Safety Manager

Job Title:

Construction Safety Specialist - Data Center Projects

Job Description

This role provides on-site environmental, health, and safety (EHS) leadership for a large data center construction project in Itasca, IL. You will serve as a designated safety specialist, ensuring full compliance with project, site-specific, and client safety requirements while spending most of your time in the field with crews. You will lead safety audits, documentation, incident response, and trade partner engagement, helping to foster a proactive, safety-first culture on a high-profile construction project.

Responsibilities

+ Implement and uphold the project's safety guidelines, site-specific safety plan, and all client-specific safety requirements.

+ Coordinate with the regional safety lead to ensure appropriate safety signage and personal protective equipment (PPE) are available and properly used.

+ Confirm that all personnel scheduled to work on-site have completed the required safety orientation training before beginning work.

+ Gather and organize safety documentation from subcontractors and trade partners, including Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), Safety Data Sheets (SDS), High-Risk Activity Plans, Heat Illness Prevention Plans (when applicable), and training certifications such as site-specific safety training and equipment operator cards.

+ Conduct at least one safety audit per day using the designated digital platform, including annotated photos and clear, actionable findings.

+ Share audit findings and recommended corrective actions with the project team to ensure visibility, accountability, and timely resolution of safety issues.

+ Submit a minimum of two Safety Observation Reports (SORs) per week to document observations, positive behaviors, and opportunities for improvement.

+ Spend approximately 60-70% of your time in the field engaging with crews, observing work practices, and monitoring compliance with safety standards.

+ Attend and actively contribute to daily huddles, coordination meetings, foremen's meetings, and preconstruction meetings to integrate safety into planning and execution.

+ Lead or support weekly all-hands safety meetings, including preparing materials, delivering presentations, and tracking attendance.

+ Spot-check safety documentation during site visits to verify accuracy, completeness, and compliance.

+ Review and track Daily Action Plans (DAPs), High-Risk Activity Plans, hot work permits and checklists, safety orientation records, and project-specific safety documentation such as SDS and confined space plans.

+ Immediately notify the project team and regional safety lead of any incidents, injuries, or near-miss events.

+ Assist in incident investigations, contribute to root cause analysis, and review incident reports prior to submission to ensure clarity and accuracy.

+ Ensure a clear and practical "Lessons Learned" summary is created for each incident or near miss and communicated to relevant stakeholders.

+ Conduct site-specific safety orientations for all trade partners and ensure they understand project expectations and procedures.

+ Maintain regular communication with subcontractor safety representatives to align on expectations, address concerns, and support continuous improvement.

+ Participate in or lead planning meetings for high-risk activities such as crane operations, confined space entry, and work at height requiring fall protection.

+ Work collaboratively alongside another safety professional as part of the project's EHS team.

+ Maintain clear, frequent, and professional communication with the project team, safety leadership, and trade partners.

+ Respond promptly to field inquiries and proactively address safety concerns as they arise.

+ Ask questions when clarification is needed and share observations, recommendations, and improvement ideas openly and constructively.

+ Align your schedule with jobsite hours, typically starting at 5:00 or 6:00 AM, and remain on-site during all active construction hours.

+ Stay flexible to accommodate extended hours when project needs require additional on-site support.

+ Support accurate headcount and EHS staffing alignment by collaborating with the general contractor and subcontractors to ensure adequate EHS coverage based on workforce size and project risk.

Essential Skills

+ 2-5 years of experience in construction safety, with a strong focus on field-based EHS support.

+ Minimum of 2 years of experience specifically in the construction industry while serving as a designated EHS representative.

+ Demonstrated experience acting as a safety specialist on data center or commercial building construction projects, with data center experience highly preferred.

+ Current 30-hour OSHA certification or higher.

+ Professional safety certification such as CSP, CHST, GSP, ASP, CHT or similar, with at least 2 years of construction safety experience.

+ Must hold CSP or CHST certification.

+ Minimum of 5 years of overall experience, with data center construction experience strongly…