The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission has a growth opportunity for an entry-level Emergency Preparedness and Safety Specialist to join its Safety Department.  The primary duties of the Specialist will be to support the Manager in updating and maintaining the Commission’s Emergency Response and Health and Safety plans, documents, and forms, and coordinating training exercises to ensure the safety and emergency preparedness of all SWSC staff across all locations.  As a member of the Safety Department, the Emergency Preparedness and Safety Specialist will work to promote a culture of safety and preparedness throughout the SWSC.  This is a non-exempt position. This position reports to the Health and Safety Manager.

This position is primarily an office position but there will be required field work. The successful candidate must be familiar with federal, state and local regulations regarding worker safety.  The successful candidate must also be familiar with the appropriate use of materials and tools commonly employed in construction, water treatment plant operations, and building maintenance, as well as knowledge of construction procedures such as trench/excavation, traffic, etc.  

To be successful, the Specialist will need to be able to be detail-oriented and accurate in the editing and maintaining of regulatory documents, but also be able to understand the big picture of how the departments and operations of the Commission work together to deliver drinking water from its source in a reservoir, through the treatment process, into homes and businesses as drinking water, out of homes and businesses as wastewater, through a different treatment process, and then back to the environment via the Connecticut River.  The ideal candidate will be curious and inquisitive about our operations and learn about them from current SWSC employees in the watershed, the treatment plants, engineering, etc., through the lens of emergency planning and safety.  The ideal candidate will have excellent technical writing skills including excellent grammar.  The ideal candidate will prioritize accuracy and will recognize that accuracy only comes with asking for help and admitting when they do not know something.  The ideal candidate will be cognizant of the importance of safety and emergency planning documents and embrace the work of emergency preparedness even in times when there are no emergencies.

For more information about the Commission, please visit our YouTube channel.

A Bachelor’s degree with coursework that includes emergency planning, compliance auditing, reading and understanding state and federal regulations, and/or occupational health and safety, is strongly preferred.  This position requires a minimum of one (1) year of relevant experience in the health and safety field or in a position which requires emergency planning and adherence to regulations and laws.

Examples of job duties include:

- At the direction of the Manager, maintain and update the Emergency Response Plan and Emergency Action Plans, emergency management contact lists, and related emergency planning documents

- Under the supervision of the Manager, coordinate Emergency Response training, exercises and drills with various stakeholders.  

- As requested, assist with workplace safety inspections to ensure worker safety at Commission work locations and to ensure compliance with state, federal, and Commission safety regulations

A complete job description is available upon request.

This is a full-time position and the typical hours are Monday-Friday from 7:00-3:30, although the Safety and Emergency Response Specialist may be needed to work outside of the typical work day or work week during an emergency.  The hiring salary range is $58,000-$61,000.  The Commission offers a competitive compensation package including 3 weeks of vacation, 13 paid holidays, paid sick and personal time, and an affordable health/dental plan.  The successful applicant will be required to complete a pre-employment drug test and physical as well as a pre-employment criminal background check.  

As public sector workers, employees of the Commission are eligible for federal student loan forgiveness in accordance with the terms of their loan.  Employees also participate in a pension and years of service in a PERAC system are eligible for transfer (subject to the rules of the Springfield Retirement Board).

To apply, please upload a resume and cover letter.  The cover letter is your opportunity to let the hiring manager know how your background, experience, and learning have prepared you for this position, and we are expecting applications to include a cover letter.  The application deadline is September 27, 2026. The anticipated start date is October 26, 2026 (this is flexible).

JOB CODE: 1000064