Safety Specialist

Safety Specialist

Non-Union Position
Safety B; Portland, Oregon (US-OR)

Hybrid schedule available for Oregon & Washington residents.
Regular FT, Exempt
Posting # 5705

About Us:

At NW Natural, we offer more than rewarding career opportunities and a vibrant, inclusive work culture. We invite you to join us in providing safe and reliable utility services and renewable energy to better the lives of the communities we serve. Our vision is to be the leader in service excellence, innovation and environmental stewardship for our customers, while building on our strengths as a trusted energy provider and environmental leader for our industry.

In addition to environmental stewardship, we’re also deeply committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at NW Natural. Our DEI Council started 21 years ago, and today we continue to foster a culture where all employees can experience a sense of belonging, shared purpose and possibility.

NOTE:

This hybrid position is based at our headquarters in downtown Portland, Oregon. Candidates must reside within commuting distance of the office or be willing to relocate to the Portland metropolitan area. Employees are required to work onsite Tuesdays through Thursdays each week, with remote work flexibility on Mondays and Fridays, subject to business needs. This schedule supports collaboration, connection, and team engagement while providing flexibility for focused remote work.

Position Summary:

We are looking for a Safety Specialist 2 or 3 who will serve as a key member of our Safety team, with a primary focus on health and safety training, employee development, and field engagement.

This is not a role that operates solely from behind a desk. You will have the opportunity to work directly with employees and leaders across a wide variety of operations, including Construction, Customer Field Services, System Operations, Transportation, Telecom, Operations Support Services, and other field workgroups.

You will develop and deliver practical, engaging safety training that connects safety expectations with the realities of the work. You will spend time in the field learning how work is performed, building relationships with employees, identifying opportunities for improvement, and helping translate safety requirements and lessons learned into training that makes a difference.

The successful candidate will bring energy, curiosity, strong communication skills, and a genuine interest in helping people learn and succeed.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Lead Safety Training

• Facilitate engaging instructor-led health and safety training for employees, leaders, and workgroups throughout the organization.
• Deliver training in classroom, field, hands-on, and virtual environments.
• Translate technical safety requirements into practical information employees can understand and apply to their work.
• Create an environment where employees feel comfortable asking questions, sharing experiences, and participating in safety discussions.
• Adapt training approaches to different audiences, learning styles, experience levels, and job functions.
• Provide safety training to contractors when appropriate.
• Travel throughout the company's service territory to conduct training and support field operations.

Develop Great Training

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve health and safety training curriculum.
• Design course outlines, instructor guides, presentations, participant materials, job aids, exercises, demonstrations, and other learning resources.
• Incorporate hands-on learning, real-world scenarios, demonstrations, discussions, case studies, and employee experiences whenever possible.
• Use established instructional design principles and company standards to create consistent, professional training.
• Partner with subject matter experts and operational employees to ensure training accurately reflects both safety requirements and the realities of field work.
• Look for new and creative ways to make safety training practical, memorable, and relevant.

Be Present in the Field

• Conduct field and site visits to understand work activities, hazards, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Perform safety observations and inspections and engage employees in constructive safety conversations.
• Build relationships with employees and leaders by listening, asking questions, and understanding how work is actually performed.
• Reinforce safe work practices while helping identify practical solutions to safety challenges.
• Support incident reviews and help translate lessons learned into meaningful training and communications.
• Identify trends and recurring issues that may benefit from additional training, coaching, or program improvements.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities (Continued):

Support Human Performance and Total Worker Health

• Help advance safety beyond compliance by considering the physical and human factors that influence safe work performance.
• Support initiatives related to ergonomics, musculoskeletal injury prevention, physical preparedness, fatigue, hydration, heat stress, slips, trips and falls, and other Total Worker Health topics.
• May conduct or assist with ergonomic assessments and employee education.
• Help employees recognize how factors such as fatigue, distraction, body position, physical demands, environmental conditions, and changing work conditions can affect performance.
• Encourage planning, communication, situational awareness, and early recognition of changing risk.

