About the Organization
Liberty Dogs™ is a premier Service Dog training program whose goal is to empower Veterans with disabilities to lead more independent and fulfilling lives - enhancing their well-being through the unconditional support that Liberty Service Dogs provide. Located on a 27-acre campus, it includes a training facility, dog housing, an administrative and multipurpose building, and accommodations for Veterans staying on campus to train with their Liberty Service Dogs.
Position Summary:
The Senior Safety & Risk Specialist is responsible for helping develop, implement, and monitor the Liberty Dogs' safety and risk management programs to protect employees, volunteers, Veterans, service dogs, visitors, and organizational assets.
This position serves as the primary contact for workplace safety, risk mitigation, workers' compensation administration, incident investigations, regulatory compliance, and insurance claim coordination. The Senior Safety & Risk Specialist works collaboratively across all departments to promote a culture of safety while reducing organizational risk and supporting operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities:
Safety Program Management
- Help develop, implement, and maintain Liberty Dogs' safety and risk management programs.
- Conduct routine safety inspections of facilities, training areas, kennels, vehicles, offices, and operational environments.
- Identify workplace hazards and recommend corrective and preventive actions.
- Coordinate the organization's Safety Committee and facilitate regular safety meetings.
- Maintain required safety documentation, records, and compliance reporting.
Risk Management
- Conduct organizational risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies.
- Monitor and analyze incident trends, near misses, and claims data to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Partner with leadership to implement risk reduction initiatives.
- Assist in evaluating risks associated with programs, events, volunteers, service dogs, and community activities.
Incident Investigation & Claims Administration
- Lead investigations of workplace injuries, accidents, vehicle incidents, canine-related incidents, property damage, and near-miss events.
- Perform root cause analysis and recommend corrective actions.
- Coordinate workers' compensation claims and serve as liaison with insurance carriers, third-party administrators, and healthcare providers.
- Support return-to-work and transitional duty programs.
- Maintain accurate incident and claims records.
Training & Compliance
- Help develop and deliver safety training programs for employees and other needed teams.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA and other applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
- Coordinate required safety certifications and training records.
- Support emergency preparedness, evacuation planning, and business continuity efforts.
Fleet, Facility & Operational Safety
- Support vehicle safety programs, driver training, and accident prevention initiatives.
- Assist in maintaining facility safety standards and emergency equipment readiness.
- Partner with facilities, operations, and HR teams to address safety concerns and implement improvements.
Reporting & Analysis
- Prepare monthly and quarterly safety reports.
- Track key performance indicators including injuries, workers' compensation claims, vehicle incidents, and safety compliance metrics.
- Provide recommendations to leadership regarding emerging risks and mitigation strategies.
Addition Duties as Assigned
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Risk Management, Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field preferred.
- Minimum 3-5 years of progressive experience in safety, risk management, environmental health and safety (EHS), workers' compensation, or related field.
- Experience conducting workplace investigations and implementing corrective actions.
- Experience managing workers' compensation claims and coordinating return-to-work programs preferred.
- Knowledge of OSHA regulations and workplace safety standards.
- Professional certifications such as OSHA 30, ASP, CSP, ARM, or similar are preferred.
- Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
- Knowledge of risk assessment methodologies and loss prevention principles.
- Experience managing incident investigations and root cause analysis.
- Ability to analyze trends and develop proactive risk reduction strategies.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent organizational and project management abilities.
- Ability to influence and build partnerships across all levels of the organization.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and incident reporting systems.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
Physical Demands & Work Environment:
- Ability to move throughout office, kennel, training, and outdoor environments.
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 30 pounds.
- Ability to inspect facilities, training areas, vehicles, and equipment.
- Ability to travel locally between Liberty Dogs locations and community events as needed.
- Able to operate standard office equipment
- Professional office environment, with dogs, dog dander and animal hair
- This is a full-time, onsite, position that requires flexibility. A typical work week will be 40 hours and may include weekends and evenings. Required attendance at events and/or emergencies may require longer hours or evening work.
Why Join Liberty Dogs?
At Liberty Dogs Foundation, we live by a simple truth: We take care of those who have taken care of our great nation. This role is your opportunity to shape a program that will set a national standard in Veteran wellness and service dog partnerships—changing lives, one Veteran and one dog at a time.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
