Safety Officer (Program Manager) - San José Fire Department

Job Description:

Safety Officer (Program Manager) - San José Fire Department

Description

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY) , or via email at [email protected] .

About the Department

The San José Fire Department's (SJFD) mission is to serve the community by protecting life, property, and the environment through prevention and response. SJFD is a high-volume, high-performance, all-risk Fire Department that protects approximately 200 square miles including, residential, commercial, high-rise, wildland interface areas, and several high-hazard occupancies.

For additional information visit sjfd.org.

Position Duties

The San José Fire Department is seeking to fill a Program Manager position which reports directly to the Fire Chief and serves as the Department’s Safety Program Manager. The Department seeks an individual who has extensive knowledge in workers’ compensation processes, Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) administration, and health and wellness programs.

Duties for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Ensure Department conformance to its Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), Respiratory Protection Program, Wellness Program, and all Department safety policies and procedures;
• Monitor and share fire service industry information including but not limited to incident green sheets, firefighter injury, illness and fatality trends, hazards, and best practices;
• Review Supervisor Accident Investigation Reports (SAIR) and Vehicle Accident Reports; identify trends, recommend training, mitigations, and policy & procedure revisions;
• Review and analyze injury data; provide reports and safety improvement recommendations to the Office of the Fire Chief;
• Advance safety initiatives;
• Coordinate inter-bureau activities related to workplace health and safety;
• Maintain recurring safety program coordination meetings with relevant program personnel (Workers Compensation, Wellness Program, Medical Services, Training Division, Facilities, etc.);
• Conduct research and provide reports regarding industry standards and requirements from various sources including Cal-OSHA, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and others;
• Ensure Department responsiveness to Cal-OSHA inspections and investigations;
• Represent the Office of the Fire Chief by participation in committees and work groups including the Fire Department Labor/Management Safety Committee, Santa Clara County Fire Chiefs Association Safety Section Committee, and City Safety Committee;
• Report regularly on matters of workplace health and safety to the Office of the Fire Chief, Senior Staff, and Lead Staff;
• Produce and/or otherwise coordinate publication of Safety Alerts (SA), safety policy procedures, and safety-related information;
• Support Behavioral Health/Peer Support Team
• Oversee Wellness Consultant’s Program Manager activities.
• Oversee Worker’s Compensation Division and return-to-work programs.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple Program Manager positions in this, or other divisions or departments.
The salary range for this classification is $134,490.72 - $174,851.04.
This salary range includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. The actual salary will be determined by the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Minimum Qualifications

Education : Bachelor’s degree in a closely related field.

Experience : Five (5) years of directly related experience, including two (2) years of supervisory experience.

Form 700 Requirement : This position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions. You must complete and file an “Assuming Office Form 700” with the City Clerk’s Office within the first 30 days of employment with the office.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

• Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.
  • Advanced knowledge of Cal-OSHA requirements. (For example, substantial knowledge and experience in developing policies and procedures in conformance with California Code of Regulations, Title 8)
  • Knowledge of Workers’ Compensation laws. (For example, substantial knowledge and experience in processing Workers’ Compensation claims in conformance with California Code of Regulations, Title 8)
  • Advanced knowledge of industrial safety programs (For example, prior oversight of industrial safety programs and/or direct support of an industrial service safety program.
  • Advanced knowledge of and experience in workplace health and safety metrics and analytics (For example, substantial knowledge and direct experience in tracking employee injury data, identifying trends, and generating reports.

• Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts; ability to deliver presentations via multi-media platforms and in-person classroom settings.

• Computer Skills- Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office Suite: ability to learn and use City scheduling software quickly.

• Decision Making - Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions.

• Fiscal Management - Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan; complies with administrative controls over funds, contracts, and procurements.

• Initiative - Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.

• Leadership - Leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational supports and direction.

• Supervision - Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.

Selection Process
The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process. Please note that there is a 4,000-character limit , including spaces, for each text response.
Please describe your knowledge, experience and interest in relation to advancing strategic initiatives in the areas of workers’ compensation and safety/wellness programs. Please describe your experiences related to program management, data metrics, and employee supervision.Please describe your experiences related to development of reports, policies and procedures, and/or curriculum related to workplace health and safety.
You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for Program Manager or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.
If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Ginger Quijano at [email protected].

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email [email protected] and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

Closing Date/Time: 6/22/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$134,490.72 - $174,851.04 Annually