Electric Safety Program Manager

About the role

Provides technical and program management leadership in developing, monitoring, and administering Enterprise Safety & Compliance program objectives. Leads and supports proactive program planning, estimation, budgeting, and documentation and coordinates with team members on execution and monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight and program management for Avista’s electric safety programs, including planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Identify, evaluate, and help reduce high-energy risks and serious injury or fatality exposures associated with electric utility work.
• Maintain program documentation, coordinate reporting needs, track required actions, and help prepare for internal or external reviews.
• Develop and improve program tools, procedures, templates, communication plans, dashboards, and reporting methods to strengthen program visibility and accountability.
• Partner with operations, training, and other stakeholders to resolve issues and implement practical risk controls.
• Lead or support change management activities related to electric safety program updates, process improvements, regulatory changes, and enterprise initiatives.
• Promote a learning-focused safety culture that emphasizes hazard recognition, effective controls, operational learning, and prevention of serious events.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in occupational safety, environmental health and safety, industrial hygiene or related field required.
• Three (3) years progressively increasing responsibility in areas such as occupational safety, risk management, regulatory compliance, safety management systems, or other safety-related project/program management required.
• Effective and flexible written and verbal communication skills, including presentation and public speaking required.
• Project Management or Program Management experience preferred.
• Demonstrated skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities required.
• Understanding of utility operations preferred.
• Ability to establish goals and objectives.
• Ability to effectively plan work activities, schedules, priorities, and utilization of resources.
• Ability to use appropriate technology to organize, synthesize, and communicate data.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in occupational safety, environmental health and safety, industrial hygiene or related field required.
• Seven (7) years progressively increasing responsibility in areas such as occupational safety, risk management, regulatory compliance, safety management systems, or other safety-related project/program management required.
• Effective and flexible written and verbal communication skills, including presentation and public speaking required.
• Project Management or Program Management experience preferred.
• Demonstrated skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities required.
• Understanding of utility operations preferred.
• Ability to establish goals and objectives.
• Ability to effectively plan work activities, schedules, priorities, and utilization of resources.
• Ability to use appropriate technology to organize, synthesize, and communicate data.
• Comprehensive knowledge of budget principles, development, and administration.

Skills

Experience working in a gas and electric utility environment. Knowledge of Human and Organizational Performance principles, Safety Management Systems, risk-based thinking, or serious injury and fatality prevention frameworks. Experience leading cross-functional initiatives, enterprise-level programs, corrective action plans, regulatory readiness efforts, or continuous improvement projects. Familiarity with electric operations training, switching, grounding, energized work, lockout/tagout, personal protective equipment, work methods, and field safety expectations. Experience preparing reports, dashboards, compliance summaries, leadership briefings, or program performance updates.

Benefits

Includes comprehensive Total Rewards program designed to support every stage of life and career. Offers affordable healthcare options including medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement benefits with an enhanced 401(k) match, incentive programs rewarding performance and contributions, competitive paid time off including holidays, personal days, and vacation, life and disability insurance for added peace of mind, wellness resources supporting mental and physical health, education and development support including tuition assistance, community giving programs encouraging employee engagement and impact, and optional benefits from legal insurance, pet insurance, and more (eligibility subject to Bargaining Unit affiliation).

Pay

Hiring Range: $88,336 to $162,614.

Schedule

Hybrid work options are available for this role. The successful candidate will be required to work at our Spokane headquarters at least 3 days per week including Mondays and Tuesdays with additional day(s) determined by the manager.