Safety Director
Columbus, OH
Full-Time Regular
Construction
**Job Description for Safety Director**
This position reports directly to the COO of our client, a leading general contractor (via Russ Hadick & Associates).
The Safety Director is the senior leader responsible for establishing, overseeing, and continuously improving the company's safety program across all construction operations. Drives strategic safety direction, ensures regulatory compliance, mentors safety staff, and provides field leadership to prioritize safety at every level. Works directly with executives, project teams, subcontractors, and field personnel to reduce risk, elevate performance, and implement consistent company-wide safety standards.
**Primary Functions**
- Develop, implement, and update safety policies, procedures, and programs for compliance with federal, state, local regulations, and client/owner requirements.
- Lead and oversee all safety staff (Managers, Coordinators, project-level professionals).
- Conduct regular field visits to assess compliance, verify safe practices, and ensure policy implementation.
- Lead risk assessments, hazard identification, and corrective actions.
- Identify improvement opportunities, perform root cause analysis, and recommend strategies to leadership.
- Mentor and educate personnel on safety requirements, best practices, and safe construction methods.
- Oversee safety training development, delivery, and tracking.
- Manage incident investigations, OSHA recordkeeping, and reporting.
- Build relationships with teams, trade partners, and clients for proactive safety management.
- Lead internal audits and support third-party/owner reviews.
- Assist with safety content for bids, preconstruction, and project onboarding.
- Participate in executive planning to integrate safety into operations.
- Assume additional responsibilities as directed.
**Typical Duties**
- Perform jobsite audits, hazard analyses, and activity assessments.
- Evaluate and verify subcontractor safety plans.
- Lead company-wide safety meetings and workshops.
- Provide safety performance reports to leadership.
- Oversee review/approval of JHAs, pre-task plans, and high-risk procedures.
- Collaborate on site-specific safety strategies for complex/high-risk work.
- Track metrics, leading indicators, and trends for improvement.
- Serve as primary contact for OSHA and regulatory agencies.
- Ensure consistent policy application across divisions/projects.
**Physical Requirements**
- Climb stairs/ladders, stand for long periods, use personnel hoists.
- Navigate uneven/ varying terrain on active sites.
- Use vision, hands, fingers; speak, hear, stoop/bend/crouch.
- Lift/carry 30+ lbs.
- Wear standard PPE (hard hat, vest, boots, glasses).
**Work Environment**
- Office and field with exposure to weather, heavy machinery, noise, uneven ground, mud, hazards.
- Frequent travel to project sites.
**Education**
- Associate’s or higher in Safety preferred; High School diploma/GED required.
**Qualifications**
- Bachelor’s in Safety, Construction Management, Engineering, or related preferred (experience may substitute).
- 8+ years construction safety experience, including 5+ in leadership/director role.
- Deep knowledge of construction operations, methods, sequencing, high-risk activities.
- Strong OSHA, environmental regs, and industry best practices knowledge.
- Proven leadership, influence, and change implementation across projects/divisions.
- Experience writing policies, procedures, training materials.
- Excellent communication, investigation, conflict resolution, coaching skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and project management software.
- Valid driver's license, acceptable MVR.
**Desired Certifications**
- CSP, CHST, NFPA 70E, OSHA 500/OTI, HAZWOPER, Lift Director/Critical Lift Planning, First Aid/CPR/AED.
- Company assists in obtaining certifications.
**Capabilities**
- Build/influence cross-functional relationships.
- Strong interpersonal, verbal/written communication, organization, time management.
- Problem-solving and root cause analysis.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office and project tools.
- Meet travel requirements.
This position is contingent on background check and drug screening.
Our client is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
This position reports directly to the COO of our client, a leading general contractor (via Russ Hadick & Associates).
The Safety Director is the senior leader responsible for establishing, overseeing, and continuously improving the company's safety program across all construction operations. Drives strategic safety direction, ensures regulatory compliance, mentors safety staff, and provides field leadership to prioritize safety at every level. Works directly with executives, project teams, subcontractors, and field personnel to reduce risk, elevate performance, and implement consistent company-wide safety standards.
**Primary Functions**
- Develop, implement, and update safety policies, procedures, and programs for compliance with federal, state, local regulations, and client/owner requirements.
- Lead and oversee all safety staff (Managers, Coordinators, project-level professionals).
- Conduct regular field visits to assess compliance, verify safe practices, and ensure policy implementation.
- Lead risk assessments, hazard identification, and corrective actions.
- Identify improvement opportunities, perform root cause analysis, and recommend strategies to leadership.
- Mentor and educate personnel on safety requirements, best practices, and safe construction methods.
- Oversee safety training development, delivery, and tracking.
- Manage incident investigations, OSHA recordkeeping, and reporting.
- Build relationships with teams, trade partners, and clients for proactive safety management.
- Lead internal audits and support third-party/owner reviews.
- Assist with safety content for bids, preconstruction, and project onboarding.
- Participate in executive planning to integrate safety into operations.
- Assume additional responsibilities as directed.
**Typical Duties**
- Perform jobsite audits, hazard analyses, and activity assessments.
- Evaluate and verify subcontractor safety plans.
- Lead company-wide safety meetings and workshops.
- Provide safety performance reports to leadership.
- Oversee review/approval of JHAs, pre-task plans, and high-risk procedures.
- Collaborate on site-specific safety strategies for complex/high-risk work.
- Track metrics, leading indicators, and trends for improvement.
- Serve as primary contact for OSHA and regulatory agencies.
- Ensure consistent policy application across divisions/projects.
**Physical Requirements**
- Climb stairs/ladders, stand for long periods, use personnel hoists.
- Navigate uneven/ varying terrain on active sites.
- Use vision, hands, fingers; speak, hear, stoop/bend/crouch.
- Lift/carry 30+ lbs.
- Wear standard PPE (hard hat, vest, boots, glasses).
**Work Environment**
- Office and field with exposure to weather, heavy machinery, noise, uneven ground, mud, hazards.
- Frequent travel to project sites.
**Education**
- Associate’s or higher in Safety preferred; High School diploma/GED required.
**Qualifications**
- Bachelor’s in Safety, Construction Management, Engineering, or related preferred (experience may substitute).
- 8+ years construction safety experience, including 5+ in leadership/director role.
- Deep knowledge of construction operations, methods, sequencing, high-risk activities.
- Strong OSHA, environmental regs, and industry best practices knowledge.
- Proven leadership, influence, and change implementation across projects/divisions.
- Experience writing policies, procedures, training materials.
- Excellent communication, investigation, conflict resolution, coaching skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and project management software.
- Valid driver's license, acceptable MVR.
**Desired Certifications**
- CSP, CHST, NFPA 70E, OSHA 500/OTI, HAZWOPER, Lift Director/Critical Lift Planning, First Aid/CPR/AED.
- Company assists in obtaining certifications.
**Capabilities**
- Build/influence cross-functional relationships.
- Strong interpersonal, verbal/written communication, organization, time management.
- Problem-solving and root cause analysis.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office and project tools.
- Meet travel requirements.
This position is contingent on background check and drug screening.
Our client is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.