Safety Specialist-Electric Operations

OUC - The Reliable One, an industry leader and the second largest municipal utility in Florida committed to serving the community and the environment, is presently seeking a Safety Specialist – Electric Operations to join the Safety division.

We are looking for a proactive, field‑engaged safety professional to support OUC’s operational, maintenance, construction, engineering, and contractor activities by promoting safe work practices, enhancing hazard recognition, and strengthening regulatory compliance across electric utility operations.

In this role, you will be responsible for conducting field safety observations, inspections, audits, and hazard assessments across power generation, transmission, and distribution environments. You will partner with supervisors, employees, contractors, and leadership to identify risks, evaluate hazards, and implement effective corrective actions. You will also support the development and continuous improvement of safety programs, review work plans and high‑risk activities, participate in incident investigations, contribute to Job Hazard Analyses and risk assessments, and provide safety coaching and training to reinforce safe and compliant work practices. Additional responsibilities include supporting contractor safety oversight, maintaining accurate safety documentation, assisting with regulatory readiness, monitoring safety performance trends, and collaborating across departments to advance enterprise safety initiatives. We are looking for a skilled communicator and collaborative safety professional who can strengthen OUC’s safety culture through field engagement, operational understanding, and continuous improvement.

Join a team of visionary Change Agents, Strategists, and Community Ambassadors who understand the vital role of diverse experiences in powering creativity and industry transformation. At OUC, each position contributes to the success and achievement of our goals. Click here to learn more about what we do.

The ideal candidate will have:

• High school diploma or GED required
• Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering Technology, Construction Management, Industrial Technology, or related field from an accredited college or university (preferred)
• Three years (3) experience in occupational safety, environmental health and safety, industrial hygiene, safety systems, program development, or a closely related professional role, to include:
  • Two years (2) experience working in or supporting utility, industrial, construction, energy, or other operational field environments
  • Experience applying OSHA regulations and industry safety practices applicable to utility or construction operations
  • Experience conducting formal root cause analysis or post incident investigations
  • Experience providing training and speaking in front of large groups
• OSHA 500 Certification at the time of hire or to be obtained within 6 months of hire.
• Valid State of Florida Driver’s License
• Experience delivering technical safety training, field mentoring, or apprenticeship-related coaching (preferred)
• Experience participating in regulatory audits, serious-event reviews, or contractor safety oversight (preferred)
• Safety certification such as ASP, CSP, CUSP, CHST, OHST, or similar (preferred)
• OSHA 501, train-the-trainer credentials, or equivalent experience in providing safety related training (preferred)

OUC offers a very competitive compensation and benefits package. Our Total Rewards package includes, to cite a few:

Competitive compensation

Low-cost medical, dental, and vision benefits and paid life insurance premiums with no probationary period.

OUC’s Hybrid Retirement Program includes a fully-funded cash balance account, defined contribution with employer matching along with a health reimbursement account

Generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick time

Paid parental leave

Educational Assistance Program, to include tuition reimbursement, paid memberships in professional associations, paid conference and training opportunities

Wellness incentives and free access to all on-site OUC fitness facilities 

Access to family-oriented recreational areas

Paid Conference and Training Opportunities

Click here to view our Benefits Summary.

Salary Range: $40.38 hourly ($83,990.40 annually) - $60.57 hourly ($125,985.60 annually) - commensurate with experience

Location: Pershing

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. This organization does not offer or sponsor employment visas for internship or full-time positions. 

Please see below a complete Job description for this position.

Job Purpose:

Serves as a safety professional supporting OUC operational, maintenance, construction, engineering, and contractor activities. Conducts field safety assessments, supports risk reduction initiatives, develops and maintains safety programs and procedures, assists with incident investigations, and provides coaching and guidance to promote safe, compliant, and operationally practical work practices. Partners with operations, engineering, leadership, employees, and contractors to strengthen hazard recognition, regulatory compliance, human performance, and continuous improvement across utility operations.

Primary Functions:

