Description
Department: Safety, Environmental & Real Estate Services
Location: Sacramento, CA, US, 95817-1899
Category: Health and Safety
Minimum Pay Rate: $190,340.80
Maximum Pay Rate: $265,116.80
Civil Service Status: Non-Civil Service
Apply by Date:
Posting Type: Open
This posting will remain open until a sufficient quantity of qualified applicants have been received but may close at any time without notice after 11/17/2025. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to ensure they are considered.
This position is a non-Civil Service (at-will) position. By accepting this non-civil service classification, you are releasing civil service rights and becoming an at-will employee with no return rights to your prior position.
SMUD is pleased to announce the pursuit of our next Director, Safety, Environmental & Real Estate Services. We are seeking a strong leader who has a proven track record of delivering results, collaborating within the organization, and building strong partnerships. This position is responsible for exercising strategic leadership and direction and sits on the Senior Leadership Team within the Energy Delivery & Operations (ED&O) business unit. As a senior leader, the successful candidate is responsible for ensuring SMUD values, strategic initiatives, and desired culture are integrated into the Safety, Environmental & Real Estate Services work, group functions, operations, and services. Your success in this position translates into delivering energy to our customers in a safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible manner.
Purpose
Provide leadership and direction for the planning, development, and implementation of shared programs for Safety, Environmental, and Real Estate Services to ensure legal and regulatory compliance with all applicable codes and regulations and provide proactive counsel and service to business units.
Nature and Scope
This is a department level senior management position. It is distinguished from other director positions by its emphasis on safety, environmental, and real estate functions. This position provides ongoing direction and management to ensure the reliability and efficiency of the functional areas, and they are aligned and coordinated with other business units/departments. The role is required to attend, present and/or lead at Board, executive, team, customer, community, and one-on-one meetings; in person, as needed.
Duties and Responsibilities
Overall:
Directs the work of three work groups (Safety, Environmental, and Real Estate Services); maintains staffing levels and work quality to meet defined objectives; interprets and executes SMUD policies and procedures; recommends modifications to operating policies; oversees and evaluates work; owns hiring decisions and responsibility for training, coaching, mentoring, and developing team members; advises workgroups on tasks and operations as required to solve complex problems; ensures staff safety and prevention of personal injury and equipment loss; and takes responsibility for financial planning and annual goal setting to ensure project and operational schedules are met.
Presents to the SMUD Board of Directors and Executive Team on safety, environmental, and real estate projects, strategic directive updates, and compliance projects.
Ensures operating objectives in areas of responsibility are met within expected timing, budgetary, quantity, accuracy, safety, and quality standards.
Provides consultative services by reviewing and assessing current and proposed legislation, litigation, arbitration, and regulations or regulatory changes for awareness of impending changes and assessment of SMUD compliance; provides advice, counsel and recommendations to executive management, directors, managers, supervisors, and employees concerning compliance with governmental regulations and codes; serves as a subject matter expert in litigation, arbitration and regulatory hearings; represents SMUD and its interests on inter-utility, industry, governmental, and public committees and task forces and at policy-making boards; obtains and provides SMUD’s position on proposed rule changes; provides status updates on rule changes to staff, department management, Legal, and Executive Management as required; and recommends changes in policies, procedures, construction, operating methods or procedures to ensure on-going compliance with rule changes.
Health and Safety Services:
Directs and promotes a "Safety for Life" zero accident work culture for leadership, employees, contractors, and the public.
Integrates safety into the workflow processes of all business units and supports the prevention and reduction of Serious Incident and Fatalities (SIF), field and office ergonomic injuries, and occupational health injuries.
Oversees development and implementation of SMUD's Injury, Illness and Prevention Program that includes Safety Management System tracking (e.g, GenSuite), compliance tracking, behavior based safety, ergonomics, vehicle prevention, contractor safety, public safety, and SIF reduction programs (near miss reporting, Job Hazard Analysis, incident/accident root cause analysis, training, standards development, inspections, concern reporting, occupational and health monitoring, and human performance engineering).
Environmental Services:
Directs the development, implementation and/or long-term planning of the following environmental compliance programs: GHG reporting (federal and state), water and waste water management, hazardous materials management, waste management, air quality/permitting, internal environmental sustainability, and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) oversight, environmental stewardship programs.
Supports the following efforts: afterhours on-call program for spill response and reporting; avian protection program; soil/groundwater investigation & remediation projects; mitigation bank management; habitat conservation program development; and compliance inspections/audits.
