Regional Safety Specialist

The Regional Safety Specialist is a frontline safety leadership role responsible for supporting safety performance within an assigned brand and geographic area. This position serves as the primary bridge between field-facing safety staff and operational leadership by coaching crews, supporting frontline leaders, conducting audits, leading training, and investigating minor incidents and near misses.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a frontline safety leader for the assigned brand and region, with support to other brands or territories as assigned.
• Maintain regular field presence at pullouts, staging areas, job sites, and active work locations to support crews and frontline leadership.
• Complete minimum crew site visits as required by the VP of Safety to maintain visible field engagement through safety walks, pullout observations, and direct interaction with crews and frontline leaders.
• Coach field employees, General Forepersons, Forepersons, and other local leaders on hazard recognition, risk controls, job planning, and safe execution of work.
• Build trust with crews through visible field engagement, practical coaching, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Reinforce stop-work expectations and support resolution of immediate high-risk conditions when identified.
• Support the day-to-day coordination, mentoring, and development of Regional Safety Specialists and Associates when assigned.
• Lead and support safety coaching sessions, field discussions, stand-downs, and other learning activities with crews and supervisors.
• Aid in onboarding, field evaluations, and practical skills development for new employees and frontline leaders.
• Partner with training and operational leaders to improve safety education based on field conditions, trends, and observed needs.
• Promote learning-focused conversations following events, close calls, and operational challenges.
• Ensure all incidents are reported in accordance with the company policy.
• Investigate minor incidents, close calls, near misses, and good catches, with emphasis on understanding work conditions, contributing factors, and learning opportunities.
• Support PSIF and HSIF investigations under the direction of the VP of Safety, Legal, or other designated leadership.
• Help communicate lessons learned, corrective actions, and improvement opportunities to field leadership and crews.
• Conduct job site audits, crew observations, pullout reviews, and field verification activities to support compliance and operational consistency.
• Assist operations in identifying gaps in readiness, planning, equipment condition, documentation, and field execution.
• Support vehicle, equipment, PPE, and work-practice inspections as needed.
• Escalate significant compliance concerns, repeated breakdowns, or unresolved high-risk issues to appropriate leadership.
• Identify recurring trends, field constraints, and opportunities to improve systems, training, and work planning.
• Contribute to development and refinement of policies, procedures, alerts, and field tools based on operational experience.
• Collaborate with Safety Managers, Regional Safety Directors, and Health & Safety leadership on initiatives that improve organizational learning and field performance.
• Support cross-regional audits, special projects, and enterprise safety initiatives when assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Safety, Forestry, Environmental Health, or related field preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in utility vegetation management, arboriculture, or field-based safety leadership.
• Strong working knowledge of ANSI Z133, OSHA 1910.269, DOT requirements, and utility vegetation management operations.
• Experience conducting incident investigations, field coaching, audits, and safety-related training.
• Demonstrated ability to influence field teams and frontline leaders through credibility, communication, and practical problem-solving.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and digital reporting or inspection systems.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Preferred: Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP).
• Experience supervising or mentoring field safety personnel.
• Familiarity with Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) or learning-focused safety approaches.
• Experience supporting multiple operating units, regions, or brands.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

• Frequent outdoor work in varying weather and field conditions.
• Ability to walk on uneven terrain, enter active job sites, and observe vegetation management and arboricultural operations in progress.
• Ability to climb ladders or access elevated work areas as needed.
• Ability to lift up to 75 pounds.
• Availability for extended hours, travel, and incident response support as needed.

Join a team that values safety, reliability, and professional development. If you are a skilled individual who enjoys working outdoors and being part of a dynamic team, NG Gilbert is the right fit for you. Apply today to grow your career in a vital and rewarding field!