Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation’s largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served. Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle's electricity safe, affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound. Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.
The People and Culture business unit is recruiting for a Safety, Health, and Wellness Director to provide enterprise-level strategic leadership for the utility on all safety matters. The objective of this team is to ensure that every employee has a safe place to work—both physically and psychologically. This position is responsible for a budget of approximately $4.1 million. Decisions involve broad organizational policy and substantial financial commitment on the part of the utility. This role serves as a key member of City Light's senior management team and plays an important role in the City of Seattle’s interdepartmental teams. This position will report to the Chief People and Culture Officer.
Key responsibilities and deliverables may include, but are not limited to:
Providing executive leadership and direction across Safety, Health, and Wellness functions, ensuring integrated operations, clear prioritization, and alignment with utility and Citywide objectives. This includes leading through influence to shape organizational culture and advance strategic outcomes with a care-centric approach.
Planning, organizing, and directing multiple functions that promote a safety culture and safeguard employee health and safety, using a methodical and data-informed approach that balances operational stability with innovation and change.
Leading, coaching, and supporting leadership across diverse functions, including direct oversight of leaders responsible for safety, health, and wellness; building leadership capacity; reinforcing clear accountability; and strengthening cross-functional coordination across the enterprise.
Providing fiscal oversight for operating unit budgets, ensuring effective resource utilization; aligning work plans to strategic and budget priorities; maintaining compliance with budgetary constraints; and supporting forecasting and planning for operational and capital improvements.
Serving as a representative of the utility on matters related to safety, health, and wellness as appropriate, engaging effectively with executive leadership, City partners, labor partners, and external agencies to advance shared goals.
Formulating and advancing policy, program, and foundational framework recommendations that strengthen organizational effectiveness, drive consistency across the utility, and ensure the appropriate allocation of resources. This includes creating and implementing a vision for the future of the safety program.
Actively promoting and operationalizing Citywide and City Light initiatives, including those related to equity, inclusion, and social justice, ensuring these priorities are embedded in workplace practices, systems, service delivery, and team culture.
Performing other related duties of a comparable level/type as assigned, with a focus on maintaining continuity, mitigating risk, and supporting the organization through change and transition.
Required Qualifications:
In addition to the skills and experience mentioned below, a successful applicant will have experience that reflects a commitment to creating fair and equitable outcomes and has:
Experience:
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Substantial management and leadership experience typically gained through 10 or more years of progressively responsible assignments, with at least 7 years as a senior leader in a large, complex, multicultural, and diverse organization. Candidates should bring demonstrated ability to lead enterprise functions; drive organizational change; build capacity in teams and leaders; and influence outcomes across a matrixed environment where authority is shared.
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Skilled in complex negotiations; developing consensus within an organizational climate of diverse operational activities and often conflicting regulations; facilitating resolution of difficult crisis situations; and working directly with employees, executive management, elected and appointed officials, and a variety of agencies including other City departments, Federal, State and County agencies, and peer utilities.
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Actively promoting, supporting, and managing key strategic utility-wide initiatives including those related to fair and equal employment, diversity, and social justice in the workplace. Successful candidates must demonstrate their commitment to and involvement in activities that create and sustain a workforce environment that values multiculturalism and diversity as a workforce and community asset.
Education: A bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, human resources, safety, engineering, or related field (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the position).
Certification/License: Washington State Driver's License is required. Seattle City Light operates facilities throughout Washington State, many of them in remote locations.
Desired Qualifications:
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Electric utility or related industry experience.
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Knowledge of public sector organizational practices, including labor relations.
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Ability to lead and support efforts to continually improve business practices and processes to maximize utility-wide resources and achieve operational excellence, including articulating organizational and business priority changes in ways that encourage action and support.
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Ability to foster and model effective customer service.
Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Emergency Response Commitment: Seattle City Light is committed to reliable service during emergencies. Through our Emergency Response Program, each employee is assigned a role—usually aligned with their regular duties—to support emergency operations. Your participation is required and vital to helping the utility stay prepared and serve our community when it matters most.
Total compensation and relocation packages are competitive and depend upon qualifications and experience. The full salary range for this position is $139,645.44 to $230,410.80 annually.
Application Process
Please submit the following with your online application:
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A cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job announcement
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A current resume of your educational and professional work experience.
Incomplete applications may not be considered.
Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle City Light values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.
Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check. The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with the Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17 and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3 (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader). A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits.
Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers.