Additional Duties and Responsibilities
Real Estate Services:
Directs and promotes the development of SMUD's real estate services program which includes the appraisal, acquisition, leasing, and disposal of all real property required for SMUD facilities and operations.
Develops area plans for input to SMUD's long range planning of facilities and operations.
Oversees the acquisition of real estate interests such as easements, leases, fees, contracts, and survey permits; ensures that matters are handled within established policy and procedures and legal requirements are met.
Other:
Performs other related duties as needed; schedules, hours and locations may fluctuate based on business needs.
Knowledge Of
Methods and techniques for strategic planning; policy interpretation and application; program development and evaluation; processes related to team development (hiring, training, performance management); policies and procedures related to supervisory practices and employee rights; process redesign and improvement; risk analysis; fundamentals of Occupational Health and Safety and applicable federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations; practices and processes in conducting safety, loss control prevention, audits, inspections, and self-assessments; regulatory processes of the federal, state and local levels to effectively represent SMUD; standard operating procedures for modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software; English grammar, punctuation and vocabulary standards; and strong presentation/verbal communication skills.
Skills To
Interpret and apply SMUD policies, procedures, applicable MOU’s and/or other special agreements; apply applicable personnel laws, codes and regulations; direct and develop staff; manage contracts and work of consultants and contractors; collaboratively coordinate the work of the function or unit with other SMUD areas; establish, manage and update budget; initiate, maintain and oversee adherence to safety policies and procedures; interact with others to influence and motivate; compile and prepare technical, statistical and/or analytical reports and presentations; develop and conduct oral presentations to internal and external audiences; respond to and resolve customer issues, concerns and needs; monitor and manage projects; proactively research and assess trends and evaluate and provide recommendations to achieve department and SMUD objectives; utilize a personal computer and/or computer terminal, systems and software relevant to the job; communicate effectively orally and in writing internally/externally; establish and maintain effective working relationships internally and externally.
Physical Requirements
Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Who We Are
As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento. Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're "Happy, satisfied and engaged" which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers. Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine. Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world-renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
SMUD celebrates diversity, and inspires an inclusive culture based on trust and respect to create belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities. By working together, we are powering positive, equitable opportunities for all. We aspire to be a workplace where you can be yourself, achieve your best, and thrive together.
An example of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is when SMUD signed the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2020. This requires equal pay for employees who perform “substantially similar work,” when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility at the time those employees started within that classification. As such, initial hiring salary range is not subject to negotiation and salaries will vary over time based on performance.
SMUD is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic. All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual qualifications, merit, and business needs and interests.
Why Sacramento, California?
The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth-largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region. Part of the agriculturally-rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork food movement. Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49er's aren't far away. Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.
Hybrid Work
This position will be required to work onsite one or more days a week on a regular basis; sometimes more or less, depending on the work and, at any of our SMUD locations. SMUD takes pride in powering the Sacramento region community where we live and work. We value the strong working relationships we develop with our colleagues. Our approach to remote work will continue to evolve. Please be aware that should SMUD’s business needs change, emergencies occur, or various other reasons arise, you may be required to report onsite on a part-time or full-time basis.
CalPERS
SMUD is a CalPERS agency. As a member of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), SMUD offers eligible employees access to a defined benefit pension plan along with other valuable retirement and health benefits. This program helps provide financial security both during your career and after retirement. To learn more about CalPERS and the benefits it offers, please visit www.calpers.ca.gov.
SMUD provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. SMUD complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
SMUD expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SMUD employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.
Requirements
Required Education
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
Required Experience Qualifications
At least seven (7+) years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in the development and implementation of technical and comprehensive safety, occupational health, or risk management programs, including at least five (5+) years of progressively responsible management/supervisory experience or equivalent lead project experience in a teamwork environment.
Desirable Qualifications
Experience partnering with leaders in the utility industry and working alongside high risk/field operations.
Knowledge of environmental programs and compliance programs including: GHG reporting (federal and state), water and waste water management, hazardous materials management, waste management, air quality/permitting, internal environmental sustainability, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) oversight, and environmental stewardship programs; spill response and reporting; avian protection program; soil/groundwater investigation and remediation projects; mitigation bank management; habitat conservation program development; and compliance inspections/audits.
Knowledge of real estate services and land management including appraisal, acquisition, leasing, and disposal of real property; and acquisition of real estate interests such as easements, right of way, leases, fees, contracts, and survey permits.
Possess or be able to obtain and maintain one or more of the following: Certified Safety Professional (CSP); Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH); Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM).
