Director, Compliance, Safety, & Risk

Thank you for your interest in the BWL. We think you'll find it a rewarding and nurturing place to grow your career.

Starting Salary Range: $181,400.00 - $232,200.00

Summary:

The Director of Regulatory Compliance, Safety, and Risk Management provides strategic leadership and oversight of regulatory compliance, safety, and risk mitigation activities across utility operations and corporate functions. This role provides leadership for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of compliance, safety, and risk management programs designed to ensure adherence to applicable federal, state, regional, and local laws, rules, regulations, permits, and reliability standards and to mitigate risk.

The Director is responsible for supporting and managing the safety and protection of BWL property and personnel, oversees the development and administration of the safety department and is responsible for establishing and promoting compliance and maintenance of safe and healthy working conditions within the organization. The Director serves as a key advisor to executive leadership on regulatory compliance, enterprise risk, occupational health and safety, governance, and emerging legislative and regulatory issues impacting the utility industry and reports to General Counsel.

Essential Functions:

• Provides strategic oversight of regulatory risk and liability across the full compliance lifecycle, including the interpretation, implementation, and enforcement of new and amended rules, regulations, and standards.
• Develops and implements compliance policies, procedures, governance frameworks, and business practices to ensure regulatory adherence and operational accountability.
• Oversees compliance, safety and enterprise risk metrics and reporting systems used to monitor program effectiveness and organizational risk and mitigation activities.
• Oversees assessments to identify gaps, evaluate risks, and provide corrective actions to strengthen organizational compliance, internal controls and programs.
• Directs training and awareness programs to promote employee understanding of regulatory obligations, safety and accountability.
• Provides leadership, direction, and oversight to the Environmental and Reliability Compliance, Safety, and Risk Management functions, including organizational structure, staffing, performance management, professional development, and succession planning.
• Develops and maintains a high-performing team by establishing clear expectations, coaching and developing employees, identifying talent, and implementing succession plans for critical positions.
• Leads development and implementation of corrective action plans arising from audits, self-assessments, incidents, violations, or compliance investigations.
• Oversees records and documentation systems necessary to support regulatory reporting, audit readiness, evidence retention, and compliance verification activities.
• Oversees programs and initiatives aimed at mitigating environmental contamination, protecting natural resources, and maintaining compliance with environmental permits and regulatory requirements.
• Identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor operational, financial, regulatory, cybersecurity, reliability, environmental, and reputational risks impacting utility operations.
• Oversees development and implementation of comprehensive health and safety programs and initiatives for protection of personnel and property.
• Oversees planning and direction of drills, including fire, severe weather, shelter in place, evacuations, or others identified by management.
• Leads enterprise risk management activities, including enterprise insurance and claim management.
• Interacts with leadership at all levels of the organization regarding regulatory compliance, pending or on-going regulatory issues; organizational safety culture; and risk mitigation.
• Participates in strategic planning, capital project review, and operational decision-making to ensure risk, regulatory, and compliance considerations are incorporated into business initiatives.
• Develops and manages departmental budgets, forecasting, staffing plans, consultant resources, and long-range compliance to ensure resources are aligned with organizational priorities and regulatory, safety and risk requirements.
• Serves as a liaison and information resource for regulatory agencies, public officials, stakeholders, and the public regarding compliance-related matters as appropriate.
• Expected to comply with all BWL policies and work rules.
• Predictable and reliable attendance.
• Performs other duties and projects as assigned by supervisor.

Job Specifications:
Required:

• This position requires a bachelor's degree in Engineering, Law, Applied Science or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience that is typically obtained through 15 years relevant experience in regulatory compliance, utility operations, environmental compliance, reliability compliance, safety, risk management, or related fields including significant management and leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of electric and/or water utility operations, regulatory governance, compliance management systems, internal controls, audit practices, and risk mitigation principles.
• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive regulatory, legal, personnel, safety, claims, and risk-management information.
• Demonstrated experience with utility regulatory frameworks and compliance programs.
• Experience managing regulatory audits, investigations, enforcement actions, mitigation plans, and compliance reporting programs.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex regulatory and technical matters to diverse audiences.
• Ability to interpret laws, regulations, standards, permits, and technical requirements and apply them to operational environments.
• Ability to lead and supervise highly technical and professional staff and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of budgeting, strategic planning, performance management, and business process improvement principles.
• Basic working knowledge of commercial office computer software.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with regulatory agencies, executive leadership, employees, consultants, legal counsel, and external stakeholders.

Preferred:

• Experience working within a municipal or regulated utility environment.
• MIOSHA certifications from one or more of the following: General Industry Safety & Health I or II; Construction Safety & Health I or II; Safety & Health Management Systems; and Occupational Health.
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
• Certified Risk Manager (CRM)

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must be able to remain in a stationary position for the majority of the working day. The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office environment including the use of stairs. Constantly operates a computer, and other office equipment. Ability to adjust focus, especially due to concentration on a computer screen. Must communicate frequently with other departments and employees both verbally and in writing. May need to lift and carry up to 30 pounds and/or position the body to reach items on the floor/below knee level or reach overhead. The person in this position needs to occasionally move about in industrial environments, and uneven terrain. May be required to recognize small numbers, letters, symbols, colors on prints, and/or operate field instruments/equipment.

Works in temperature-controlled office environment, with occasional work in outdoor weather conditions, and in industrial environments.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills that may be required of the employee. Management reserves the right to add, remove, or otherwise alter these duties responsibilities, and skills at any time.

Why Should You Apply?

Competitive wages, employee development, and opportunity for professional growth.
 
Robust time off benefits including vacation, free choice, sick leave, parental leave and 11 paid holidays.
 
Comprehensive benefits package offered including medical, prescription, dental, life insurance, long-term disability, employee assistance program.
 
Voluntary benefits including vision, supplemental and dependent life insurance, flexible spending, AFLAC options, LifeLock anti-theft, long term care, tuition reimbursement, and BWL's  Home Purchase Plan – Forgivable $5,000 loan for purchase of a home in Lansing.
 
Retirement programs including 401(a) Defined Contribution Plan (DC) (100% company paid up to 9.5 % of base salary for BU positions and up to 13% of base salary for NBU positions), 457 Deferred Compensation matches up to $2,500 per year. 
 
Post retirement benefits offered at the respective level of coverage, co-pays and health care premium, at the same level as active employees.
 
Two fitness centers located on site open 24/7, work life balance program, employee assistance program, free parking and much more! 
 
About BWL:
The Board of Water & Light serves Lansing, Michigan, and surrounding areas with electricity, water, and steam. Lansing's city charter vests the BWL with full and exclusive management of water, steam, and electric services for or the city. The American Public Power Association has honored the Lansing Board of Water & Light as one of the country's best publicly-owned utilities.
 
The Location:
Lansing lies at the heart of the Great Lakes State and offers all the beauty and splendor of the four seasons. A haven for swimming, boating, fishing, snowmobiling, golf, and hunting, mid-Michigan is also just a couple hours from premier skiing and one of the most beautiful freshwater lakeshores in the world on our Lake Michigan Coast. Lansing itself is only minutes and miles away from two of the nation’s premier universities, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, and boasts miles of walking, running, biking trails, Potter Park Zoo, professional sports, the arts, and fine dining.
 
 

THE BOARD OF WATER & LIGHT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER