Safety and Wellness Manager

Salary: $86,132.80 - $112,008.00 Annually
Location : Fargo, ND
Job Type: Full Time Regular (40)
Job Number: 2025-00015
Department: Human Resources
Division: Human Resources - SELECT THIS OPTION
Opening Date: 02/28/2025
Closing Date: 3/19/2025 11:59 PM Central

Position Description

Under direction, provides administrative and technical services including the development and monitoring of safe work environments; safety programs designed to minimize risk; oversight of safety training; management of Workers Compensation and injury reporting/case management; and management of the drug testing program; to all City Departments and employees.

Scope of Responsibility:
Responsible for the proper interpretation and application of safety regulations and administration of safety programs for all City employees. Manages the budget for the safety, and the Drug & Alcohol Program. Collaborates with Fargo Cass Public Health to manage the City of Fargo Employee Health Clinic.
Primary Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Develops, implements, communicates, and monitors safety programs for City of Fargo departments and operations.

Provides consultation to all departments regarding safety issues to continuously improve Safe Operating Procedures;

Ensures employees have safety equipment that is appropriate for the job;

Assists City departments in job hazard analysis, and the design and implementation of safety programming;

Collaborates with and advises the departmental leadership teams to provide safety direction to employees;

Develops and serves as a standing member of the employee Health, Wellness and Safety Committees and serves as facilitator for the city-wide committee.

Assists in development and delivery of health, safety and wellness training programs.

Oversees the development and delivery of occupational health services to employees from both internal and external partners;

Works with departmental leadership teams to develop and deliver department and/or position specific safety and health training;

Administers the FMCSA training provider registry;

Oversees the enrollment and utilization of the learning management system (LMS);

Participates in periodic department meetings to review training and education.

Manages the City's Drug Testing Program including all testing types from pre-employment through return-to-duty, as well as Non-DOT, FMCSA and FTA testing pools and programs.

Serves as the Designated Employer Representative (DER) and Drug and Alcohol Program Manager in accordance with FTA 49 CFR Part 655 and US DOT Regulation 49 CFR Part 40 requirements;

Coordinates follow-up with employees following positive tests according to policy;

Monitors and audits contractors' and vendors' compliance with Drug and Alcohol testing programs;

Cooperates with Federal Transportation Administration requirements and audits;

As the DER, advises and supports public safety departments on critical incident drug and alcohol testing;

Coordinates, attends and records training as required by the FTA and FMCSA for supervisors and employees on an annual basis.

Monitors risk management and loss control programs and reports results.

Reviews and analyzes incident reports, and communicates with department leadership teams on trends;

Periodically assesses exposures to risk and the effectiveness of existing risk management programs and makes recommendations for improvements;

Advises and assists supervisors/staff with the human resource aspects of risk management and loss control;

Coordinates with the Physical Security Advisor, Emergency Manager and IS to implement and manage emergency notification systems utilized to inform employees about incidents, risks, facility closures, etc.

Coordinates the Workers' Compensation Risk Management program.

Communicates with Workforce Safety and Insurance of ND, medical providers, employees and City department contacts;

Manages the return-to-work program;

Coordinates internal case management of injuries including injury leave, transitional duty and return-to-work with employees, supervisors, other human resources team members, employee health and WSI;

Review and approve WSI Claim Loss Assessment Billings;

Responsible for the Payroll Report Audit including providing information requested by WSI during the annual audit; Responsible for annual enrollment in the WSI Safety Discount Program and ensures the safety program is compliant with all requirements;

Monitors grant opportunities with WSI and completes the application and grant management in conjunction with the recipient department leadership team.

Manages the safety budget.

Provides informed input on matters relating to the safety program budget as well as consults with departmental leadership teams to project and budget for departmental specific safety equipment and/or program needs;

Analyzes past expenditures, expected needs, future cost projections and sources of funding in order to develop detailed budgets;

Reviews year-to-date spending reports and monitors performance against plan during the entire budget cycle, making or recommending adjustments as necessary to achieve a desired balance at the end of the cycle;

Approves expenditures for purposes and amounts that are within the budget and within the authorized approval limits of the job;

Works to ensure the most cost-effective alternatives are identified when planning expenditures.

Communicates courteously and professionally and maintains working relationships with others in carrying out job functions.

Frequently interacts with others in the work unit, vendors or across departments to exchange detailed and/or technical information;

Interaction with vendors or across departments occasionally includes negotiations involving convincing the other party to do something to achieve a basic work-related objective;

Serves on various city committees, coordinates activities with those of other departments, agencies, and organizations;

Develops and coordinates periodic and as-needed organization-wide communications across various platforms;

Communications include responsibility for maintaining relationships that are key to the function of the city.

Performs all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices.

Knows and follows department and city rules as well as sound work and safety practices in order to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss;

Wears proper protective equipment when policy requires or conditions indicate a need exists and utilizes proper body mechanics and ergonomics while performing work;

When potentially unsafe conditions are observed makes efforts to avoid or correct them if they are controllable and draws them to the attention of the responsible supervisor or safety representative in a timely manner.

Performs other duties and activities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

The job requires a bachelor's degree in industrial hygiene, environmental health and safety, human resources or related field and four years exempt level employment in safety/environment/human resources or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. A certification in safety management or human resources is preferred but not required. A valid driver's license is also required.

Knowledge, skills and abilities include:

• Knowledge of common industrial safety program elements, workers' compensation system program elements, OSHA requirements, risk management principles and business principles;
• Knowledge of local, state and federal laws, regulations and codes relating to health, safety and wellness in the workplace;
• Knowledge of occupational health programs and services;
• Knowledge of governmental administrative practices including budgeting, purchasing and policy formulation;
• Skill in organization and prioritization of work;
• Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written forms, and have strong public relations skills;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Physical Demands

Physical Demands & Working Conditions:
Most work is performed in a normal office environment. Work is generally light with considerable variety. Daily work often involves moving between buildings and rooms. Occasional driving on a weekly basis is required to attend meetings. The job may involve dealing with and calming individuals who are emotionally charged over an issue. There is considerable attention to detail and deadlines.

Ongoing field work is required for conducting inspections which involves intermittent exposure to conditions and hazards that are present in those departmental working environments.

Digital dexterity, grasping, talking, hearing/listening, seeing/observing, repetitive motions.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required. To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship. The City Administrator retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.
The City of Fargo offers a comprehensive benefit package, to include participation in the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System. For more information on our benefits click

If you are applying for a Part Time Temporary or Seasonal position, you are not eligible for benefits through the City of Fargo.