Director of Safety & Risk-closes 9.10.26

About the role

The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska is a federally recognized Tribe with its ancestral homeland located in Niobrara, NE. The Tribe offers a broad range of health, social, educational, and cultural services within its Service Delivery Area, which includes 15 counties in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for the Tribe’s integrated safety, emergency management, risk, and security programs.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external safety, security, and emergency agencies.
• Develop and maintain emergency operations plans (EOP), continuity of operations (COOP), hazard mitigation, and incident response protocols for all Tribal facilities.
• Ensure full compliance with Tribal code, security regulations, and other applicable codes as identified by the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.
• Conduct audits and inspections to assess compliance, recommend corrective action, and track resolution.
• Oversee Tribal risk management including property, liability, auto, workers’ compensation, and cyber insurance.
• Evaluate insurance needs, coordinate coverage renewals, manage claims, and collaborate with brokers and carriers.
• Conduct investigations of accidents, incidents, or claims and ensure timely documentation and reporting.
• Maintain risk exposure data, insurance inventories, and incident histories to inform policy and renewal strategies.
• Lead organizational emergency preparedness efforts, including planning, training, drills, and after-action reviews.
• Support emergency communications, including alerts to Tribal leadership and staff.
• Direct physical security operations including access control, surveillance systems, key control, and patrol staffing.
• Monitor and analyze security incident reports, manage investigations, and advise leadership on risks and mitigation.
• Ensure healthcare clinic security practices align with HIPAA and Indian Health Service (IHS) guidelines.
• Collaborate with IT for cybersecurity and physical infrastructure alignment.
• Develop and conduct recurring staff de-escalation training, safety and emergency training across all departments and locations.
• Engage staff and community members in promoting a proactive safety and risk-aware culture.
• Regularly brief the CEO of Tribal Affairs and CEO or delegated leadership member of Ponca Health Services on safety and risk initiatives, events, or concerns.
• Provide strategic advice to Tribal Council and serve as Tribal liaison to federal, state, and local agencies.
• Coverage of safety policies, emergency readiness, and insurance procedures across departments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in emergency management, Risk Management, Occupational Safety, Public Health, Public Administration, or related field, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Minimum five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in safety, emergency management, or risk administration.
• Familiarity with federal and Tribal emergency protocols, safety regulations, and insurance practices.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA, FEMA, HIPAA, and CMS compliance standards.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and safety/incident management systems.
• Valid driver’s license and insurable driving record.
• Successfully pass drug and alcohol testing, motor vehicle, education, character, and criminal background checks.
• Ability and willingness to travel.