The Safety Director is a field‑first safety leader responsible for driving safe work practices across overhead electric, underground utility, and gas construction operations. This role exists to be present where the work happens—alongside crews—coaching, teaching, correcting, and reinforcing safe behaviors in real time.
The Safety Director brings first‑hand utility construction experience and deep working knowledge of applicable safety regulations. They are respected as a practical resource by crews and foremen and are comfortable challenging unsafe acts or conditions regardless of position or tenure.
While the position includes administrative responsibilities such as incident investigation, claims coordination, training facilitation, and regulatory compliance, the majority of time is spent in the field observing work, engaging crews, improving processes, and strengthening the company’s safety culture through direct leadership.
Primary Responsibilities
Field Safety Leadership (Primary Focus)
- Spend the majority of working time in the field observing active overhead, underground, and gas utility construction activities
- Conduct real‑time job site safety observations, audits, and task‑specific hazard analyses
- Coach and mentor crews on safe work practices, equipment use, and regulatory compliance
- Provide immediate correction and constructive feedback to employees, Foremen, and General Foremen when unsafe acts or conditions are observed
- Reinforce accountability at all levels of field leadership while building trust and credibility with crews
- Actively participate in pre‑task plans, tailboard meetings, and job briefings
- Identify recurring hazards, behaviors, or process gaps and work with operations leadership to implement sustainable improvements
- Serve as a visible, approachable safety resource to all field employees
Training & Safety Culture Development
- Facilitate new‑hire safety orientations with emphasis on field expectations and real‑world hazards
- Lead quarterly and recurring safety trainings tailored to overhead, underground, and gas utility work
- Deliver toolbox talks, field‑based training, and coaching sessions as needed
- Support Foremen and General Foremen in developing their own safety leadership capabilities
- Promote continuous improvement through open communication and lessons learned
Incident Investigation & Risk Management
- Lead or support investigations of incidents, near misses, property damage, and vehicle accidents
- Ensure root cause analysis is conducted with emphasis on prevention and field process improvement
- Coordinate with insurance carriers, vendors, and internal stakeholders related to claims
- Track and trend incidents, observations, and corrective actions to reduce future risk and liability
Compliance & Administrative Responsibilities (Supporting Role)
- Maintain compliance with OSHA, DOT, state, and industry‑specific utility safety regulations
- Develop, update, and enforce safety policies and procedures aligned with field operations
- Maintain required safety documentation, records, and reports
- Serve as a company representative during regulatory inspections or audits
- Monitor safety metrics and provide actionable insights to operations leadership
Required Experience & Qualifications
- Minimum 5+ years of hands‑on experience in overhead electric, underground utility, and/or gas construction operations
- Demonstrated experience working directly in the field—not solely in an administrative safety role
- Strong working knowledge of OSHA, DOT, and applicable utility safety standards
- Proven ability to coach, influence, and hold field leadership accountable
- Confident communicator who is comfortable addressing unsafe behaviors at all organizational levels
- Ability and willingness to travel extensively and work in active construction environments
Preferred Qualifications & Certifications
- CSP, CHST, or equivalent safety certification
- OSHA 30, OSHA 500/510, or equivalent instructor‑level training
- Experience leading safety programs within utility contracting environments
Physical & Work Environment
- Frequent travel to outdoor utility construction sites in varying weather conditions
- Ability to walk uneven terrain, climb, stand for extended periods, and access active work zones
- Occasional lifting of materials up to 25 pounds
- Work schedule may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and emergency response situations
What Success in This Role Looks Like
- Crews recognize the Safety Director as a partner, not a paperwork enforcer
- Foremen and General Foremen proactively engage on safety matters
- Measurable reductions in incidents, near misses, and repeat hazards
- Safety expectations are clearly understood, consistently applied, and modeled in the field