Safety Manager

Job Summary:

The Safety Manager leads and strengthens Onyx Corporation’s health and safety program in support of the Excavation, Landscape, and Materials divisions. This role partners with company leadership, project managers, superintendents, supervisors, and field employees to identify hazards, reduce risk, maintain regulatory compliance, and build a proactive safety culture. The Safety Manager provides practical, field-focused guidance for excavation, earthwork, utilities, site development, landscaping, trucking, material production and handling, and related operations. This position owns the company’s DOT compliance program, supports workers’ compensation claims management and return-to-work efforts, and supervises one direct report. The Safety Manager provides hands-on training, mentorship, and professional development to help that employee grow within the safety profession.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Onyx Corporation’s health and safety programs across the Excavation, Landscape, and Materials divisions, including jobsites, yards, shops, and offices.
• Serve as a visible field leader by regularly visiting jobsites, engaging employees, identifying hazards, and partnering with operations to implement practical corrective actions.
• Provide safety guidance for heavy civil activities, including excavation and trenching, cut-to-fill earthwork, underground utilities, site development, heavy equipment, trucking, blasting, crushing, and material handling.
• Supervise one direct report and provide clear expectations, regular feedback, hands-on training, mentoring, and development opportunities to support continued growth in the safety profession.
• Coach project managers, superintendents, foremen, and supervisors on safe work planning, job hazard analyses, toolbox talks, employee engagement, and consistent enforcement of safety expectations.
• Lead incident, injury, near-miss, and property-damage investigations; identify root causes; assign corrective actions; and verify timely completion.
• Conduct and document jobsite inspections and safety audits, track trends, and work with operations leadership to resolve deficiencies.
• Develop, deliver, and coordinate safety training for employees and supervisors, including new-hire orientation, task-specific instruction, and refresher training.
• Maintain safety records, training documentation, key performance indicators, and management reports to monitor compliance and drive measurable improvement.
• Own and administer Onyx Corporation’s DOT compliance program, including driver qualification files, required registrations and records, drug and alcohol testing program coordination, vehicle and driver compliance, audits, corrective actions, and applicable reporting. Advise operations on OSHA, MSHA, DOT, and other federal, state, and local requirements, and represent the company during inspections, investigations, and regulatory inquiries.
• Partner with Human Resources, insurance representatives, medical providers, and company leadership in the administration of workers’ compensation claims, including timely reporting, investigation, documentation, claim follow-up, return-to-work planning, and coordination of modified-duty assignments.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Strong working knowledge of health and safety principles, programs, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements applicable to heavy civil construction.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, train, and develop employees and influence safe behaviors at all levels of the organization.
• Thorough understanding of heavy civil construction means and methods, jobsite hazards, and effective controls.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA standards and demonstrated experience owning or administering DOT compliance programs; familiarity with MSHA requirements applicable to company operations.
• Ability to conduct effective investigations, identify root causes, analyze safety data, and follow corrective actions through completion.
• Excellent communication, presentation, organization, and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to address unsafe conditions and hold others accountable.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize multiple jobsites and deadlines, and spend significant time in active field environments.

Education and Experience:

Education: Bachelor’s degree

Additional Education Preferred: Master’s degree

Field of Study Preferred: Occupational Safety and Health, Construction Management, Engineering, Environmental Health and Safety, or a related field

Required Work Experience: 5–7 years of progressively responsible construction safety experience, including substantial experience supporting heavy civil construction operations. Experience administering DOT compliance programs and supporting workers’ compensation claims is required. Prior supervisory, coaching, or employee-development experience is also required.

Required Training/Certifications: OSHA 30-Hour Construction certification and current First Aid/CPR certification. Competent Person training in excavation and trenching is strongly preferred; additional OSHA, MSHA, DOT, or professional safety credentials are a plus.

Required Computer and Software Skills: Proficient in MS Office, Excel, PPT, Word.

Travel Requirements: 50-60%