Safety Coordinator

Minnesota Direct Care and Treatment; Apple Valley (CA); On-site; USD 79,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

12 paid holidays

Pension plan

Life insurance

Job summary

The Minnesota Zoo is seeking a Safety Coordinator to lead the safety program across a large campus, coordinating occupational health, safety, and hazardous waste initiatives. You will liaise with state agencies and first responders, develop training, and ensure regulatory compliance while supporting the Zoo mission.

This role requires travel between buildings on a large campus, driving as needed, and managing multiple safety projects with an emphasis on reducing injuries and incidents.

Qualifications

• Four years of experience in developing and monitoring occupational safety and health programs.
• Knowledge of federal and state safety rules, ergonomics, injury prevention and hazard evaluation.
• Strong written communication to prepare reports, procedures and trainings.
• Knowledge of environmental regulations (EPA/MPCA) and fire standards.

Responsibilities

• Hazard assessment and mitigation to ensure compliance with local, state and federal standards.
• Develop, implement and update emergency, safety and hazardous waste programs and guidelines.
• Develop, conduct and document safety and hazardous waste training; coordinate external trainers when needed.
• Recordkeeping of health and safety, hazardous waste and training data for reporting and compliance.
• Lead incident investigations to prevent recurrence and improve safety practices.

Skills

Safety program development

Regulatory knowledge

Training delivery

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in safety/health

Job description

Working Title: Safety Coordinator

Job Class: State Program Administrator, Coordinator

Agency: Minnesota Zoological Garden

• Job ID: 97117
• Location: Apple Valley
• Full/Part Time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Unlimited
• Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
• Date Posted: 09/22/2026
• Closing Date: 10/12/2026
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Minnesota Zoological Garden / Zoological Gardens-MAPE
• Division/Unit: Operations / Guest Experience
• Work Shift/Work Hours: 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
• Days of Work: Monday - Friday
• Travel Required: Yes - Up to 25% of the time
• Salary Range: $37.91 - $56.39 / hourly; $79,156 - $117,742 / annually
• Job Class Option: Safety and Health
• Classified Status: Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
• FLSA Status: Exempt - Administrative
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well‑being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

This position provides the leadership for the Minnesota Zoo’s safety program to support the Zoo’s mission of connecting people, animals and the natural world to save wildlife. The position will lead, develop and direct a comprehensive safety program including occupational health and safety emergency and crisis management, and hazardous waste for purposes of reducing employee injuries and illnesses and property loss, proactively introducing health and safety best practices and training, and ensuring compliance with state and federal applicable regulations. The incumbent serves as the Zoo’s liaison to the Department of Administration, Department of Labor and Industry, Minnesota OSHA, and local first responders for safety, health and workers' compensation functions. The incumbent must be able to drive fleet vehicles to move throughout the Zoo campus.

• Hazard assessment: Assess workplace hazards, vulnerabilities and/or risks and recommend strategies and actions to prevent and/or mitigate their impact ensuring proactive mitigation and compliance with local, state and federal standards and regulations.
• Written programs: Develop, implement, review and/or update emergency and crisis management, occupational health and safety, and hazardous waste programs, plans, policies, procedures and guidelines ensuring proactive mitigation and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and State policies.
• Training: Develop, conduct, coordinate, and document all training pertaining to occupational safety and health and hazardous waste. Hire outside training agencies when appropriate. Responsible for new hire training, annual trainings, and refresher trainings. Ensure staff are properly trained in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and AZA standards.
• Recordkeeping: Collect, analyze and maintain occupational health and safety, hazardous waste, emergency management and training data ensuring accurate data, easily accessible information, timely reporting, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Incident investigation: Investigate incidents, spills, injuries, accidents, mishaps and near‑miss events ensuring hazards are resolved and accidents/injuries are prevented from reoccurring.

This position supports operations across a large campus environment and requires the employee to travel between multiple buildings and work sites located throughout the campus to perform assigned duties and respond to operational needs. The incumbent must be able to travel between campus locations in a timely and reliable manner to carry out essential job functions. When job duties require the operation of a motor vehicle to access work sites, transport equipment, or respond to service needs, the employee must be able to safely operate a vehicle and possess a valid and unrestricted driver's license.

Minimum Qualifications

• Four years of experience in the following areas: Developing and monitoring or auditing occupational safety and health programs, reviewing and evaluating work environments and identifying potential occupational and environmental health hazards and applying corrective measures, developing and conducting safety training
• Valid Driver’s License
• Knowledge of federal and state occupational safety and health rules and regulations, ergonomics, techniques of injury prevention and hazard evaluation
• Knowledge of environmental regulations (EPA, MPCA) and fire standards and codes
• Leadership skills sufficient to effectively facilitate meetings and bring groups and committees to productive and solutions focused conclusions
• Written communication skills sufficient to write, prepare, and edit materials such as memos, procedures, reports, presentations, etc.
• Organizational skills sufficient to manage multiple projects simultaneously, delivering results and meeting deadlines

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher level in Occupational Safety and Health, Environmental Health, Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Science, Safety Risk Management, Safety Management, Occupation Safety and Health, Emergency Management or related field
• Certification as Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) or a closely related safety and occupational certification
• Experience with exotic or domestic animals or wildlife sufficient to recognize additional risk and safety exposures for staff and guests
• Experience with park and recreation or amusement facilities that provide services to large volumes of visitors
• Knowledge of FEMA and Homeland Security incident command structures
• Knowledge of USDA and Board of Animal Health safety regulations and AZA safety standards

Physical Requirements

• Availability to occasionally work a weekend day, evening, early morning, weekends, evenings and overnights on occasion
• Ability to stand for long periods of time and walk long distances on uneven terrain
• Ability to walk grounds, run, bend, kneel, stoop, reach upward, climb ladders and stairs, move heavy objects
• Ability to carry and use two‑way portable radios to communicate with all zoo staff
• Ability to sit at a desk and operate a computer for extended periods of time
• Ability to work in an environment that includes both indoor and outdoor work spaces year round in inclement weather and with moderate noise
• Ability to push/pull up to 150 pounds
• Ability to lift carry and/or move up to 50 pounds

Additional Requirements

Applicants must have the ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

It Is Policy Of The Minnesota Zoo That All Candidates Submit To a Background Check Prior To Employment. The Background Check May Consist Of The Following Components

• Conflict of Interest Review
• Criminal History Check including fingerprinting
• Education Verification
• Employment Reference / Records Check
• License / Certification Verification

Contact

If you have questions about this position, contact Kay Grunseth at [e-mail] or 651-539-6624.

About Minnesota Zoological Garden

Created by the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota Zoo opened in 1978 with a mission to connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife. Cutting-edge exhibits provide exciting experiences with animals and their habitats introducing guests to species from around the globe. Education programs engage audiences at the Zoo, throughout the region, and around world. Conservation programs protect endangered species and preserve critical ecosystems.

Working together to improve the state we love.

• A sense of purpose in their work
• Connection with their coworkers and communities
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth

Benefits

As an employee, you'll have access to one of the most affordable health insurance plans in Minnesota, along with other benefits to help you and your family be well.

Your Benefits May Include

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays each year
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
• Fertility care, including IVF
• Diabetes care
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
• Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death