing, equipment, technology, and funding needs to deliver effective safety programs statewide.
• Data-Backed Recommendations: Develop business cases, cost-benefit analyses, and educational media to justify safety investments and process upgrades.
• Performance Tracking: Measure program success, identify operational gaps, and introduce long-term preventive solutions.

Incident Prevention & Data Analysis

• Risk Analytics: Analyze injury data, worker claims, and safety trends to identify hazards and prioritize preventive measures.
• Cross-Departmental Alignment: Work closely with Workers’ Compensation, Fleet Operations, and training departments to decrease workplace injuries and lower public costs.
• Emergency Response: Respond to major incidents on-site when required, converting findings into actionable improvements to safety policies and training programs.
• Digital Tools: Maintain and improve safety software, digital reporting tools, automated workflows, and executive dashboards.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Occupational Safety and Health, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Health, Safety Engineering, Public Administration, or a closely related field, plus six (6) years of full‑time OSH experience, including verifiable supervisory or team leadership responsibilities.
• Note: Directly related professional experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis (e.g., 10 years of total related experience if no degree is held).
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel statewide.

Preferences

• Advanced Degree: Master’s degree in an occupational safety or business-related discipline.
• Primary Board Certifications: Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM), or Safety Management Professional (SMP).
• Trainer & Field Credentials: OSHA Authorized Trainer credentials (e.g., OSHA 500/501), Certified Safety & Health Official (CSHO), or related university safety center certifications.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• In order to be successful in this position, the following are essential:
• Leadership & Strategy: Proven ability to manage multi-faceted safety programs, assign resources effectively, and lead organizational change across diverse workgroups.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: High emotional intelligence and professional judgment. Strong skill in writing clear technical documentation, building organizational trust, and resolving workplace conflicts.
• Technical Expertise: Thorough understanding of occupational health regulations, risk assessment methods, and safety mitigation strategies. Ability to analyze financial and statistical data to support practical program changes.
• Digital Literacy: Proficiency with standard office productivity suites (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace) and familiarity with safety databases, reporting dashboards, and basic spatial coordinate tools.

Supplemental Information & Working Conditions

• Work Environment: A combination of office work and field visits to highway work zones, construction sites, and maintenance facilities. Occasional emergency site response and travel is required.
• Physical Demands: Must be able to travel statewide and lift up to 30 pounds during field assessments.

Why You Should Join Our Team

A Mission That Matters – At the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), our mission is to “Enhance quality of life through transportation.