Director Safety, Environmental & Real Estate Services

Director of Safety, Environmental & Real Estate Services

Provide leadership and direction for the planning, development, and implementation of shared programs for Safety, Environmental, and Real Estate Services to ensure legal and regulatory compliance with all applicable codes and regulations and provide proactive counsel and service to business units.

This is a department level senior management position. It is distinguished from other director positions by its emphasis on safety, environmental, and real estate functions. This position provides ongoing direction and management to ensure the reliability and efficiency of the functional areas, and they are aligned and coordinated with other business units / departments. The role is required to attend, present and / or lead at Board, executive, team, customer, community, and one-on-one meetings; in person, as needed.

Directs the work of three work groups (Safety, Environmental, and Real Estate Services); maintains staffing levels and work quality to meet defined objectives; interprets and executes SMUD policies and procedures; recommends modifications to operating policies; oversees and evaluates work; owns hiring decisions and responsibility for training, coaching, mentoring, and developing team members; advises workgroups on tasks and operations as required to solve complex problems; ensures staff safety and prevention of personal injury and equipment loss; and takes responsibility for financial planning and annual goal setting to ensure project and operational schedules are met.

Presents to the SMUD Board of Directors and Executive Team on safety, environmental, and real estate projects, strategic directive updates, and compliance projects.

Ensures operating objectives in areas of responsibility are met within expected timing, budgetary, quantity, accuracy, safety, and quality standards.

Provides consultative services by reviewing and assessing current and proposed legislation, litigation, arbitration, and regulations or regulatory changes for awareness of impending changes and assessment of SMUD compliance; provides advice, counsel and recommendations to executive management, directors, managers, supervisors, and employees concerning compliance with governmental regulations and codes; serves as a subject matter expert in litigation, arbitration and regulatory hearings; represents SMUD and its interests on inter-utility, industry, governmental, and public committees and task forces and at policy-making boards; obtains and provides SMUD's position on proposed rule changes; provides status updates on rule changes to staff, department management, Legal, and Executive Management as required; and recommends changes in policies, procedures, construction, operating methods or procedures to ensure on-going compliance with rule changes.

Directs and promotes a "Safety for Life" zero accident work culture for leadership, employees, contractors, and the public.

Integrates safety into the workflow processes of all business units and supports the prevention and reduction of Serious Incident and Fatalities (SIF), field and office ergonomic injuries, and occupational health injuries.

Oversees development and implementation of SMUD's Injury, Illness and Prevention Program that includes Safety Management System tracking (e.g, GenSuite), compliance tracking, behavior based safety, ergonomics, vehicle prevention, contractor safety, public safety, and SIF reduction programs (near miss reporting, Job Hazard Analysis, incident / accident root cause analysis, training, standards development, inspections, concern reporting, occupational and health monitoring, and human performance engineering).

Directs the development, implementation and / or long-term planning of the following environmental compliance programs : GHG reporting (federal and state), water and waste water management, hazardous materials management, waste management, air quality / permitting, internal environmental sustainability, and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) oversight, environmental stewardship programs.

Supports the following efforts : afterhours on-call program for spill response and reporting; avian protection program; soil / groundwater investigation & remediation projects; mitigation bank management; habitat conservation program development; and compliance inspections / audits.

Directs and promotes the development of SMUD's real estate services program which includes the appraisal, acquisition, leasing, and disposal of all real property required for SMUD facilities and operations.

Develops area plans for input to SMUD's long range planning of facilities and operations.

Oversees the acquisition of real estate interests such as easements, leases, fees, contracts, and survey permits; ensures that matters are handled within established policy and procedures and legal requirements are met.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

At least seven (7+) years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in the development and implementation of technical and comprehensive safety, occupational health, or risk management programs, including at least five (5+) years of progressively responsible management / supervisory experience or equivalent lead project experience in a teamwork environment.

Methods and techniques for strategic planning; policy interpretation and application; program development and evaluation; processes related to team development (hiring, training, performance management); policies and procedures related to supervisory practices and employee rights; process redesign and improvement; risk analysis; fundamentals of Occupational Health and Safety and applicable federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations; practices and processes in conducting safety, loss control prevention, audits, inspections, and self-assessments; regulatory processes of the federal, state and local levels to effectively represent SMUD; standard operating procedures for modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software; English grammar, punctuation and vocabulary standards; and strong presentation / verbal communication skills.

Interpret and apply SMUD policies, procedures, applicable MOU's and / or other special agreements; apply applicable personnel laws, codes and regulations; direct and develop staff; manage contracts and work of consultants and contractors; collaboratively coordinate the work of the function or unit with other SMUD areas; establish, manage and update budget; initiate, maintain and oversee adherence to safety policies and procedures; interact with others to influence and motivate; compile and prepare technical, statistical and / or analytical reports and presentations; develop and conduct oral presentations to internal and external audiences; respond to and resolve customer issues, concerns and needs; monitor and manage projects; proactively research and assess trends and evaluate and provide recommendations to achieve department and SMUD objectives; utilize a personal computer and / or computer terminal, systems and software relevant to the job; communicate effectively orally and in writing internally / externally; establish and maintain effective working relationships internally and externally.

Experience partnering with leaders in the utility industry and working alongside high risk / field operations.

Knowledge of environmental programs and compliance programs including : GHG reporting (federal and state), water and waste water management, hazardous materials management, waste management, air quality / permitting, internal environmental sustainability, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) oversight, and environmental stewardship programs; spill response and reporting; avian protection program; soil / groundwater investigation and remediation projects; mitigation bank management; habitat conservation program development; and compliance inspections / audits.

Knowledge of real estate services and land management including appraisal, acquisition, leasing, and disposal of real property; and acquisition of real estate interests such as easements, right of way, leases, fees, contracts, and survey permits.

Possess or be able to obtain and maintain one or more of the following : Certified Safety Professional (CSP); Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH); Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM).

Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.