Director of Safety

About the role

The Director of Safety is responsible for providing strategic leadership, direction, and oversight of safety programs. This role develops and executes strategies designed to promote a strong safety culture, reduce risk, improve compliance, and support safe and efficient operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the organization’s overall transportation safety strategy, programs, policies, and procedures.
• Provide leadership and direction to safety professionals and other team members supporting safety and compliance initiatives.
• Partner with operational leadership to establish safety priorities, goals, and performance expectations across transportation and logistics operations.
• Monitor safety performance, trends, and key performance indicators to identify risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and implement strategies designed to reduce preventable accidents, injuries, unsafe driving behaviors, and other operational risks.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local transportation safety regulations and company policies.
• Provide oversight of programs related to driver safety, accident prevention, regulatory compliance, and safety training.
• Lead or oversee investigations of accidents, incidents, and safety events, ensuring appropriate corrective and preventive actions are identified and implemented.
• Review accident and incident data to identify root causes, trends, and opportunities for risk reduction.
• Partner with Operations, Human Resources, Legal, Risk Management, Maintenance, Driver Recruiting, and other departments on safety-related initiatives and concerns.
• Develop and maintain safety policies, procedures, standards, and training programs that support organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Support leadership in evaluating safety risks associated with new operations, customers, equipment, processes, or business initiatives.
• Provide guidance and recommendations to senior leadership regarding transportation safety risks, trends, and improvement opportunities.
• Establish and monitor safety metrics, scorecards, and reporting to measure organizational performance and effectiveness of safety initiatives.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts focused on strengthening the organization’s safety culture and improving safety outcomes.
• Stay informed of industry trends, emerging risks, regulatory developments, and transportation safety best practices.
• Oversee departmental budgets, staffing, resources, and external safety vendors or partners as applicable.
• Represent the organization in safety-related meetings, audits, reviews, or industry activities as appropriate.
• Lead, develop, coach, and retain a safety team.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability for safety performance across the organization.
• Build strong relationships with operational leaders and serve as a trusted advisor on safety and risk-related matters.
• Influence leaders and employees at all levels to proactively identify and address safety risks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 8+ years of experience in transportation safety, fleet safety, risk management, compliance, or a related field.
• 5+ years of leadership or people-management experience.
• Strong understanding of commercial transportation safety practices and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing safety strategies, programs, policies, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Experience analyzing safety data, accident trends, and operational performance to identify risks and develop actionable solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with operational leadership and influence safety performance across multiple locations or business units.
• Strong leadership, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with senior and executive leadership.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and lead effectively in a fast-paced, operational environment.
• Prior experience managing departmental budgets, projects, vendors, and resources.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• 401(k) plan
• Stock purchase plan
• Paid time off
• Life insurance
• Disability plans
• Other optional supplemental coverage