Partner With Operations

• Work collaboratively with operational leaders, employees, Safety team members, and subject matter experts.
• Serve as a trusted safety resource who can listen to concerns, provide guidance, and help teams find practical solutions.
• Support the company's commitment to creating a culture where safe work practices are part of how work is planned and performed every day.
• Assist with safety programs, initiatives, communications, and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Health & Safety, Public Health, Education, Training & Development, Business, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.
• 3+ years of experience in occupational health and safety, safety training, operations training, industrial training, or a related field for a level 2. Additional years’ experience required for a level 3 with demonstrated advanced knowledge and the ability to independently lead complex assignments and initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate training and presentations for employees, leaders, and diverse audiences.
• Superb presentation and facilitation skills with the ability to make technical or complex information understandable and relevant.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and the ability to build productive relationships with field employees, leaders, peers, and subject matter experts.
• Ability to discuss difficult or sensitive safety topics with professionalism, tact, honesty, and appropriate confidentiality.
• Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Ability to listen, ask effective questions, and understand different perspectives before recommending solutions.
• Organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and make sound decisions within established responsibilities.
• Comfort working in a dynamic environment where priorities may change based on operational needs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, and related business applications.
• Ability to collect, interpret, and summarize information and use data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Ability to define processes, document procedures, and develop clear instructional materials.
• A valid Oregon or Washington driver's license and the ability to maintain a satisfactory driving record.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the company's service territory.
• Ability to physically access construction sites, operating facilities, field locations, and other work environments as necessary.

While not required, the following experience would be valuable:

• Experience delivering safety or technical training to field, construction, utility, transportation, industrial, or skilled-trades employees.
• Experience developing instructor-led or hands-on training programs.
• Knowledge of OSHA safety requirements and general industry and/or construction safety.
• Experience with adult learning principles or instructional design.
• Experience with ergonomics, musculoskeletal injury prevention, or human performance.
• Familiarity with Total Worker Health principles.
• Experience conducting field safety observations, inspections, or incident investigations.
• Safety certifications or training credentials such as ASP, CSP, CHST, OHST, OSHA 30 Hour, or similar professional development.
• Experience working in natural gas, utilities, construction, transportation, manufacturing, or another operationally complex environment.

What we offer:

Health & Wellness –

• Rich health insurance benefits with competitive employer contribution
• Free access to an online wellness resources platform

Work Life Balance -

• Up to 23 Vacation Days
• 80 Hours of Sick Time
• 10 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays
• 3 weeks paid parental leave
• Be part of a workplace where your voice matters. Engage with our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, and a variety of Employee Resource Groups that support community and growth.
• 1500 sq foot exercise facility and secure bike room

Financial -

• Meaningful annual incentive bonus opportunity in addition to base salary
• Competitive 401K company contribution and match
• 15% discount on NW Natural stock through Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Up to $5250 a year in tuition reimbursement
• Wellness incentive program

Discounts -

• 20% off natural gas service
• Up to 30% discount at NW Natural Appliance Center
• TriMet Pass for all HQ employees
• Generous discounts with Verizon & AT&T Wireless

Base salary range: $74,800.00 - $102,600.00 (Level 2) or $88,700.00 - $126,350.00 (Level 3) per year, depending on qualifications

Annual Target Incentive: Level 2, 7.5% target
Level3, 9.5% target
Targets are calculated using eligible earnings during plan year participation. Payout, if earned, is based on company and individual performance for each plan year and may range from 0% – 200% of target. Targets are subject to change in subsequent plan years. Must be employed by September 30 in order to receive any prorated payout.

Application Process: To be considered for this position, submit a complete electronic application including cover letter and resume via our website.

Deadline: 9/28/26

Disclosure: We are a drug free workplace and we comply with Federal Drug Free Workplace Act and Department of Transportation regulations. NW Natural participates in E-Verify. Individuals hired will have their Form I-9 information submitted to E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.

E-Verify Information
NW Natural participates in E-Verify. Individuals hired will have their Form I-9 information submitted to E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.

All applications must be submitted through NW Natural’s Electronic Application System. Resumes submitted via email, fax or mail will not be accepted in lieu of an electronic application.

NW Natural is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and embrace our candidates’ diversity and take affirmative action to employ and advance individuals without discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions), national origin, marital status, genetic information, and all other legally protected characteristics. We forbid discrimination and harassment in the workplace based on any protected status or characteristic. A criminal history is not an automatic bar to employment with NW Natural. Instead, we make individualized assessments regarding qualifications and backgrounds. NW Natural is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation as part of the application process, please contact us at View email address on aiapply.co or View phone number on aiapply.co.

NW Natural does not accept unsolicited submissions or assistance from search firms for posted positions. Resumes submitted by search firms working under a valid and current written contract with NW Natural valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from NW Natural HR/Employment will be deemed the sole property of NW Natural. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by NW Natural as a result of the referral or through other means.