• Conduct field safety observations, inspections, audits, and hazard assessments across utility operations, maintenance activities, contractor work, construction projects, and related field environments, with primary emphasis in power and water production, transmission and/or distribution.
• Partner with supervisors, employees, contractors, planners, and leadership to identify hazards, evaluate risk, and implement practical and sustainable corrective actions aligned with operational needs and regulatory requirements.
• Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of safety programs, procedures, standards, safe work practices, and operational guidance documents.
• Review work planning activities, job briefings, outage activities, and higher-risk work to improve hazard recognition, control effectiveness, human performance, and decision-making processes.
• Participate in and support incident, injury, vehicle, property damage, and near-miss investigations; identify contributing factors and root causes; and assist with development of corrective and preventive actions.
• Contribute to Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), risk assessments, operational readiness reviews, and evaluations for new or modified work activities, equipment, processes, and facilities.
• Conduct safety-related training, coaching, and employee engagement activities to reinforce safe work practices, regulatory compliance, hazard awareness, and organizational safety expectations. Collaborate with other safety and technical training team members for developing or updating training as needed.
• Support contractor safety oversight activities by participating in field evaluations, safety observations, coordination efforts, and verification of compliance with company and regulatory requirements.
• Support regulatory compliance efforts, internal assessments, corrective action tracking, and preparation for inspections, audits, and organizational reviews.
• Maintain records, reports, inspection documentation, investigation findings, corrective actions, and related safety program documentation in accordance with organizational and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor safety performance trends, identifies opportunities for improvement, and supports initiatives focused on operational learning, risk reduction, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate across departments and business units to support organizational safety initiatives, emergency response activities, and enterprise safety objectives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Technical Requirements:

• Knowledge of occupational safety and health principles and practices, with emphasis on power and water generation, transmission and distribution
• Strong practical knowledge of hazardous energy control, permit-required confined space, hot work, arc flash, pressure systems, steam and thermal hazards, hazardous chemicals, respiratory protection, fall protection, cranes and hoists, and contractor safety practices
• Working knowledge of utility operations, construction activities, field hazards, and operational risk controls, with emphasis in electric and/or water utility environments
• Ability to:
  • Identify hazards, assess operational risk, and recommend practical and sustainable corrective actions aligned with regulatory requirements and operational needs.
  • Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of safety programs, procedures, standards, and safe work practices.
  • Conduct field observations, inspections, audits, and hazard assessments and communicate findings effectively to employees, supervisors, contractors, and leadership.
  • Support incident and near-miss investigations, identify contributing factors and root causes, and assist with development and tracking of corrective and preventive actions.
  • Deliver safety training, facilitate discussions, and provide field coaching related to hazard recognition, safe work practices, human performance, and regulatory compliance.
  • Build effective working relationships and positively influence operational personnel, contractors, and leadership at all organizational levels.
  • Manage multiple priorities, adapt to changing operational needs, and work independently with limited supervision.
  • Interpret and apply technical information, regulatory requirements, policies, procedures, drawings, and operational documentation relevant to hazard identification and safe work planning.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports, procedures, safety communications, presentations, and recommendations
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and ability to utilize electronic systems for inspections, investigations, corrective action tracking, training records, and safety documentation

Education/ Certification/Years of Experience Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED required
• Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering Technology, Construction Management, Industrial Technology, or related field from an accredited college or university (preferred)
• Three years (3) experience in occupational safety, environmental health and safety, industrial hygiene, safety systems, program development, or a closely related professional role, to include:
  • Two years (2) experience working in or supporting utility, industrial, construction, energy, or other operational field environments
  • Experience applying OSHA regulations and industry safety practices applicable to utility or construction operations
  • Experience conducting formal root cause analysis or post incident investigations
  • Experience providing training and speaking in front of large groups
• OSHA 500 Certification at the time of hire or to be obtained within 6 months of hire.
• Valid State of Florida Driver’s License
• Experience delivering technical safety training, field mentoring, or apprenticeship-related coaching (preferred)
• Experience participating in regulatory audits, serious-event reviews, or contractor safety oversight (preferred)
• Safety certification such as ASP, CSP, CUSP, CHST, OHST, or similar (preferred)
• OSHA 501, train-the-trainer credentials, or equivalent experience in providing safety related training (preferred)

Working Conditions:

The job routinely involves performing tasks in office and field environments. This job may be frequently exposed to weather extremes, noise, industrial plant conditions, contractor work, heat, chemicals, pressure systems, and other conditions typical of generation operations and industrial maintenance work. The job requires regular travel to OUC power production facilities and other active jobsites via personal or OUC vehicle. This role is expected to be available 24X7 during both blue-sky and weather-related or other emergency conditions.

Physical Requirements:

This job requires sitting or standing at a personal computer for reasonable periods of time typing and reading. The job requires the ability to perform field visits at power production facilities, outage work areas, and jobsites, including walking on uneven terrain and in outdoor or industrial conditions. The job entails climbing stairs and accessing observation areas as needed for inspections, observations, and jobsite reviews. The job may require lifting and transporting objects weighing up to 25 pounds, including but not limited to training materials or basic field equipment.

OUC–The Reliable One is an Equal Opportunity Employer who is committed through responsible management policies to recruit, hire, promote, train, transfer, compensate, and administer all other personnel actions without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information and any other factor prohibited under applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws, rules, and regulations.

EOE M/F/Vets/Disabled