Safety, Health, and Wellness Director

ABOUT THE ROLE Seattle City Light is recruiting for a Safety, Health, and Wellness Director to provide enterprise-level strategic leadership for the utility on all safety matters. Reporting to the Chief People and Culture Officer, this role serves as a key member of the senior management team and is responsible for ensuring every employee has a safe place to work, both physically and psychologically. The Director oversees a budget of approximately $4.1 million and leads functions that promote a safety culture, safeguard employee health, and align with utility and Citywide objectives. This position involves broad organizational policy decisions and substantial financial commitments. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Provide executive leadership and direction across Safety, Health, and Wellness functions, ensuring integrated operations and alignment with strategic outcomes - Plan, organize, and direct multiple functions that promote a safety culture using a data-informed approach that balances operational stability with innovation - Lead, coach, and support leadership across diverse functions, including direct oversight of safety, health, and wellness leaders - Provide fiscal oversight for operating unit budgets, ensuring effective resource utilization and compliance with budgetary constraints - Serve as a representative of the utility on safety, health, and wellness matters, engaging with executive leadership, City partners, labor partners, and external agencies - Formulate and advance policy, program, and framework recommendations to strengthen organizational effectiveness and drive consistency - Promote and operationalize Citywide and City Light initiatives related to equity, inclusion, and social justice - Perform other related duties focused on maintaining continuity, mitigating risk, and supporting the organization through change MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Experience: - Substantial management and leadership experience, typically gained through 10 or more years of progressively responsible assignments - At least 7 years as a senior leader in a large, complex, multicultural, and diverse organization - Demonstrated ability to lead enterprise functions, drive organizational change, build capacity in teams, and influence outcomes in a matrixed environment - Skilled in complex negotiations, developing consensus amidst conflicting regulations, and facilitating resolution of crisis situations - Experience working with employees, executive management, elected/appointed officials, and various agencies (City, Federal, State, County, peer utilities) - Actively promoting and managing strategic initiatives related to fair employment, diversity, and social justice Education: - A bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, human resources, safety, engineering, or a related field - OR a combination of education, training, and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work Certification/License: - Washington State Driver's License is required PREFERRED SKILLS - Electric utility or related industry experience - Knowledge of public sector organizational practices, including labor relations - Ability to lead efforts to continually improve business practices and processes to maximize resources and achieve operational excellence - Ability to articulate organizational and business priority changes in ways that encourage action - Ability to foster and model effective customer service SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS - Emergency Response Commitment: Participation in the Emergency Response Program is required. Each employee is assigned a role to support emergency operations. - Background Check: Job offers are contingent on the completion of a background check, including criminal history and driving history reviews. - Residency/Location: Must be able to operate facilities throughout Washington State, many in remote locations. SELECTION PROCESS - Application review based on qualifications. - Candidates must submit a cover letter and current resume. - Incomplete applications may not be considered. - Background and driving history checks conducted in compliance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance. HOW TO APPLY - Apply online via the City of Seattle careers portal. - Job Number: 2026-00895 - Required Documents: Cover letter describing how knowledge/experience prepares you for the role, and a current resume. - Application Deadline: Continuous EMPLOYMENT DETAILS - Department: Seattle City Light (People and Culture business unit) - Location: Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Ave., Seattle, WA - Type: Civil Service Exempt, Regular, Full-time - Benefits: Comprehensive package including vacation, holiday, sick leave, medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and dependents.