Safety Culture Director - MN Dept of Transportation
Safety Culture Director | Salary Range: $44.80 - $64.46 / hourly; $93,542 - $134,592 / annually
Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to get your foot in the door with State of Minnesota? If so, come join our MnDOT team! Begin your journey today and check us out: Why Work For Us
This position may be located at any of the following MnDOT locations: Duluth, Bemidji, Baxter or St. Cloud, Detroit Lakes or Moorhead, Rochester, Windom or Mankato, Willmar, Roseville or St. Paul. The position may work a hybrid schedule or work in the office pursuant to policy requirements. If working a hybrid schedule, the incumbent will be required to make a telework arrangement with their supervisor. The incumbent will be expected to work in the office as determined by policy and discussion with their supervisor.
Our Safety Culture Director position is responsible for leading and advancing a progressive, agency-wide safety culture. Responsibilities include:
· Developing and implementing safety culture innovations across functional groups, districts, and specialty offices through onsite engagement.
· Providing leadership to strengthen psychological safety and promote a consistent, proactive safety culture.
· Maximizing the safety culture budget to support agency-wide safety innovation.
· Collaborating with Emergency Management, Safety & Workers’ Compensation, the Safety Director, and the Assistant Safety Culture Director to integrate safety culture and compliance.
· Working closely with the Safety Leadership Team, Department-wide Safety Committee, Safety Professional Group, and other teams to achieve shared safety outcomes.
· Representing the department on matters related to safety culture advancement, including presenting recommendations to Senior Leadership and other leadership groups.
· Representing the department at national safety conferences, peer reviews, and other safety-focused events.
· Engaging all staff to reinforce their responsibility for personal and team safety and adherence to safe work practices.
· Supporting managers and supervisors in fully embracing their roles as safety leaders.
Regular in-state travel is required (approx. 30-40% of the time) and may include overnight stays. Occasional out-of-state travel (typically 2-4 times per year) is required for attendance at meetings, conferences, etc. and may include overnight stays.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU? Learn About Our Benefits
· Health & Wellness: Low-cost medical, dental, vision, & prescription drug plans; health, dental, & dependent care spending accounts; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), health & well-being resources
· Financial Well-Being: Public pension plans, deferred compensation plan & health care savings plan; life insurance, short & long-term disability insurance, & paid parental leave
· Professional Development: Tuition assistance, employee education, leadership development
· Work/Life Balance: Paid vacation & sick leave including 12 paid holidays each year
· At-Work Benefits: Employee Resource Groups, employee recognition, employee activities, fitness center at our Central Office
Here are the Minimum Qualifications:
Two (2) years of managerial experience OR three (3) years of professional level supervisory OR four years of advanced professional experience leading safety and safety culture efforts in a large organization.
If you meet the above requirements, you must provide a two-page cover letter summarizing your experience in the areas listed below. Attach your cover letter and resume to the online application. Your application will not be considered if you do not submit the required cover letter.
Leadership: Leadership and motivational skills sufficient to effectively develop alternative approaches to safety policies, programs, and behavior through agency collaboration, innovation, and creativity.
Technical: Experience identifying organizational safety issues and applying appropriate solutions and resources; experience interpreting and applying state and federal workplace safety regulations; and experience developing safety culture improvements and innovations.
Policy Development and Budgeting: Budgeting and policy development skills sufficient to identify and secure annual funding needed for safety culture implementation; and to identify potential existing and new funding sources and recommend priorities.
Communications/Human Relations: Experience communicating and engaging with agency staff and leadership to identify and address workplace safety risks and hazards, and report on the progress of safety culture goals; and experience developing department expectations for safe workplace behavior and promoting safety culture strategies and/or innovations.
APPLY ONLINE BY 08/04/2026 (only applications received on mn.gov/careers will be considered)
Go to www.mn.gov/careers & click “Search Open Positions”
Enter the Job Opening ID “95545” in the Keywords search box & click “>>”
Click on the Job Title to view the job posting & click “Apply for Job”
When prompted for your Referral Source, please list: MN Crossroads
Visit www.dot.state.mn.us/careers/ for a listing of all our MnDOT job openings.
Contact: Ellen Behrhorst (MnDOT Recruitment Specialist) - Ellen.Behrhorst@state.mn.us | 612.346.8330