Safety Supervisor (Full-Time, Exempt)

ZooTampa at Lowry Park; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance options

403(b) Retirement Plan with a 4% company match

Generous PTO

Employee Assistance Program

Free admission to the Zoo and partner attractions

Discounted gym membership

Job summary

ZooTampa at Lowry Park is looking for a Safety Supervisor to enhance safety across the Zoo for team members and guests. This role involves emergency preparedness, conducting inspections, and fostering a culture of safety.

The ideal candidate will have experience in occupational safety, ideally within public and educational environments. Key responsibilities include maintaining safety compliance and ensuring effective training programs. The organization offers competitive benefits including health insurance, a retirement plan, and free admission to various attractions.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of experience in occupational safety, risk management, or similar roles.
• Experience in public-facing environments like zoos or museums preferred.
• Ability to administer and improve safety programs.

Responsibilities

• Administer safety, guest safety, and emergency preparedness programs.
• Conduct safety walks and identify hazards.
• Support training for new team members.

Skills

Knowledge of OSHA regulations

Emergency management principles

Strong leadership

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Education

Associate's degree in Occupational Health and Safety

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Looking for more than a traditional safety role? Join ZooTampa and help protect the people, animals, and experiences that make every day at the Zoo possible.

ZooTampa is seeking a Safety Supervisor to serve as a primary safety resource across the Zoo, helping protect team members, guests, animals, volunteers, contractors, and Zoo assets. This role partners closely with leaders across the organization to identify risks, conduct inspections, investigate incidents, deliver safety training, support emergency preparedness, and strengthen a proactive culture of safety, service, and continuous improvement.

Are you the kind of person who:

• Enjoys being out in the field, working with teams, spotting hazards, and helping solve problems before they become incidents?
• Has experience supporting safety, compliance, emergency preparedness, investigations, inspections, or training programs?
• Can build trust across departments while keeping safety practical, clear, and action-oriented?

If so, apply today and help us create a safer, stronger ZooTampa for our team members, guests, animals, and community.

Position Summary

The Safety Supervisor is responsible for administering ZooTampa's team member safety, guest safety, emergency preparedness, and regulatory compliance programs. This position serves as the Zoo's primary safety resource and partners with leaders across the organization to identify and reduce risk, promote a strong culture of safety, investigate incidents, conduct training, coordinate emergency preparedness efforts, and support compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations, as well as AZA accreditation and industry safety standards.

Who We Are

ZooTampa at Lowry Park is one of the most popular zoos in the southeastern U.S., with over 1.2 million visitors annually. It spans 56 acres of naturalistic animal exhibits in a lush, tropical garden setting. The Zoo, accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), offers popular educational programming, recreational amenities, up‑close animal encounters, and engaging seasonal events for which it has won awards as one of the country’s most family‑friendly zoos.

Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and care for animals; create exceptional personalized experiences that connect people with wildlife and each other in fun, immersive ways.

Our vision is that everyone we touch is motivated to join us in taking action to protect and preserve wildlife.

Your Day to Day

Essential Functions (Including But Not Limited To)

