Safety Director

Overview

The Safety Director provides strategic leadership and executive oversight of enterprise-wide safety, health, and risk management programs. This role is responsible for advancing a proactive safety culture, reducing risk exposure, and ensuring compliance across all field and office operations. The Director oversees workers’ compensation and claims management, partners closely with the Risk Management team on case resolution and insurance strategies, and provides executive-level reporting on safety performance.

In addition to executive responsibilities, the Safety Director maintains a strong field presence—regularly visiting job sites, observing work practices, coaching leaders, and engaging directly with crews to reinforce the company’s safety culture.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB

• Strategic Leadership
  • Develop and execute the enterprise safety vision, strategy, and long-term goals aligned with business objectives.
  • Provide executive-level reporting and recommendations to the Executive Safety Committee and leadership team.
• Risk & Claims Oversight
  • Partner closely with Risk Management on workers’ compensation, general liability, and insurance claims.
  • Oversee injury case management, claim investigation, resolution strategies, and return-to-work programs.
  • Lead initiatives to reduce claims frequency, cost, and overall risk exposure.
• Safety Programs & Compliance
  • Direct the development, implementation, and auditing of all safety programs, policies, and regulatory compliance (CAL/OSHA, federal, state, local).
  • Ensure effective execution of site-specific safety plans and environmental, health, and safety (EHS) programs.
  • Monitor and update Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and sub-programs.
• Field Engagement
  • Maintain regular field presence at job sites to evaluate compliance, observe safety practices, and strengthen relationships with field teams.
  • Conduct field audits, inspections, and coaching to identify risks and implement practical solutions.
  • Serve as a visible safety leader to reinforce accountability and promote hands-on engagement.
• Analytics & Reporting
  • Lead safety data analytics and trend analysis; present leading/lagging indicators, KPIs, and performance dashboards to senior leadership.
  • Conduct Root Cause Analyses of incidents, near misses, and claims, implementing preventive and corrective measures.
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Oversee and mentor a high-performing Safety team (Managers, Advisors, and support staff).
  • Drive workforce development through training, coaching, performance management, and succession planning.
• Collaboration & Engagement
  • Partner cross-functionally with Operations, HR, Legal, and Finance to embed safety and risk practices into business operations.
  • Facilitate company-wide training, orientations, toolbox talks, and incentive programs promoting safety engagement.
  • Build strong external relationships with regulators, insurers, and third-party administrators.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, Risk Management, or related field preferred.
• 10 years of progressive safety leadership experience, including at least 5 years managing a multi-site safety function in construction, utilities, or heavy civil industries.
• Demonstrated oversight of workers’ compensation and claims management, including collaboration with risk management and insurance carriers.
• OSHA 30/500, CSM, CSP, or similar advanced certifications strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of designing and implementing enterprise-wide safety strategies, KPIs, and analytics.
• Strong knowledge of CAL/OSHA, OSHA, DOT, EPA, and related safety regulations.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills across all organizational levels.
• Proficiency in safety analytics, data reporting, and presentation tools (Excel, PowerPoint, BI platforms).
• Bilingual Spanish preferred (read and write).