Safety Officer (PS5) Olympia

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy—thriving physically, emotionally and academically, nurtured by family and community."
Job Title: Safety Officer - Program Specialist 5 (PS5)
Location: Olympia, WA - The role includes travel for in-person meetings, site visits, and engagement with staff and partners. While field presence is important, the position also offers flexibility, with hybrid/remote work permitted to support productivity and work-life balance.
Closes: May 7th, 2026
Salary: $69,744-$93,804 Annually

This role is part of a collaborative, mission-driven team within DCYF’s Employee Supports Unit, where staff are passionate about strengthening opportunities for children, families, and child care providers across Washington by reducing workplace hazards and supporting staff well-being, both physical and psychological, the Safety Officer helps strengthen workplace stability, productivity, and service delivery. This position is essential to maintaining a trauma-informed, safe, and responsive environment where DCYF employees can thrive in their roles and carry out the agency’s mission with confidence and care.

Click here to learn more about DCYF

The Opportunity:
The Safety Officer reports directly to the Safety and Emergency Management Administrator within the Administrative Services Division and supervises three Safety Program Specialists. It leads agencywide safety efforts through expert review of safety incidents, root cause analysis, trend identification, and implementation of best practices. This position provides strategic oversight, training, and consultation to promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement across DCYF programs.

Some of what you will get to do:

Provide Agencywide Leadership, Consultation, and Technical Assistance on Safety-Related Issues:

• Lead the development and implementation of safety programs, training, communications, and policy initiatives.
• Set agency-wide strategic direction for staff safety, and employee supports.
• Coordinate the delivery of expert consultation and training to DCYF leadership, regional and program managers, and frontline staff on health and safety promotion, and incident prevention.
• Ensure maintenance of OSHA 300 and 300a logs for all DCYF facilities and submit annual reports.
• Review and analyze accident/injury reports to identify root causes and recommend prevention strategies.

Supervise and Support Safety Program Specialists to Ensure Effective Implementation of Workplace Safety Programs:

• Establish performance goals and provide regular coaching and formal feedback through the annual evaluation process.
• Offer continuous mentorship, training, and supervision to support professional growth and team effectiveness.
• Guide Safety Program Specialists in the application of safety procedures and policies to promote a safe and compliant work environment.
• Deliver consistent, constructive feedback to improve the quality and impact of employee work products.

Manage Technical Assistance, Development of Safety Training, and Ensure Consistent Implementation of Safety Practices Across DCYF:

• Partner with DCYF program leadership to build and maintain a robust system of safety-related technical support, training, and staff development.
• Stay current with training standards and regulatory requirements. Update and expand curriculum to enhance safety awareness and preparedness agencywide.
• Manage the design, approval, and delivery of training content on safety procedures and related topics.
• Evaluate and align safety procedures across DCYF worksites to ensure consistency and adherence to best practices.

What we are looking for:

• Equivalent combination of education and experience totaling eight (8) years in planning, policy analysis, coordination and consultation with a variety of public and private agencies, organizations, and/or levels of government.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree AND four (4) years of experience including planning, policy analysis, coordination and consultation with a variety of public and private agencies, organizations, and/or levels of government.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• Experience serving populations supported by DCYF, including child welfare, early learning, juvenile rehabilitation, and related services for children, youth, and families.
• Demonstrated leadership in organizational improvement, with proven success in implementing quality and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong ethical foundation, with a consistent ability to maintain integrity, transparency, and objective judgment in a high-stakes environment.
• Experience using the Incident Command System (ICS) to manage organizational response during emergencies or disruptions from normal operations.
• Advanced management expertise, including strategic planning, resource allocation, budget development, project management, facility oversight, and Human Resource systems.
• Proven ability to lead and communicate across diverse audiences, including internal teams, and external partners.
• Experience managing culturally diverse teams and environments, with a demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion.
• High proficiency with agency information systems, including Microsoft Office Suite, email platforms, and virtual collaboration tools such as Teams and Zoom.
• Skilled in building collaborative relationships with staff, leadership, and external partners to support agency goals.
• Effective at interpreting and applying statutes, rules, and policies, with experience navigating complex regulatory environments.
• Ability to lead organizational change, fostering innovation and creativity while maintaining alignment with strategic goals.
• Adept at analyzing and resolving complex issues, using independent judgment in fast-paced, high-pressure settings with public and legislative ability.
• Experience with project management methodologies, including leading multi-partner project teams and delivering measurable outcomes.
• Strong negotiation and facilitation skills, with the ability to achieve consensus across varied groups and interests.

How do I apply?
Complete your applicant profile and attach the following documents:

• Cover letter
• Current resume

Supplemental Information:
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

This position is included in the supervisory bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact Steven Loduha (Talent Acquisition Manager) atsteven.loduha@dcyf.wa.gov

If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUSTattach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22 or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission). If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD form 214, NGB form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please blackout (redact)the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.