• Plan, implement, administer, and continuously improve a variety of occupational health, safety, emergency preparedness, and compliance programs and training initiatives (online and classroom‑based) to promote the highest possible degree of safety for team members, guests, volunteers, contractors, and animals. Partners with Human Resources to ensure appropriate recordkeeping, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
• Maintain a highly visible presence throughout the Zoo by routinely conducting safety walks, interacting with team members and guests, observing daily activities, identifying hazards and opportunities for improvement, and fostering a culture of safety, service, and continuous improvement.
• Support the implementation and administration of the Zoo’s Emergency Response Program and assist with emergency preparedness activities.
• Partner with all departments to determine safety training requirements for staff positions and provide training as needed.
• Assist with orientation by providing safety training to new team members, interns, volunteers, and contracted partners.
• Provide safety training and education to Zoo team members, ensuring safety‑related programs and training remain compliant with applicable federal, state, and local laws, AZA accreditation standards, OSHA requirements, NFPA standards, ASTM standards, and other applicable regulations.
• Promote safe practices that protect team members, guests, animals, and Zoo assets.
• Coordinate with Operations, Security, Facilities, and other departments regarding the effective use and maintenance of safety‑related communication systems and emergency notification capabilities.
• Coordinate inspection, testing, and compliance activities related to fire protection systems, fire extinguishers, alarm systems, and associated life‑safety equipment. Partner with Facilities, vendors, and regulatory agencies to ensure systems remain operational, properly documented, and compliant with applicable requirements.
• Conduct scheduled safety inspections and audits and assist with corrective action follow‑up.
• Collaboratively work with department leaders to identify hazards, implement corrective actions, and reduce risk to team members, guests, animals, and Zoo operations.
• Conduct incident, accident, guest injury, and near‑miss investigations involving team members, guests, contractors, facilities, vehicles, and other safety‑related events to identify root causes, recommend corrective actions, and reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Perform follow‑up reviews to verify effectiveness of corrective measures and maintain required documentation.
• Partner with the Sr. Director of Human Resources to investigate and report work‑related injuries, monitor injury trends, support workers' compensation processes, and ensure appropriate corrective actions are implemented.
• Conduct and document guest‑related incident investigations and prepare reports for management review.
• Assist with safety‑related reports, inspections, regulatory submissions, and documentation as directed.
• Communicate safety program performance, compliance status, injury trends, corrective actions, and other key safety metrics to Zoo leadership on a regular basis.
• Work closely with Operations, Animal Care, Veterinary Services, Security, Facilities, and other departments to review, coordinate, and participate in emergency response procedures, drills, and exercises, including post‑event evaluations and improvement planning.
• Partner with Animal Care and Veterinary teams to support practices that promote the safety and well‑being of animals, team members, and guests.
• Maintain and oversee the Zoo's Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and Hazard Communication Program, including chemical inventories, team member access to SDS information, required training, labeling compliance, and safe handling practices.
• Assist in maintaining emergency response plans and support coordination with outside agencies.
• Coordinate annual reviews of hurricane preparedness, severe weather, and evacuation procedures and serve in assigned roles within the Zoo's Incident Command System (ICS) during emergency events.
• Prepare and present safety reports, compliance updates, injury trends, and risk mitigation recommendations to leadership.
• Serve as a member of the Zoo's Hurricane Ride‑Out Team and other emergency response teams as assigned.
• Facilitate the Zoo Safety Committee and work with department leaders to address, track, and resolve safety concerns and corrective actions affecting team members, guests, animals, and Zoo operations.
• Participate in the review of new exhibits, attractions, capital projects, and operational changes to identify potential safety risks.
• Assist with contractor, fleet, golf cart, and vehicle safety programs to promote safe operations throughout the Zoo.
• Stay current on industry best practices, regulatory developments, AZA standards, and emerging trends in workplace, guest, and animal‑related safety.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What Are We Looking For?

Qualifications and Experience

• Associate's degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Public Health, Emergency Management, Safety Management, Environmental Science, Risk Management, or a related field; Bachelor's degree preferred. Equivalent combinations of education, certifications, and experience will be considered.
• 2–5 years of progressively responsible experience in occupational safety, risk management, emergency management, compliance, public safety, or a related field, preferably in a zoo, aquarium, theme park, museum, hospitality, recreation, or similar public‑facing environment.
• Experience supporting or administering safety, compliance, training, and emergency preparedness programs.
• Experience conducting inspections, investigations, audits, training, or regulatory compliance activities preferred.

Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of OSHA regulations, workers' compensation processes, incident investigations, and safety best practices.
• Working knowledge of emergency management principles, ICS, emergency response planning, and business continuity.
• Strong leadership, training, communication, organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to administer, implement, and improve safety and emergency preparedness programs.
• Ability to interpret and apply applicable regulations and adapt to changing requirements.
• Ability to build positive working relationships and influence safe work practices across multiple departments.

Other Requirements

• Ability to work in Florida weather conditions, including heat, humidity, rain, and severe weather.
• Ability to use communication equipment and follow written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, climb stairs, traverse uneven terrain, and operate vehicles or golf carts throughout the Zoo.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, special events, and emergency situations.
• Availability for on‑call and emergency response duties.
• Valid Florida driver's license (or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire) with an acceptable driving record.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and capable of utilizing databases, reporting systems, learning management systems, web‑based applications, and other software necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds and work for extended periods in a physically active environment.

Our Perks at ZooTampa

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance options.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with a 4% company match.
• Generous PTO (Vacation and Wellness time).
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Free admission to the Zoo, MOSI, Glazer Children's Museum, and the Florida Aquarium.
• Free or discounted admission to many attractions in Florida.
• Discounted gym membership.
• And so much more!

Equal Opportunity Employer & Drug‑Free Workplace