Safety Coordinator

Join our team at East River Electric Power Cooperative! Are you passionate about creating safer workplaces and fostering a culture of wellbeing? East River Electric Power Cooperative is searching for a dynamic, committed Safety Coordinator to lead our safety initiatives and champion the wellbeing and security of our employees. As a key member of our Administrative Services team, you’ll drive positive change every day—developing, implementing, and enhancing safety programs that empower our people and keep our Cooperative strong for the future.

At East River Electric Power Cooperative we're dedicated to providing reliable and affordable wholesale power to our members across 40,000 square miles of service area. As a not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative, we provide electricity to 24 rural electric distribution cooperatives and one municipally owned electric system serving eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota. Our members, in turn, power the lives of the member-owners in their service territories.

Our Cooperative Community

As a cooperative, we do things differently! The decisions we make are made with our members in mind. We've built our foundation on Touchstone Energy's four cooperative values: integrity, accountability, innovation, and commitment to community. These values represent the cooperative difference, which is why we value things like community outreach, teamwork, and work-life balance. The unique cooperative business model is designed to provide both growth and stability. This is just a little insight into why our members trust us to provide safe, reliable, and affordable power and service every day.

This incredible job opportunity awaits you at our main campus in Madison, South Dakota. Madison offers a warm and welcoming small-town atmosphere combined with modern amenities that make it the perfect place for you and your family. Take advantage of great resources like the state-of-the-art Madison Regional Hospital, experience the innovative campus of Dakota State University, enjoy a thriving community center, and more. With two stunning lakes nearby, recreational opportunities are abundant, and you'll be just a short drive away from many of eastern South Dakota's most popular attractions.

What You'll Accomplish

As a valued member of our team, you'll have the opportunity to make a difference every day. Your education, skills, and experience will be put to excellent use, contributing to our mission of delivering exceptional wholesale power to our members. You'll work alongside passionate professionals who embody the cooperative values of integrity, accountability, innovation, and commitment to community. We believe in investing in your growth and development, which is why we offer paid training and development opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career. In this position you will:

• Develop and coordinate organization-wide safety-management programs to safeguard employees and the public, aligning with our Safety Culture Improvement Plan.
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal safety regulations, including OSHA and DOT requirements.
• Plan and deliver engaging safety training and awareness programs—including new employee safety orientation—to keep everyone informed and empowered.
• Partner with leadership and the Focus Committee to shape and implement innovative safety strategies and achieve our strategic goals.
• Work together with the HR team to create and put into action wellbeing initiatives and key goals for the Cooperative.
• Lead post-accident investigations, develop recommendations to prevent recurrence, and inspect worksites for safety.
• Monitor regulatory changes, update safety policies, and guide the cooperative toward continued safety accreditation through the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP).
• Keep all safety records, manuals, and emergency plans organized and current.
• Act as the Designated Employer Representative (DER) for our drug and alcohol testing program, and participate in industry peer groups to stay current with best practices.
• Promote a proactive, detail-oriented approach to risk management and always look for ways to improve our safety efforts.

Showcase Your Knowledge, Abilities, and Expertise. Do you have?

• An associate degree in occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene, business administration, or other related field (A combination of education and relevant experience may be considered in lieu of degree.)
• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in safety, ideally in an electric utility environment
• Certified Loss Control Professional (CLCP) certification or willingness to complete the NRECA CLCP Program within your first three (3) years
• Strong knowledge of safety regulations, OSHA standards, and risk management
• Ability to build constructive relationships in collaboration with both internal and external teams
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office products, spreadsheet analysis, and computer technology

Benefits that Matter

At East River, we value your well-being and want you to thrive. That's why we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Retirement pension plan and contribution to a 401(k) savings plan
• Medical insurance with employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Paid training and development opportunities
• Access to a wellness program and financial planning resources
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• 9/80 work schedule, which gives you every other Friday off to encourage a work-life balance.

Want to learn more about East River? Visit our website's career pages and hear what our current employees have to say.

Questions? Contact hr@eastriver.coop or (605) 256-4536.

Visit our Careers Page to apply.  Position is open until filled, with initial review the week of November 24 and interviews expected to begin during the week of December 1.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.