Director of Training and Safety MMUA

Director of Training and Safety 

The Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) is seeking an experienced, collaborative leader to serve as our next Director of Training and Safety. 

This senior leadership position is responsible for the strategic direction, operational effectiveness, and financial performance of MMUA’s training and safety services. The Director leads and develops a geographically dispersed team of more than 20 full-time and contracted professionals while ensuring MMUA continues to provide high-quality, responsive safety and training services to our members.  

The Director works closely with the CEO and other senior staff to evaluate strategic issues, develop recommendations, lead organization-wide initiatives, and translate MMUA priorities into departmental plans, budgets, staffing decisions, and measurable results. Just as importantly, this role builds strong relationships with member utilities, industry partners, public agencies, and other stakeholders.  

Key responsibilities 

The Director of Training and Safety will: 

• Model and promote a strong safety culture within MMUA and member organizations. 

• Recruit, engage, develop, and lead MMUA’s team of safety professionals. 

• Ensure the delivery of high-quality safety programming, training, and services to MMUA members. 

• Develop strong relationships with members across utility types and community sizes, using member feedback to continuously improve services. 

• Identify new safety and training opportunities that add member value and, where appropriate, generate non-dues revenue. 

• Partner with the CEO and senior leadership to identify emerging issues, assess organizational risks and opportunities, and develop strategic recommendations. 

• Lead and contribute to strategic projects involving multiple departments. 

• Develop and manage departmental plans, budgets, staffing, service quality, and financial performance. 

• Coordinate mutual aid support within Minnesota and, when appropriate, outside the state. 

• Conduct specialized post-incident reviews and investigations, audits, assessments, and other services within the Director’s qualifications and expertise. 

• Foster a collaborative, accountable workplace culture built around MMUA’s Ideal Team Player principles of humility, passion for the mission, and people-smart behavior.  

What we're looking for 

The successful candidate will bring a combination of safety expertise, strong leadership skills, strategic thinking, sound judgment, and a genuine commitment to serving members. 

Qualified candidates should have: 

• A bachelor’s degree or higher, or a combination of education and at least 10 years of advanced experience in a safety-related leadership role. 

• A minimum of five years of successful experience managing professional staff. 

• Broad knowledge of applicable state and federal safety requirements, regulations, standards, and codes, including OSHA, NESC, NEC, NFPA 70E, DOT, and EPA. 

• Demonstrated experience working effectively with executive-level colleagues on strategic issues and projects. 

• Experience translating organizational priorities into plans, managing budgets and competing demands, leading change, and achieving results through others. 

• Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and member/customer service skills. 

• Demonstrated integrity, discretion, accountability, and the ability to build trusted partnerships. 

• Experience within utilities, not-for-profit organizations, or associations is preferred.  

Location and travel 

The position is based in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, with approximately 50% of work time in the office and the remainder spent on-site with members, stakeholders, and related organizations. The role requires significant in-state travel, including overnight travel, as well as occasional out-of-state travel for meetings and conferences. A home office is also required. https://mmuaorg-my.sharepoint.com/personal/sdau_mmua_org/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc={C512D400-20A3-4668-952B-56E8ED8B1B32}&file=Director_of_Training_and_Safety_Update 10-26v2.docx&action=default&mobileredirect=true  

How to apply 

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to: 

Shelly Dau 
Director of Organizational Development and Human Resources 
sdau@mmua.org 

Applications will be accepted through Friday, November 13, 2026. 

This opportunity is being posted internally and externally. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

MMUA does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, military service, veteran status, genetic information, union membership, creed, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, status with regard to public assistance, or any other characteristic pr