Job Description

Initial Posting Date:

05/22/2026

Application Deadline:

06/01/2026

Agency:

Oregon Health Authority

Salary Range:

$7,537 - $11,657

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Director of Safety & Emergency Management-Oregon State Hospital

If this opportunity aligns with your strengths, background, and commitment to fostering inclusivity, we encourage you to apply! At the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), we value diversity and encourage applicants from all backgrounds and experiences to help us build a stronger, more equitable future for all.

The Oregon State Hospital (OSH) is seeking a Director of Safety & Emergency Management, someone with highly developed leadership skills and experience building, aligning, and developing top performing teams that ensure 24/7 operational continuity, regardless of internal/external pressures or emergencies. If you’re a leader in the Occupational Health & Safety and Emergency Management field, we invite you to apply today!

Oregon State Hospital, a Joint Commission and CMS certified public psychiatric hospital, provides psychiatric hospital services and patient treatment services to approximately 700 persons committed by the Oregon courts as part of the state mental health system. Based on court orders under Oregon Revised Statutes, the Forensic Evaluation Service conducts psychological/psychiatric evaluations including: to determine an individuals ability to aid and assist their attorney in a trial and to determine if a mental disease or defect limits a persons criminal responsibility. These evaluations are done on either an outpatient or inpatient basis depending on individual needs. Forensic Psychiatry Services provides care and treatment to adults determined to be guilty except for insanity and sentenced to supervision by the Psychiatric Security Review Board, and also provides treatment to restore fitness to proceed in a trial to persons who are determined not competent to aid/assist their attorney. This work is performed by almost 3,000 employess in a 24/7, locked facility environment.

The work you perform as Director of Safety & Emergency Management will directly influence the safety of patients, staff, and visitors at OSH. This position will provide critical leadership in the design and implementation of policies and procedures designed to support emergency management goals, safety protocols, and guarantee the continuity of services in an environment that demands constant evaluation and measurement of results.

What you will do!

The primary responsibility will be to plan, organize, manage, and control activities of the Safety department at the Oregon State Hospital to provide a safe and therapeutic environment for patients, staff, and visitors. This work will be done in collaboration with the Director of Security but is focused on the occupational safety of the facilities and preventative measures to ensure that safety standards are consistently a top priority.

The Director of Safety & Emergency Management will directly influence the safety of patients and staff on both campuses of the Oregon State Hospital through the primary initiative of building both the framework and operational policies that make up a sound emergency management plan. It will also directly influence OSH’s ability to react effectively in the case of disaster and emergency conditions. This position functions as the designated hospital safety officer. The Director of Safety & Emergency Management will guide equitable, inclusive and trauma-informed workplace practices in all aspects of performance as the department director.

• Serve as a key advisor to the OSH Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer (CFO/COO), Deputy Chief Operating Officer–Site Operations, and members of the OSH Senior Leadership Team on occupational health and safety matters, providing expert guidance and strategic recommendations as needed.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the OSH Occupational Health, Safety, and Emergency Management programs, ensuring the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of trauma‑informed, culturally responsive safety and emergency preparedness systems that meet TJC, CMS, OSHA, and state regulatory requirements.
• Lead, develop, and continuously improve the OSH Emergency Management Program, ensuring alignment with TJC and CMS requirements, coordinating with internal and external partners, and strengthening hospital readiness through planning, training, exercises, and after‑action improvement processes.
• Ensure consistent alignment of occupational health and safety practices across all campuses, supporting a safe, reliable environment for both caregivers and patients.
• Represent OSH in coordinating occupational health and safety programs and initiatives with external agencies on issues of mutual concern, ensuring operational alignment, regulatory readiness, and achievement of shared objectives.
• Directly lead and supervise eight (8) Safety Department represented caregivers, and one (1) Occupational Safety & Investigations Manager.
• Acts as a liaison with the fire department, emergency response agencies, and other government agencies related to safety and emergency management as needed.
• Leads and continuously strengthens the Workplace Violence Prevention Program by ensuring compliance with all applicable accreditation requirements while developing proactive strategies, training, and system‑level improvements to reduce caregiver, patient, and visitor violence related incidents.
• Provide strategic leadership and cross‑department coordination for OSH patient property management and Product Risk Assessment processes, ensuring consistent standards, collaboration with clinical, security, legal, and operations stakeholders, and the implementation of safe, compliant, and patient‑centered practices across the organization.
• Leads and ensures compliance with the OSH Approved Driver Program, including oversight of all DMV check processes, verification requirements, and adherence to OSH/DAS driver eligibility standards.
• Leads and ensures full compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC) Environmental Suicide Risk Assessment (ESRA) requirements, ensuring all OSH unit ESRAs are completed thoroughly and uploaded to Velocity within the first quarter of each calendar year.
• Provides strategic leadership for OSH Safety Department occupational health and safety programs, advancing trauma‑informed initiatives, developing data‑driven safety interventions, establishing and monitoring key performance metrics, and delivering comprehensive analysis and reports to executive leadership to inform decision‑making.
• Collaborates with SAIF Corporation to develop and implement effective approaches for managing complex and high‑cost Workers’ Compensation claims, ensuring coordinated case strategies that support employee well‑being and reduce organizational risk.

*Please click here for a review of the position description for this role.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Experience in advancing health equity, addressing systemic health inequities and collaborating with diverse communities most harmed by social injustice and health inequities.

Minimum Qualifications

• 6 years of supervision, management, or progressively related experience; or
• 3 years of related experience and a bachelor’s degree

Desired Attributes

The following are desired attributes that we have identified as key to success for this role at OHA. These are the attributes we are looking for in our top candidate. If you have any of these, please let us know in your application.

• Skill to evaluate hazards and determine resolution to worksite safety, health hazards or concerns, emergency management, and health issues.
• Experience and demonstrated leadership success in directing and managing safety teams to bring about a workplace culture that is respectful, inclusive, equitable, and trauma informed and focused on workplace safety.
• Previous responsibility for creating emergency management plans through program design, development, and oversight.
• Ability to write effectively and at an executive level to present written analysis, reports, and recommendations to CFO/COO and the executive leadership team.
• Specific knowledge of The Joint Commission requirements and Oregon Occupational Safety & Health (Oregon OSHA) laws, rules and requirements.
• Experience in development and oversight of workplace violence prevention programs within national standards.
• Skill to perform root cause analysis to identify problems and present findings orally and in written form to a variety of audiences.
• Incident Command System (ICS) certifications.
• 6 or more years of experience managing high performance teams in an Occupational Health and Safety role.

Application Guidance

Your candidate profile and application are your opportunity to showcase your skills and interest in this role. Submissions will be reviewed for clarity, consistency, and communication skills, and for alignment with the guidance provided below:

Submission Requirements:

• Resume – Attach your current resume that clearly outlines your education and work experience relevant to this position.
• Cover Letter (Required) – A cover letter is required for this position and should describe how your skills, work and lived experience, and education make you a strong candidate for this critical role.
• Supplemental Questions – Answer all supplemental questions completely and accurately.
• Final Check! – Before submitting, confirm that all required materials are included, and your Workday Job History is current. The information in your application will be used to complete an Equal Pay Analysis to determine salary placement upon hire. Visit the Equal Pay Analysis Webpage for more information.

How to Apply:

• External Candidates: Visit the State of Oregon job opportunities webpage or click the “Apply” tab above to submit your application, following all submission requirements.
• Internal Candidates: Current State of Oregon employees must apply through their employee Workday login, following all submission requirements.

After You Apply:

• Complete any pending tasks in Workday under “My Applications” prior to the application deadline.
• Check your email (including junk folder) and Workday inbox regularly for updates on your application.

Reminders:

• Eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. To protect your information and ensure correct processing, please follow the instructions for submitting your Veterans’ Preference documentation
• Please download and save a copy of this job announcement and linked position description, as it is not available after the application deadline.

About the Team & Benefits of Joining

We offer a workplace that balances productivity with enjoyment; promotes an atmosphere of mutual respect, dedication, and enthusiasm. You will collaborate with a team of bright individuals to work with and learn from.

If you're driven by the passion to do something meaningful that changes lives, the Oregon Health Authority is the place for you. We also offer a competitive benefits package including:

• Excellent, low-cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family.
• Optional benefits like life insurance, disability coverage, deferred compensation, and FSA options for health and childcare.
• Generous paid time off: 11 holidays, 3 personal days, monthly sick leave, and vacation accrual starting at 10 hours/month.
• Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Retirement security through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/ Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).
• Training and development opportunities to grow your career with the State of Oregon.

Additional Details

• This announcement is for 1, full-time, permanent, Management Service, Director of Safety & Emergency Management based in Salem, Oregon.
• This is an on-campus position “Review Section 4: Working Conditions” in the position description (linked above) for more information.
• Employment is contingent upon a criminal records check, drug screen, and a driving records check that meets OHA criteria at the time of hire and throughout employment.
• The salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying range. If the successful candidate qualifies for PERS, the salary range will increase by 6.95%. For more information, see the Classification and Compensation page.
• The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an education institution during the application process.
• This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete I-9 documentation and confirm authorization to work in the United States. OHA will use E-Verify to verify work authorization. If your employment eligibility depends on sponsorship now or in the future, you will not meet the requirements for this position.
• We evaluate candidates based on their own skills and experience. Unless explicitly approved, outside resources – including Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools – are not permitted during assessments or interviews. Use of unauthorized resources will disqualify a candidate from further consideration.

Contact Information
Recruiter: Melissa Perez, SPHR
Email: melissa.m.perez@oha.oregon.gov
Phone (text friendly): 503-949-3078

Accommodation Requests (ADA): OHA provides reasonable accommodations under the ADA, which may include alternative formats of materials or language support. If you need an accommodation to apply for this position or participate in the selection process, please contact the recruiter listed above.

Helpful Links & Resources

How to Set Job Alerts | Workday Applicant FAQ | Oregon Health Authority | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Veterans Resources | What You Need to Know to Get the Job

The Oregon Health Authority is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer, committed to fair employment practices and pay equity for all employees. We do not discriminate based on protected class – including race, sex, veteran status, disability, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, or sexual orientation – and does not screen applicants based on current or past compensation. Salary is determined through a fair review of your education, experience, and training as it relates to the position.

OHA is an anti-racist organization working to eliminate health inequities and dismantle structural barriers that impact underserved communities. Join us in advancing our Strategic Plan and building a more equitable Oregon.