Job Specifications
Black Hills Energy is people powered and purpose driven. Our team uses the power of energy to improve life for over one million customers in 800+ communities across the West and Midwest. We seek talented, caring people who embody our core values and contribute to a culture of inclusion and growth. As an organization, we believe the best part of working on our team is our commitment to making tomorrow better than today—for our customers, communities and each other.
Position summary:
The Safety Professional will coordinate, implement and direct overall safety support services. This role involves conducting safety audits, risk assessments, and training to mitigate hazards and prevent Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIF). The Safety Professional collaborates with leadership and frontline employees to drive continuous improvement in safety performance and maintain a psychologically safe work environment. A strong focus on regulatory compliance, incident investigation, and proactive hazard identification is essential to success in this role.
Pay Range: $86,700 - $130,050 (This posting includes the full pay range for this position. Pay is based on a number of factors and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity.)
Reporting Relationship: Safety Manager
Location: Grimes, Webster City, or Newton, Iowa
Relocation Assistance: Relocation assistance is available based on individual circumstances! Details to be shared during the offer process.
Essential Functions:
- Maintain an active safety presence by conducting orientations and training, attending safety meetings, and performing field inspections focused on identifying Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) potential and promoting safe work practices.
- Ensure compliance with applicable safety regulations, government standards, and industry best practices through policy implementation, training, audits, and ongoing monitoring.
- Provide expert consultation and coaching to managers, supervisors, and employees on safety programs, hazard controls, risk-reduction strategies, and regulatory requirements.
- Manage safety data and recordkeeping systems, including training records, OSHA logs, incident reporting, and regulatory submissions to ensure timely and accurate documentation.
- Lead or support incident investigations and facilitate learning from events to strengthen controls, prevent recurrence, and build organizational capacity.
- Support procurement and maintenance of safety systems, equipment, and services to ensure reliability, readiness, and compliance with regulatory and operational requirements.
- Develop and deliver safety communications, including safety flashes, bulletins, awareness materials, and notification content, in alignment with corporate safety objectives.
- Promote a culture of safety engagement by collaborating with local safety committees, building awareness, and empowering front-line employee involvement in safety initiatives.
- Continuously improve organizational safety through risk assessments, program reviews, performance metrics analysis, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
Additional Responsibilities:
- Be visible in the field and ensure visibility across all assigned areas of responsibility. Maintain open, effective communication channels with all employees that promotes employee confidence and accessibility and provides for a positive, professional relationship.
- Coach and support leaders in implementing effective safety practices, ensuring understanding of regulatory requirements, and applying appropriate protective measures in day-to-day operations.
- Establish regular communications with leadership to discuss emerging risks, resource needs, and project safety status, ensuring proactive support and alignment with organizational safety goals.
- Execute all responsibilities with an uncompromising commitment to safety, integrity, and professionalism, serving as a role model for proactive safety culture and SIF prevention.
What Is Required:
- High School Diploma or Equivalent.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in the electric utility industry, implementing safety policies, developing procedures and training programs, or leading safety audits/inspections and incident investigations is required.
- This position requires driving responsibilities. You must hold and maintain a valid driver’s license and a driving record that meets company and insurer standards.
- This role will be required to travel up to 50% of the time.
What Is Desired:
- Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Industrial Hygiene or a related field. Equivalent combination of education or experience combined with professional safety certifications (e.g., CMSP, CSP, CIH, CUSP) will also be considered.
- First Aid - CPR Trainer
- OSHA 500 or 501
- Knowledge of electric utility business will be imperative in the support of this role.
- Extensive knowledge of OSHA 1910 & 1926 standards and their application to a broad variety of operations and environments.
- Experience in implementing and maintaining a safety management system focused on hazard identification, risk reduction, and continuous improvement.
- Ability to develop, implement and deliver safety training topics.
- Strong ability to identify high-energy hazards and implement controls aimed at preventing Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIF).
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey safety and compliance messages at all organizational levels.
- Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment, including high-pressure situations like emergency response.
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational abilities, capable of prioritizing and making sound decisions in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment with minimal supervision.
- Available to provide safety support at varying schedules, often on short or emergency notice, to 24/7/365 operations.
- Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point. MS-Access proficiency desirable as well).
This description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, duties, and requirements for employees in this position. Job descriptions may and do change periodically. Where positions are covered by a collective bargaining unit agreement, the terms and conditions of the agreement will apply.
About our Company: We are a customer, growth and safety focused utility company that is dedicated to our communities. We improve life with energy as an energy partner of choice. Our diverse culture fuels unique perspectives, opening doors to new insights and possibilities. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, we have over 3000 employees and serve 1.3 million natural gas and electric utility customers across eight states (South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Arkansas).
Enjoy our Comprehensive Benefits Package! Annual discretionary bonuses, 401(k) (6% company match and up to 9% company retirement contribution), tuition reimbursement, generous paid time off benefits, including paid holidays and parental leave, company paid life insurance and disability benefits (short and long term), critical illness, accident & group hospital insurance, pet insurance, an employee assistance program and well-being benefits, and competitive medical, dental and vision insurance.
Candidates must successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check. If there is anything that may show up in these reports that may conflict with the position requirements, feel free to contact the Black Hills Energy recruiting team at [email protected].
Black Hills Energy does not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran. If you require reasonable accommodation, please visit careers.blackhillsenergy.com for more information.
