Working Title: Safety Coordinator
Job Class: State Program Administrator, Coordinator
Agency: Minnesota Zoological Garden
Job ID : 97117
Location : Apple Valley
Telework Eligible : No
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted : 09/22/2026
Closing Date : 10/12/2026
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Minnesota Zoological Garden / Zoological Gardens-MAPE
Division/Unit : Operations / Guest Experience
Work Shift/Work Hours : 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : Yes - Up to 25% of the time
Salary Range: $37.91 - $56.39 / hourly; $79,156 - $117,742 / annually
Job Class Option : Safety and Health
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
FLSA Status : Exempt - Administrative
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
This position provides the leadership for the Minnesota Zoo's safety program to support the Zoo's mission of connecting people, animals and the natural world to save wildlife. The position will lead, develop and direct a comprehensive safety program including occupational health and safety emergency and crisis management, and hazardous waste for purposes of reducing employee injuries and illnesses and property loss, proactively introducing health and safety best practices and training, and ensuring compliance with state and federal applicable regulations. The incumbent serves as the Zoo's liaison to the Department of Administration, Department of Labor and Industry, Minnesota OSHA, and local first responders for safety, health and workers' compensation functions. The incumbent must be able to drive fleet vehicles to move throughout the Zoo campus.
Hazard assessment: Assess workplace hazards, vulnerabilities and/or risks and recommend strategies and actions to prevent and/or mitigate their impact ensuring proactive mitigation and compliance with local, state and federal standards and regulations.
Written programs: Develop, implement, review and/or update emergency and crisis management, occupational health and safety, and hazardous waste programs, plans, policies, procedures and guidelines ensuring proactive mitigation and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and State policies.
Training: Develop, conduct, coordinate, and document all training pertaining to occupational safety and health and hazardous waste. Hire outside training agencies when appropriate. Responsible for new hire training, annual trainings, and refresher trainings. Ensure staff are properly trained in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and AZA standards.
Recordkeeping: Collect, analyze and maintain occupational health and safety, hazardous waste, emergency management and training data ensuring accurate data, easily accessible information, timely reporting, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
Incident investigation: Investigate incidents, spills, injuries, accidents, mishaps and near-miss events ensuring hazards are resolved and accidents/injuries are prevented from reoccurring.
This position supports operations across a large campus environment and requires the employee to travel between multiple buildings and work sites located throughout the campus to perform assigned duties and respond to operational needs. The incumbent must be able to travel between campus locations in a timely and reliable manner to carry out essential job functions. When job duties require the operation of a motor vehicle to access work sites, transport equipment, or respond to service needs, the employee must be able to safely operate a vehicle and possess a valid and unrestricted driver's license.
Minimum Qualifications
The following qualifications are required of all applicants seeking consideration for this position. Only applicants whose application materials clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of these minimum qualifications will be considered for the position. To ensure accurate evaluation, your resume must clearly describe your experience in the required areas. For each job, include whether it was full-time, part-time, or intermittent/on-call; how many hours per week you worked; and the month and year you started and ended.
Four years of experience in the following areas: Developing and monitoring or auditing occupational safety and health programs, reviewing and evaluating work environments and identifying potential occupational and environmental health hazards and applying corrective measures, developing and conducting safety training
Valid Driver's License
Knowledge of federal and state occupational safety and health rules and regulations, ergonomics, techniques of injury prevention and hazard evaluation
Knowledge of environmental regulations (EPA, MPCA) and fire standards and codes
Leadership skills sufficient to effectively facilitate meetings and bring groups and committees to productive and solutions focused conclusions
Written communication skills sufficient to write, prepare, and edit materials such as memos, procedures, reports, presentations, etc.
Organizational skills sufficient to manage multiple projects simultaneously, delivering results and meeting deadlines
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or higher level in Occupational Safety and Health, Environmental Health, Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Science, Safety Risk Management, Safety Management, Occupation Safety and Health, Emergency Management or related field
Certification as Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) or a closely related safety and occupational certification
Experience with exotic or domestic animals or wildlife sufficient to recognize additional risk and safety exposures for staff and guests
Experience with park and recreation or amusement facilities that provide services to large volumes of visitors
Knowledge of FEMA and Homeland Security incident command structures
Knowledge of USDA and Board of Animal Health safety regulations and AZA safety standards
Physical Requirements
Availability to occasionally work a weekend day, evening, early morning, weekends, evenings and overnights on occasion
Ability to stand for long periods of time and walk long distances on uneven terrain
Ability to walk grounds, run, bend, kneel, stoop, reach upward, climb ladders and stairs, move heavy objects
Ability to carry and use two-way portable radios to communicate with all zoo staff
Ability to sit at a desk and operate a computer for extended periods of time
Ability to work in an environment that includes both indoor and outdoor work spaces year round in inclement weather and with moderate noise
Ability to push/pull up to 150 pounds
Ability to lift carry and/or move up to 50 pounds
Additional Requirements
Applicants must have the ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
It is policy of the Minnesota Zoo that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:
Conflict of Interest Review
Criminal History Check including fingerprinting
Education Verification
Employment Reference / Records Check
License / Certification Verification
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
