Safety Manager - Central Indiana

Kokosing (www.kokosing.biz) is one of America's 50 largest General Contractors, serving a broad spectrum of clients in both the private and public sectors. The company specializes in heavy civil/industrial construction, including highways, bridges, underground utilities, water/wastewater facilities, and marine construction. With over 75 years of experience, Kokosing attracts top technical talent by offering challenging projects, superior quality, and attractive rewards. The company reports over $2.8 billion in annual sales and maintains a strong commitment to its workforce.

About the role

This position is based at a project site in Lebanon, IN.

Responsibilities

• Lead and monitor the implementation of the Company Safety and Health Program at assigned locations, ensuring compliance with the Company’s Safety and Health Management System.
• Champion the Company’s behavioral-based program, Safety 24/7.
• Serve as a hands-on leader, balancing technical expertise with interpersonal skills to integrate safety practices into daily operations and drive continuous improvement.
• Supervise, mentor, and manage safety staff to ensure effective application of the Safety and Health Management System, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.
• Ensure safety staff conducts and documents safety and health audits, inspections, and safety conversations, providing coaching to implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead investigations of injury, illness, and general liability incidents, developing strategies to reduce future occurrences and ensuring timely, high-quality incident analysis and reporting.
• Partner with operations managers to develop and execute strategies aimed at reducing injuries, illnesses, and incidents while achieving business objectives.
• Propose and support process improvements based on safety performance data to enhance the effectiveness of the safety and health management system.
• Analyze safety data from audits, inspections, conversations, incidents, and training to provide actionable insights to operations management.
• Identify, coordinate, and lead safety meetings and training programs to communicate company policies and distribute safety correspondence.
• Examine incident trends and inspection data to recommend targeted training solutions.
• Collaborate with the Safety Director, Company Safety Manager, and VP of Safety to develop, organize, and implement safety policies, procedures, and training programs.
• Provide leadership and coaching to safety staff in managing project safety programs with subcontractors, vendors, and third-party personnel to ensure adherence to regulatory, owner, and site-specific safety policies.
• Participate in subcontractor/vendor pre-construction and coordination meetings.
• Serve as a point of contact for federal, state, or municipal safety or risk management authorities (e.g., OSHA, MSHA, EPA) under the guidance of a Company Safety Manager, Director, or VP of Safety.
• Act as the primary point of contact with clients and assist corporate insurance personnel in investigating and managing incidents to minimize loss.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in safety and health or equivalent combinations of technical training and experience.
• 10+ years of experience in safety and health within the construction industry preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of OSHA, MSHA, DOT, and EPA regulations, as well as other state/federal safety regulations and company safety policies/procedures.
• Ability to manage one or more project/facility locations, prioritize tasks, and lead safety programs effectively.
• Experience in coaching, conducting, and documenting safety and health audits, inspections, and behavioral observations.
• Exceptional computer skills, including proficiency in MS Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), SharePoint, phone apps, and Power BI.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills to manage multiple locations.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills to convey complex safety information to diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to coach safety staff in applying operational means and methods, including leading and lagging indicators, to achieve results.
• Competency in identifying trends, training needs, and root cause analysis to support proactive safety interventions.
• Experience in risk mitigation strategies and policy/procedure development.
• Ability to work in a high-production environment (50+ hours/week, including nights and weekends) and respond effectively under pressure and deadlines.

Skills

• Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to proactively coach and guide safety staff.
• Ability to explain information, set performance expectations, and handle sensitive issues with professionalism.
• Strong prioritization skills to ensure timely completion of safety assignments.
• Ability to think independently, influence operations managers, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Good judgment in identifying, troubleshooting, and resolving day-to-day technical and operational problems.
• Ability to positively interact with safety staff and operations management to foster a safe work environment.
• Commitment to providing guidance, coaching, and support to help safety staff enhance their skills and achieve professional goals.
• Fosters an environment of growth by identifying opportunities for learning and development.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proactive approach to personal and professional development, staying updated with industry trends.
• Role model for safety staff, operating with honesty and integrity.

Qualifications

• Valid Driver’s License with a good driving record.
• CPR/First Aid certification preferred.
• OSHA 30-Hour and 10-Hour Trainer certification preferred.
• GSP, ASP, CSP, or CHST Designation preferred.

Working Environment

• Exposure to various weather conditions (heat, cold, rain, etc.) and in-office settings.
• Requires extended periods of walking, standing, climbing, or bending while inspecting work areas, equipment, and safety practices.
• Must navigate safely around heavy equipment, hazardous materials, and other potential risks.
• May require lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Some travel may be required.