Safety Director

About the role

The Safety Director serves as the senior leader responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving occupational health and safety programs across three subsidiary organizations and all construction operations. This role provides strategic oversight of safety policies, regulatory compliance, risk management, and safety performance, while fostering a strong, company-wide safety culture. Working closely with executive leadership, project teams, subcontractors, and field personnel, the Safety Director ensures consistent safety standards, mentors safety staff, and drives initiatives that reduce risk and promote safe, effective operations across all entities.

Responsibilities

• Supervises a safety team of three direct reports, ensures that clerical staff maintain the OSHA safety log and other administrative requirements related to safety operations and regulations.
• Develop, implement, and maintain safety programs, policies, and procedures across all companies and job sites.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA and all federal, state, local, and client safety requirements.
• Lead safety initiatives, risk assessments, incident investigations, and corrective actions to reduce workplace injuries and exposures.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and oversight to safety personnel, project teams, and subcontractors.
• Conduct jobsite audits, inspections, and field observations to verify compliance and promote safe work practices.
• Oversee OSHA recordkeeping, regulatory reporting, safety metrics, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Develop and deliver safety training programs and ensure employee competency in applicable safety standards.
• Serve as the primary safety resource for executive leadership and stop work when unsafe conditions or behaviors present imminent risk.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills and Capabilities

• Proven ability to lead, influence behavior, and enforce change across multi-divisional projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication, investigation, conflict resolution, and root-cause problem‑solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, construction project management software, and exposure to contractor payment processing.

Education, Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in occupational safety, Safety Engineering, Environmental Health, or a related field, plus 5 years of safety management experience; or an equivalent combination of 15 years of progressive construction safety experience, including 5 years in a leadership role.
• Deep understanding of construction operations, project sequencing, and high‑risk field activities.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR).
• At least five years of occupational health and safety experience in a construction environment is required.
• Certifications Preferred: Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST); OSHA 500 / OTI Certified & NFPA 70E Certified; HAZWOPER & First Aid / CPR / AED Certified; ITI Lift Director & Critical Lift Planning Course completion.
• Travel: Must be able to travel regionally within the Great Lakes Region up to 15%, Ohio up to 65%, with an average of 20% in‑office time.
• Physical Demands: Intermittently physically active; lifting equipment 5–50 lb for up to half the workday, 50–100 lb for up to a quarter; standing, sitting, walking/moving each up to three‑quarters; climbing stairs/ladders and balancing up to half; stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling up to a quarter; use of arms/hands/fingers, talking/listening, vision most/all; PPE required up to three‑quarters; exposure to loud noise, extreme temperatures, changing weather conditions for a similar share of time.