Safety Compliance Manager

Note: Employees for the State of Montana must reside within Montana. All applications and required application documents must be submitted through the MT Careers site at: https://mtstatejobs.taleo.net/careersection/200/jobdetail.ftl?job=25142376&tz=GMT-06:00&tzname=America/Denver

MISSION STATEMENT:
Empowering all Montanans through work and opportunity.

DLI CORE VALUES:

• Responsiveness
• Respect
• Integrity
• Excellence
• Cohesiveness

It's about the people and the impact we make in our communities every day. We are proud of our open, team-based, supportive, and collaborative work environments. Learn more about DLI here.

BENEFITS:

Being able to enjoy the quality of life in the beautiful state of Montana is one of the benefits you will love about this opportunity! Our mountains, waterways and open spaces provide not only beautiful scenery but year-round recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, biking, fishing, boating, hunting, skiing and snowmobiling. Montana boasts a high-quality education system and a variety of entertainment including fairs, rodeos, and theaters. Read more about our great state here.

See our other incredible benefits here. These are some of our benefits just to name a few:

• Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana.
• 38 paid days off a year including vacation, sick leave and holidays.
• Military leave: You’ll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
• Longevity raises with continuous service, as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises.
• Health, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, flexible spending accounts, EAP - click here to learn more.
• Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan - click here to learn more.
• Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73% - 9.07% of your annual salary. A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available. – Click here to learn more.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness- click here to learn more!
• Career progression, training opportunities and room for professional growth.
• State employee discounts at various businesses across the state.

This position may be eligible for a statutory $1.00 an hour base pay increase effective on July 1, 2026.

• This position may be covered by a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)

JOB DUTIES:

Ready to shape Montana’s safety culture and lead statewide impact? As Safety Manager, you’ll oversee inspection programs, mine safety training, and strategic initiatives across all 56 counties. This leadership role blends regulatory expertise, team development, and continuous improvement to protect workers and communities. Step into a position where your vision drives safer workplaces and stronger systems.

As a Safety Manager, you will provide strategic leadership and oversight to ensure safe workplaces, regulatory compliance, and continuous safety culture improvement. This role blends people leadership, program management, regulatory expertise, and stakeholder engagement to advance organizational safety objectives across Montana.

Essential Functions:

The Safety Manager will:

Provide program oversight and administration by developing and executing a statewide inspection plan for public facilities in all 56 counties and reviewing programs in support of the Montana Safety Culture Act.

Develop training and inspection plans for mining stakeholders to ensure compliance with applicable federal mine safety standards and laws.

Oversee development, tracking, and reporting of unit performance metrics and coordinate continuous improvement projects that apply best business processes and customer service.

Monitor work plans, goals, and objectives by aligning division priorities; evaluating processes and implement policies supporting daily operations and long-range goals.

Plan and administer the unit budget by administering spending authority, coordinating with the Mine Safety and Health Administration on grant funding for mine training staff.

Support bureau and division management by contributing to strategic planning, policy development, and cross-functional coordination.

Supervise and develop staff by coaching, training, mentoring, and providing regular oral and written feedback to ensure clarity of expectations and performance growth.

Required Skills and Competencies:

Candidates must demonstrate the ability to:

Interpret and Implement Laws and Regulations: Deep understanding of occupational safety and health practices, with working knowledge of mine safety standards and federal laws. Ability to interpret, communicate, and apply state and federal safety statutes, rules, and regulations.

Program and Resource Management: Proven experience in budget planning and resource allocation for safety programs. Strong record of collaboration with external partners, such as the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), on funding and joint initiatives.

Training and Program Development: Expertise in designing and delivering safety training programs for diverse stakeholders, including specialized environments like mining. Skilled in coaching, mentoring, and equipping staff for success in safety-critical roles. Dedicated to fostering a strong safety culture through engagement, education, and accountability.

Analytical and Critical Thinking: Strong ability to analyze processes, data, and metrics to identify risks, trends, and improvement opportunities. Demonstrates creative problem-solving in dynamic and evolving regulatory environments. Uses both quantitative and qualitative insights to support decision-making and continuous improvement.

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex safety and regulatory concepts into clear, actionable recommendations. Strong interpersonal skills for building trust and partnerships with employees, employers, agencies, and industry stakeholders. Skilled at managing conflict while maintaining professionalism in adversarial or high-pressure situations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Progressively responsible professional experience in workplace safety program management, occupational health and safety, or mine safety compliance.
• Experience implementing safety laws and regulations, including state and federal occupational or mine safety standards.
• Experience in developing and delivering safety training programs for diverse audiences.
• Experience in budget administration, grant management, or resource planning related to safety programs.
• Supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Skills may be gained through a combination of professional experience, training, or education. A Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Health and Safety, Public Administration, or a closely related field is one pathway, but not required.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY:

A complete state application is not required; however, you will need to initiate the application and attach the resume, cover letter or other required documents at time of application to be considered for this position. Resume will auto fill the application, but the application will not be scored or reviewed.

Failure to attach the cover letter and resume will result in your application being considered incomplete and will not be considered further. Materials submitted but not requested will not be considered in the selection process.

Tip: When attaching your resume, cover letter or other required documents you must mark the attachments as “RELEVANT” or we will be unable to view your documents.

Required application materials:

• Cover Letter - Your Cover Letter should explain how your experience and education meet the identified Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, with examples that demonstrate your qualifications.
• Resume - include all work experience you have held that would help you qualify for this position, including duties, dates of employment.

Only online applications will be accepted. By applying online, you can receive updates and monitor the status of your application.

All documents for Veteran or Disability preference must be received or date stamped by the closing date. You will receive an application confirmation email with instructions on acceptable preference documents and how to submit such documents.

If you need an accommodation with the application process, please contact the HR office.