Director of Safety, Training, and Workforce Development

Director of Safety, Training, and Workforce Development

The Director of Safety, Training, and Workforce Development provides strategic leadership and vision for IEC’s statewide safety, training, and risk mitigation programs. This role oversees the development, modernization, and delivery of high-quality training, apprenticeship, and safety initiatives that support the long-term operational and workforce needs of Indiana’s electric cooperatives. The Director ensures alignment with evolving industry standards, regulatory requirements, and cooperative priorities while cultivating a strong and consistent safety culture across all member organizations.

To be successful in this role, an individual must be able to perform the functions listed below in a satisfactory manner. The company will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Develops and executes a multi-year strategic plan for IEC’s safety, job training, loss control, and apprenticeship programs.
• Identifies industry trends, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies and incorporates them into program planning and curriculum development.
• Leads continuous improvement initiatives to ensure IEC’s programs remain innovative, relevant, and effective.
• Directs statewide safety initiatives designed to improve performance, reduce risk exposure, and strengthen cooperative safety culture.
• Oversees development of risk mitigation strategies and enterprise-level safety standards in collaboration with Regulatory Compliance and member leaders.
• Provides strategic guidance during significant incidents, investigations, or safety events when needed.
• Oversees the design, development, and evaluation of all safety training, classroom instruction, hands‑on schools, and apprenticeship programs.
• Ensures the Rural Electric Apprenticeship Program (REAP) meets workforce needs, accreditation criteria, and industry expectations.
• Coordinates mutual aid agreements and partnerships, ensuring clear communication, readiness, and effective response across participating organizations.
• Establishes quality standards, performance benchmarks, and evaluation processes for all training programs.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for cooperative CEOs, operations leaders, and safety managers regarding statewide safety and training initiatives.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with member cooperatives to ensure programs reflect evolving needs and challenges.
• Represents IEC with industry associations, professional organizations, and regulatory bodies.
• Collaborates with and advises the Safety Committee to advance a proactive safety culture and support compliance with relevant policies and regulations.
• Monitors federal and state regulatory changes (OSHA/IOSHA, NESC, DOT, EPA, etc.) and ensures IEC programs reflect current requirements.
• Partners with Regulatory Strategy and Compliance to develop consistent statewide safety policies and guidance materials.
• Provides expertise and consultation to member cooperatives navigating compliance questions or challenges.
• Develops and oversees the department budget, ensuring effective stewardship of financial resources.
• Approves major purchases, equipment, technology investments, and vendor contracts that support training operations.
• Analyzes program utilization, cost‑effectiveness, and ROI to guide resource planning and program adjustments.
• May maintain responsibility for assigned member cooperatives, conducting scheduled visits, and serving as the primary point of contact for those locations.

• Assists other departments and performs other duties as assigned.

• Leads, mentors, and develops a team of trainers and safety professionals, establishing clear goals, expectations, and performance measures.
• Manages departmental structure, staffing, and resource allocation to meet member needs and deliver high‑value programs.
• Supports professional development and certification attainment for team members.

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have an equivalent of the following…