Safety Supervisor (Full-Time, Exempt)

Safety Supervisor

Looking for more than a traditional safety role? Join ZooTampa and help protect the people, animals, and experiences that make every day at the Zoo possible.

ZooTampa is seeking a Safety Supervisor to serve as a primary safety resource across the Zoo, helping protect team members, guests, animals, volunteers, contractors, and Zoo assets. This role partners closely with leaders across the organization to identify risks, conduct inspections, investigate incidents, deliver safety training, support emergency preparedness, and strengthen a proactive culture of safety, service, and continuous improvement.

Are you the kind of person who:

• Enjoys being out in the field, working with teams, spotting hazards, and helping solve problems before they become incidents?
• Has experience supporting safety, compliance, emergency preparedness, investigations, inspections, or training programs?
• Can build trust across departments while keeping safety practical, clear, and action-oriented?

If so, apply today and help us create a safer, stronger ZooTampa for our team members, guests, animals, and community.

Position Summary

The Safety Supervisor is responsible for administering ZooTampa's team member safety, guest safety, emergency preparedness, and regulatory compliance programs. This position serves as the Zoo's primary safety resource and partners with leaders across the organization to identify and reduce risk, promote a strong culture of safety, investigate incidents, conduct training, coordinate emergency preparedness efforts, and support compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations, as well as AZA accreditation and industry safety standards.

Your Day to Day Essential Functions (including but not limited to):

• Plan, implement, administer, and continuously improve a variety of occupational health, safety, emergency preparedness, and compliance programs and training initiatives (online and classroom-based) to promote the highest possible degree of safety for team members, guests, volunteers, contractors, and animals. Partners with Human Resources to ensure appropriate recordkeeping, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
• Maintains a highly visible presence throughout the Zoo by routinely conducting safety walks, interacting with team members and guests, observing daily activities, identifying hazards and opportunities for improvement, and fostering a culture of safety, service, and continuous improvement.
• Supports the implementation and administration of the Zoo's Emergency Response Program and assists with emergency preparedness activities.
• Partners with all departments to determine safety training requirements for staff positions and provide training as needed.
• Assists with orientation by providing safety training to new team members, interns, volunteers, and contracted partners.
• Provides safety training and education to Zoo team members, ensuring safety-related programs and training remain compliant with applicable federal, state, and local laws, AZA accreditation standards, OSHA requirements, NFPA standards, ASTM standards, and other applicable regulations.
• Promotes safe practices that protect team members, guests, animals, and Zoo assets.
• Coordinates with Operations, Security, Facilities, and other departments regarding the effective use and maintenance of safety-related communication systems and emergency notification capabilities.
• Coordinates inspection, testing, and compliance activities related to fire protection systems, fire extinguishers, alarm systems, and associated life-safety equipment. Partners with Facilities, vendors, and regulatory agencies to help ensure systems remain operational, properly documented, and compliant with applicable requirements.
• Conducts scheduled safety inspections and audits and assists with corrective action follow up.
• Collaboratively works with department leaders to identify hazards, implement corrective actions, and reduce risk to team members, guests, animals, and Zoo operations.
• Conducts incident, accident, guest injury, and near-miss investigations involving team members, guests, contractors, facilities, vehicles, and other safety-related events to identify root causes, recommend corrective actions, and reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Performs follow-up reviews to verify the effectiveness of corrective measures and maintains required documentation.
• Partners with the Sr. Director of Human Resources to investigate and report work-related injuries, monitor injury trends, support workers' compensation processes, and ensure appropriate corrective actions are implemented.
• Conducts and documents guest-related incident investigations and prepares reports for management review.
• Assists with safety-related reports, inspections, regulatory submissions, and documentation as directed.
• Communicates safety program performance, compliance status, injury trends, corrective actions, and other key safety metrics to Zoo leadership on a regular basis.
• Works closely with Operations, Animal Care, Veterinary Services, Security, Facilities, and other departments to review, coordinate, and participate in emergency response procedures, drills, and exercises, including post-event evaluations and improvement planning.
• Partners with Animal Care and Veterinary teams to support practices that promote the safety and well-being of animals, team members, and guests.
• Maintains and oversees the Zoo's Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and Hazard Communication Program, including chemical inventories, team member access to SDS information, required training, labeling compliance, and safe handling practices.
• Assists in maintaining emergency response plans and supports coordination with outside agencies.
• Coordinates annual reviews of hurricane preparedness, severe weather, and evacuation procedures and serves in assigned roles within the Zoo's Incident Command System (ICS) during emergency events.
• Prepares and presents safety reports, compliance updates, injury trends, and risk mitigation recommendations to leadership.
• Serves as a member of the Zoo's Hurricane Ride Out Team and other emergency response teams as assigned.
• Facilitates the Zoo Safety Committee and works with department leaders to address, track, and resolve safety concerns and corrective actions affecting team members, guests, animals, and Zoo operations.
• Participates in the review of new exhibits, attractions, capital projects, and operational changes to identify potential safety risks.
• Assists with contractor, fleet, golf cart, and vehicle safety programs to promote safe operations throughout the Zoo.
• Stays current on industry best practices, regulatory developments, AZA standards, and emerging trends in workplace, guest, and animal-related safety.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What are we looking for?

Qualifications and Experience

• Associate's degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Public Health, Emergency Management, Safety Management, Environmental Science, Risk Management, or a related field; Bachelor's degree preferred. Equivalent combinations of education, certifications, and experience will be considered.
• 25 years of progressively responsible experience in occupational safety, risk management, emergency management, compliance, public safety, or a related field, preferably in a zoo, aquarium, theme park, museum, hospitality, recreation, or similar public-facing environment.
• Experience supporting or administering safety, compliance, training, and emergency preparedness programs.
• Experience conducting inspections, investigations, audits, training, or regulatory compliance activities preferred.

Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of OSHA regulations, workers' compensation processes, incident investigations, and safety best practices.
• Working knowledge of emergency management principles, ICS, emergency response planning, and business continuity.
• Strong leadership, training, communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to administer, implement, and improve safety and emergency preparedness programs.
• Ability to interpret and apply applicable regulations and adapt to changing requirements.
• Ability to build positive working relationships and influence safe work practices across multiple departments.

Other Requirements

• Ability to work in Florida weather conditions, including heat, humidity, rain, and severe weather.
• Ability to use communication equipment and follow written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, climb stairs, traverse uneven terrain, and operate vehicles or golf carts throughout the Zoo.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, special events, and emergency situations.
• Availability for on-call and emergency response duties.
• Valid Florida driver's license (or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire) with an acceptable driving record.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and capable of utilizing databases, reporting systems, learning management systems, web-based applications, and other software necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds and work for extended periods in a physically active environment.