Employee Safety & Readiness Training Coordinator

Multnomah Education Service District (MESD); Portland (OR); On-site; USD 74,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision premiums paid

Paid holidays and sick leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

An educational service provider located in Portland, Oregon, is looking for an Employee Safety & Readiness Training Coordinator to design and deliver safety training programs. The role ensures compliance with safety standards, assesses training needs, and manages training logistics. Candidates should hold a relevant bachelor's degree and have experience in safety training within educational settings. Benefits include full medical coverage and tuition reimbursement options.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and delivering safety training programs in educational or similar environments.
• Ability to assess organizational training needs and evaluate outcomes.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills for adult learners.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver employee safety training aligned to school environments.
• Manage safety training systems and oversee orientation for new employees.
• Review injury data to identify trends and improve training effectiveness.

Skills

Training design

Data analysis

Communication skills

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety or related field

Job description

Schedule: 220 days during the July 1 to June 30 fiscal year

Salary Range: $74,000 - $88,000

POSITION PURPOSE

The Employee Safety & Readiness Training Coordinator leads the design, coordination, and delivery of structured safety training programs that prepare MESD staff to work effectively and safely in educational settings. This position exercises independent judgment in assessing organizational training needs, developing responsive programming, and driving continuous improvement in safety training systems. The role focuses on front-loading safety readiness, supporting onboarding and workforce transitions, and ensuring compliance with required safety training and recertification standards.

This confidential, exempt role reports to the director of Human Resources. This position manages safety training systems, informs operational decisions related to workforce readiness, and exercises professional judgment in the handling of sensitive employee information.

NATURE & SCOPE

This position designs and oversees MESD's employee safety training systems, supports district emergency preparedness efforts, and contributes to injury prevention initiatives. The scope of this role includes needs assessment, program development, scheduling strategy, and quality evaluation. The coordinator exercises discretion in determining training priorities, adapting programming to meet shifting operational demands, and identifying gaps in safety practice. This role serves as an operational resource to HR, Risk, and program leadership in advancing workforce safety across the district. This role does not evaluate employee performance or direct clinical, therapeutic, or instructional practice.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Training Design & Delivery

• Design, develop and deliver employee safety training aligned to school-based and program-specific work environments, applying adult learning principles and best practices.
• Assess organizational and program-level training needs and determine training content, methodology, and sequencing.
• Deliver and support crisis prevention, de-escalation, and safe physical management training in instructional settings, including special education schools and programs where physical support may be required for safety. Provide training in core safety areas, including:
• Crisis prevention and de-escalation
• Safe physical management practices
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) use and hazard awareness
• Incident response and injury reporting
• Body mechanics and injury prevention relevant to school and department-based roles
• Develop and oversee structured safety orientation for employees new to school-based environments, including introduction of safety expectations, professional boundaries, team-based work practices, and reporting pathways.
• Support district emergency preparedness efforts by coordinating training aligned to Emergency Operations Plans and site-specific Campus Safety Plans, and by partnering with supervisors and school staff to ensure employees receive worksite-specific orientation upon transfer or placement.

Program Coordination & Systems Management

• Design and manage training schedules, session logistics, and delivery timelines based on assessment of hiring activity, substitute needs, and program demand.
• Oversee and manage the safety orientation process for substitutes and temporary staff, ensuring readiness and compliance prior to entry into designated programs.
• Manage the scheduling and delivery of make-up and just-in-time training sessions to meet staffing and operational needs.
• Track training completion and annual recertification requirements and follow up on outstanding items.

Injury Prevention & Analysis

• Review employee injury and near-miss data to identify patterns, contributing factors, and opportunities to strengthen training and safety practices.
• Adjust training scheduling or emphasis in response to observed needs.
• Handle employee training records, injury information, and staffing data with discretion and confidentiality.
• Contribute to the identification and sourcing of appropriate PPE for individual student behaviors in coordination with the Behavior Consultant; develop and deliver targeted training on proper PPE use.
• Identify and elevate significant safety training concerns to HR leadership with analysis and recommended action.
• Evaluate training effectiveness using established and self-developed measures; recommend and implement improvements to strengthen staff safety outcomes.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance
• Other duties as assigned

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES

Equity: Lead and support regional equity initiatives

Vision: Lead with vision, follow-through and student focus.

Trust: Develop trust among coworkers and students through honesty and fairness.

Communication: Communicate in an inclusive, effective and collaborative manner.

Personal Qualities: Be respectful, excel in customer service, caring, humble and courageous.

Attendance: Daily and consistent attendance and punctuality are paramount as this provides consistency and alignment with students, peers and programming outcomes.

Agency-wide perspective: Be involved in and supportive of continuous overall improvement of MESD programs and services.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Experience designing and delivering safety or workforce training programs in educational, human services, healthcare, or comparable environments.
• Demonstrated ability to assess organizational needs, develop training programs, and evaluate outcomes.
• Ability to analyze data and translate findings into practical recommendations and program adjustments.
• Experience working collaboratively across departments or with cross-functional teams, including risk, HR, or program leadership.
• Experience handling confidential employee information with discretion.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills with adult learners.
• Highly developed, effective, and professional skills for working in individual, small group, or large group settings.
• Ability to manage variable schedules and shifting priorities with limited oversight

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Trainer certification in a district-approved crisis prevention or physical management program.
• Experience supporting onboarding or orientation programs.
• Previous work experience in special education settings, including classroom, program, or student support roles serving students with disabilities.
• Familiarity with emergency preparedness frameworks, including Emergency Operations Plans or Campus Safety Planning.
• Knowledge of Adult Learning Principles and professional development practices
• Experience working in a unionized public sector environment.
• Bilingual or multilingual in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian, and/or Somali.

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Public Health, Education, Behavioral Science, Human Services, or a closely related field and/or
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in employee safety training, instructional design, risk management, a related field requiring application of specialized knowledge in special education systems, behavioral intervention practices, and school-based safety supports
• Any combination of education and experience which would provide the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability required to perform the job

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed across MESD school and program sites, with travel between locations required as a regular part of the role. Work hours may include evenings to accommodate after-hours training schedules. A valid driver's license and reliable personal transportation are required, as a district vehicle is not provided.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• District pays full medical, dental and vision premiums for eligible employees and dependents
• District pays employee’s 6% Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) contribution
• Paid holidays, sick leave and personal time off.
• Tuition Reimbursement and Professional Development