What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Global Safety position at Work Wise Talent?
We are a Global Data Center company with sites in N & S America, Europe & Asia. With major offices in Herndon, Denver, and Europe, we have a global footprint and a unified team of employees committed to providing a premier customer experience and delivering the full spectrum of data center solutions.
The Director, Global Safety will be based in Herndon, VA and will lead the company’s global Safety program across data center construction and operations. The role defines the global safety strategy, develops and maintains policies and standards, and ensures compliance with regulatory and ISO 45001 requirements while driving continuous improvement through data, incident learning and strong stakeholder engagement.
The objective is to protect employees, contractors, visitors and assets, and to build a consistent safety culture across mission-critical facilities worldwide.
** Relocation to Herndon VA area or Denver CO Offered**
Primary Responsibilities
- Develop, implement and maintain global Safety policies, procedures and standards across construction, commissioning and operations.
- Provide oversight and support to regional safety programs, ensuring consistent execution and alignment with global standards.
- Conduct HSE audits and inspections across data center projects and operational sites to evaluate performance, ensure compliance and drive corrective actions to closure.
- Lead incident investigations, root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action programs; ensure learnings are shared and adopted across regions.
- Develop and deliver global safety training and onboarding programs; monitor completion and effectiveness for employees, contractors and vendors.
- Maintain safety reporting systems, logs and documentation, including regulatory filings (OSHA or international equivalents) and ISO 45001 documentation.
- Monitor leading and lagging indicators, analyze safety performance trends and prepare safety reporting for regional and global leadership.
- Partner with Operations, Engineering, Construction and Procurement to embed safety requirements into project planning, design reviews and site execution.
- Oversee contractor and vendor safety management, including onboarding, verification of certifications, work plans and field compliance checks.
- Support emergency response planning, incident notifications and business continuity activities related to safety.
- Promote HSE culture and initiatives through leadership visibility, communication and engagement across global sites.
- Travel 25–50%, including international travel to provide on-site presence at project or operational locations when required.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering or related field; Master’s preferred.
- 10 years of experience leading HSE programs across construction and/or operational environments; mission-critical or data center experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated success implementing safety programs across multiple sites or regions, including contractor/vendor oversight.
- Hands-on experience conducting incident investigations, root cause analysis, risk assessments and HSE audits, and driving corrective actions to closure.
- Professional certifications such as CSP, CIH or NEBOSH preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to lead or transform safety programs across multiple sites or geographies.
- Able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-moving environment while maintaining attention to detail.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret safety metrics and use data to guide decisions and improvement actions.
- Advanced knowledge of OSHA and international/regional safety regulations; familiarity with ISO 45001, NFPA/ANSI and high-risk hazards common in mission-critical environments.
- Proficient in incident investigation and root cause methodologies, risk assessments and safety audits.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and safety reporting platforms; able to build executive-ready reporting and presentations.
- Strong organization, follow-through and accountability skills.
Salary : $160,000 - $230,000