The City of Alameda is seeking a qualified and motivated professional to fill one (1) part-time Safety Officer position. This is a critical role responsible for ensuring that safety remains a top priority across all City operations.
About the Position
Under direction, the Safety Officer plans, develops, coordinates, and implements occupational and environmental safety programs across multiple City departments. Provides technical expertise in regulatory compliance, hazard identification, training, and risk mitigation; performs inspections, investigations, and analyses to ensure safe work practices and compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and performs related duties as required.
This role requires both technical expertise and the ability to effectively communicate, influence, and build relationships across the organization.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will possess a combination of technical knowledge, practical field experience, and strong interpersonal skills. They will be a collaborative professional who can effectively influence safety practices across a wide range of departments and work environments citywide.
Key attributes include:
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Program builder — excited by the opportunity to build, refine, and manage a comprehensive citywide safety program
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Regulatory depth — solid working knowledge of Cal/OSHA, hazardous materials law (RCRA, CERCLA, HMBP/DTSC), and compliance program administration
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Grounded in real-world safety experience — whether in environmental health, industrial hygiene, or a related field; certifications like CSP, CIH, or CHMM are a bonus
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Independent judgment — trusted as the citywide subject matter expert, confident interpreting regulations and making risk calls with autonomy
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Cross-audience communication and field readiness — can explain technical safety issues clearly to both field crews and executive leadership, and is willing to get hands-on across varied outdoor/industrial settings
The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to build and shape a citywide safety program, foster a positive safety culture, and support continuous improvement across the organization.
This is a citywide, professional-level classification responsible for administering occupational and environmental safety programs across multiple City departments. It is distinguished from department-specific safety roles by its organization-wide scope and by its primary responsibility for safety program administration, compliance, inspections, investigations, and training. Incumbents serve as a technical subject matter expert, exercising independent judgment in interpreting regulations, assessing risk, and recommending corrective actions, and may provide technical direction to staff, contractors, and consultants.
Education/Experience
Any combination equivalent to education and experience likely to provide the required knowledge and abilities. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in safety, safety engineering, environmental health and safety, industrial hygiene, or related field.
Experience: Four years of progressively responsible experience in occupational/industrial safety and health, safety inspection, safety promotion and/or safety training. Prior experience as an ergonomist is desirable.
Knowledge
Knowledge of regulations, principles, policies, practices and methods for developing and administering a comprehensive risk management program including emergency preparedness, safety, hazardous materials, health, safety, and claims. Ability to interpret those regulations and implement programs and procedures necessary to ensure compliance. Knowledge of applicable laws, codes and accepted safety practices relating to the workplace, e.g. Toxic Substance Control Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation Liability Act (Superfund), Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, Proposition 65, Right-to-Know Rules, California Workers Compensation Laws, and California Administrative Code Title 22, Health and Safety Code, and California Code of Regulations Title 8; materials and equipment and standard construction practices and procedures; and investigation and record keeping techniques and procedures.
Abilities
Ability to effectively plan and perform assigned work in connection with environmental and worker safety compliance, hazardous waste disposal, hazardous and toxic material control and safety inspections, training and policy administration; communicate effectively orally and in writing with all levels of the organization, public and outside agencies, contractors, etc.; properly handle confidential information and material; establish and maintain a variety of databases; direct the work of consultants; interpret and apply established City policies, procedures and codes; interpret and analyze information, draw valid conclusions and project consequences of decisions and recommendations; analyze and solve problems using independent and discretionary judgment; prepare studies and reports concerning complex technical matters; establish and maintain accurate records; maintain level of knowledge required for satisfactory job performance; communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical audience; establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the general public.
WORKING CONDITIONS-
Indoor office or station environment, and outdoor environment while performing fieldwork. Outdoor work performed across a variety of municipal worksites including but not limited to construction sites, maintenance yards, parks, facilities, roadways, and other public infrastructure.
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Work may occur near active construction zones, traffic, heavy equipment, confined spaces, or other operational hazards.
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Occasional exposure to wet or humid conditions; extreme cold or extreme heat.
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Occasional exposure to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and vibration.
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Travel by City vehicle within City limits to City work sites, locations, and meetings to conduct work.
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Noise level is usually moderate, ambient office sounds such as speaking, working office equipment, and software. Can be loud noises due to hazards, and/or in an emergency or field situation.
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May be required to respond to emergency situations, incidents, or disasters during and outside normal working hours.
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Interaction with employees, contractors, regulatory agencies, and members of the public, including in high-stress or sensitive situations.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
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Operate or ability to operate objects, controls, and/or tools such as but not limited to a computer, computer keyboard, and standard office equipment.
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Vision abilities including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
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Sitting or standing for extended periods of time.
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Reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, crouch, squat, crawl, walk; twist and bend from the waist.
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Fieldwork may involve mobility on uneven terrain, and climbing, scaling, or descending trenches, obstacles, and/or structures to identify problems or hazards.
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May be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, respirators, or protective clothing.
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Hearing and speaking to exchange information and communicate in person and electronically to perform inspections, and assess hazards.
Other Requirements
Possession of a valid California Driver's License and satisfactory driving record at the time of appointment is required as a condition of initial and continued employment only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than the employee’s ability to get to/from various work locations in a timely manner, is necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.
Special Requirement
Respond to after hours emergencies as required.
Certified Safety Profession (CSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST), Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) or other safety professional designations are desirable.
Selection Process: To be considered, candidates must submit a completed City of Alameda Job Application form online. Applicants will be screened and evaluated based on the information provided.
E-Verify: The City of Alameda utilizes the Federal government's E-Verify program and new employees must provide documentation to establish both identity and work authorization, which includes showing a valid United States Social Security card at the time of hire (photocopies not accepted).
An Equal Opportunity Employer: The City of Alameda encourages minorities, women and the disabled to apply. It is the City's policy that all aspects of employment and promotion shall be without regard to sex, marital status or disability (except where dictated by requirements of the position), race, sexual orientation, political affiliation, religious creed, color, national origin or age. Qualified disabled persons must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations. No individual may pose a direct threat to the health or safety of himself/herself or other individuals in the workplace. Barring undue hardship, reasonable accommodations can be made in the application and examination process for disabled individuals or for religious reasons. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be made in advance to the Human Resources Department. Hearing Impaired TDD (510) 522-7538.
