Health & Safety Manager

Health & Safety Manager

The Health & Safety Manager collaborates with internal stakeholders to ensure that operations run efficiently and effectively through the implementation and continuous improvement of comprehensive safety, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance programs aligned with current local, state, and federal laws and regulations. This position serves as Pacific Science Center's primary subject matter expert for occupational safety, emergency preparedness, and organizational risk management, providing strategic guidance to leadership while fostering a proactive culture of safety throughout the organization.

This position is responsible for exploring organizational safety practices, advising leadership and operational teams, developing and implementing organization-wide safety initiatives, leading incident investigations, ensuring timely and appropriate responses to incidents and regulatory matters, administering fleet maintenance and driver safety programs, and serving as the primary resource for safety, risk management, and compliance throughout the organization. The Risk & Safety Manager continuously evaluates organizational risks, analyzes trends, and develops long-term strategies that reduce risk while supporting operational excellence.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Strategic Safety Leadership
  • Serve as the Facilities Department's lead advisor on organizational safety, regulatory compliance, and risk management.
  • Develop long-term safety goals and continuous improvement initiatives that support Pacific Science Center's mission and operational objectives.
  • Monitor safety performance metrics, analyze organizational trends, and recommend corrective actions to reduce incidents and liabilities.
  • Prepare reports and recommendations for Leadership regarding organizational safety performance, compliance, and emerging risks.
  • Promote a culture of accountability, safety awareness, and continuous improvement across all departments.
• Risk & Incident Management
  • Serve as the primary resource for evaluating, reporting, and mitigating hazards at Pacific Science Center. This includes regular monitoring and restocking of first aid kits, as well as leading incident investigations and ensuring swift, appropriate responses to all risk-related issues.
• Safety Program Development & Implementation
  • Safety Training - Develop, update, and administer comprehensive organization-wide safety training programs. This includes collaborating with the People & Culture (P&C) team to maintain compliance records for annual training requirements on topics such as camp staff safety, driving, chemical use, heat exposure, bloodborne pathogens, emergency preparedness and evacuations, and other essential safety topics.
  • Program Management – Update, develop and oversee various State mandated safety programs. Increase staff engagement and participation in these programs.
  • Internal Team Safety Liaison - Partner with teams and departments to create and maintain safety guidelines, procedures, and risk mitigation strategies for departmental operations and programs. During camp seasons, function as the primary safety resource by conducting regular site visits, maintaining incident logs, leading safety responses, and communicating safety updates and recommendations.
  • Safety Audits - Conduct regular organizational safety audits to ensure adherence to established policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Identify trends, evaluate risks, and recommend corrective actions and continuous improvement opportunities.
  • Emergency Management - Collaborate with facilities and security leaders to develop, implement, and continuously improve emergency management plans and procedures. Partner with departments to coordinate drills, tabletop exercises, preparedness activities, and after-action reviews, incorporating lessons learned to strengthen organizational resilience. Build and maintain collaborative relationships with local emergency response agencies and community partners, as appropriate, to support effective planning and coordinated response efforts.
• Compliance Collaboration
  • Worker Safety Liaison - Collaborate with leadership and the human resources team regarding reporting procedures, workers' compensation, return-to-work programs, injury investigations, and regulatory recordkeeping.
  • Fire Mitigation - Partner with the Director of Facilities, and the City's Fire Marshal to ensure facility safety, code compliance, fire prevention, and implementation of effective fire hazard mitigation strategies.
  • Regulatory compliance - Support the Facilities Director in maintaining compliance with OSHA/WISHA, L&I, insurance requirements, and other applicable regulatory agencies. Collaborate during inspections, investigations, audits, and compliance reviews, assist with tracking regulatory changes, and help develop or recommend policy and procedural updates to ensure ongoing organizational compliance and continuous improvement.
• Safety Council Leadership - In collaboration with the Director of Facilities and Leadership Team, build, lead, and facilitate a diverse safety committee that evaluates organizational risks, reviews incidents, develops safety initiatives, implements and guides corrective action.
• Organization Leadership - Partner with department leaders to integrate safety and risk management into operational planning, construction projects, exhibits, camps, special events, and daily operations. Provide technical guidance and coaching to supervisors and managers while promoting continuous improvement and shared ownership of organizational safety.
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Knowledge of best practices related to occupational safety, environmental health and safety (EHS), worker safety, youth programming, insurance program management, emergency preparedness, and fleet management.
• OSHA/WISHA regulations and applicable local, state, and federal safety requirements.
• Risk assessment, incident investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective action methodologies.
• Emergency management, business continuity, and organizational resilience principles.
• Methods of legal and regulatory compliance research.
• Contractor safety management and construction safety best practices.

Skills:

• Highly effective verbal and written communication.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent project management, organization, and time management.
• Ability to analyze data and identify organizational trends.
• Experience preparing reports, presentations, and recommendations for leadership.
• Excellent customer service skills while maintaining a collaborative and approachable demeanor.
• Ability to create and maintain complex logs, reports, and tracking systems using Microsoft Office applications.

Ability to:

• Ensure confidentiality and privacy of sensitive safety, incident, and personnel information.
• Foster a culture of safety through collaboration, communication, and leadership.
• Take initiative, exercise sound judgment, and work independently while collaborating across multiple departments.
• Interpret regulations and apply them to organizational operations.
• Manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Maintain a calm demeanor during emergencies and rapidly changing situations.
• Ensure guests of all ages and backgrounds are welcomed and served in a manner consistent with Pacific Science Center's mission, vision, and values.

Qualifications

• Required: Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible experience in occupational safety, environmental health and safety (EHS), risk management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing organization-wide safety programs.
• Experience leading incident investigations and regulatory compliance initiatives.
• Experience developing and delivering safety training.
• Experience interpreting OSHA/WISHA and other regulatory requirements.
• Valid driver's license with a safe driving record, including no moving violations within the past three years.
• First Aid/AED/CPR Certification.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, particularly during the summer season.
• Preferred: Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health, Risk Management, Industrial Hygiene, or a related field.
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), OSHA 30-Hour General Industry certification, or equivalent professional certification.
• Experience working within museums, educational institutions, cultural organizations, or nonprofit environments.
• Knowledge of USDA regulations related to (APHIS)
• Knowledge of Washington State Department of Health (Food Safety)

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

• Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, but some evening or weekend hours may be required.
• This position requires the ability to work at multiple locations in the Seattle area during the summer on a rotating basis.
• This role may require someone to remain at their workstation for extended periods of time.
• This role requires inspection of sites and potential hazards of varying sizes throughout the facility (including in difficult to reach areas), frequent communication in different forms, and moving objects of assorted sizes and weights.
• The position may require work outside in all kinds of weather.
• The position requires the ability to operate vehicles, including