Director of Safety

About the role

Interstate Waste Services is a progressive and innovative provider of solid waste and recycling services in the greater New York, New Jersey and Connecticut markets with a rail-served landfill in Ohio. IWS is committed to delivering high-quality waste, recycling and environmental services while prioritizing the safety of employees, customers and communities. The Market Safety Director will lead all facets of safety in the designated market area, ensuring compliance with IWS’s Health and Safety and Transportation Compliance Programs for landfill, rail and short haul operations. This position reports directly to the Market Area Vice President of Landfill and has a dotted-line responsibility to the Corporate Vice President of Safety.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Program Compliance: Develop and execute the company’s safety strategy aligned with operational goals; serve as the subject matter expert in safety regulations and best practices; maintain a regular field presence across tipping areas, haul roads, heavy-mobile-equipment operations, the scale house, maintenance areas, rail-served activities, and landfill gas and leachate support work; implement leading indicator programs and analyze data to meet market area goals.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with OSHA, DOT, and state/local H&S regulations and company best practices across hauling, post-collections, and maintenance operations; serve as the regulatory point of contact during safety audits and inspections; submit required reports to regulatory agencies.
• Training & Development: Design and deliver safety training programs for frontline staff based on analytics and metrics; manage and deliver onboarding safety orientation; implement monthly safety training/meetings within the market area.
• Risk Management and Incident Management: Investigate safety concerns and recommend corrective measures; lead incident investigations and root cause analyses for medical events, fires, severe weather, spills, vehicle accidents, equipment incidents, railcar releases, derailments, and other emergencies; track and analyze safety metrics to identify trends and implement corrective actions; manage employee care during injuries; review Behavioral Analysis reports; evaluate PPE needs and oversee exposure monitoring and controls for noise, dust, gases, heat and cold stress, traffic exposure, and other hazards.
• Audits, Inspections, & Emergency Preparedness: Conduct regular site inspections and safety audits; manage leading indicator programs including heavy equipment/route observations, Safety Lanes (trans compliance audits), and facility inspections; coordinate drills and ensure readiness for fires, hazardous material incidents, or natural disasters.
• Team Leadership: Supervise and manage work assignments for the market-level safety team; foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement while promoting a safety-first culture.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, Environmental Science or equivalent combination of education and technical experience.
• Certifications such as CSP are a plus.
• Familiarity with Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) and Jefferson County General Health District (JCGHD) requirements and inspection practices, particularly as they relate to landfill operations and environmental protection.
• 10+ years of progressive Health & Safety experience, preferably in solid waste, landfill, transportation, or industrial operations.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA, DOT, and federal/state/local Health and Safety and Transportation compliance regulations; knowledge of FRA requirements is a plus.
• Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record and reliable transportation for travel; 25% travel to NY/NJ area to support covered operations.
• Ability to respond to emergencies outside of regular business hours.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with the ability to adapt to a fast-paced work environment.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and safety reporting systems; ability to prepare clear analyses, presentations, audit reports, and market-level updates.
• Demonstrated experience controlling risks involving heavy mobile equipment, site traffic, contractors, lockout/tagout, confined spaces, fall protection, hot work, excavation or trenching, and work near slopes or edges.
• Experience developing safety budgets, managing vendors or consultants, and using safety technology and reporting systems to support decision-making.
• Ability to work routinely in an active landfill environment, outdoors in varying conditions, and respond to urgent site needs outside regular business hours.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills are preferred.

This job description is intended to be an accurate representation of the general functions of the job and may be altered without notice.