Safety Lead

Safety Lead

The Safety Lead oversees on-site safety programs for large commercial and industrial electrical construction projects, with a primary focus on data center environments. This role leads a team of safety professionals, partners closely with construction project teams, and ensures full compliance with safety, health, and environmental regulations and standards. The Safety Lead develops and delivers safety training, conducts field assessments, manages incident reviews, and drives a strong safety culture across all project sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the on-site safety team, including training, coaching, and professional development.
• Clearly communicate job duties, expectations, and safety processes to safety staff and project teams.
• Conduct annual performance reviews for direct reports and provide ongoing feedback.
• Approve weekly timecards and manage vacation and PTO schedules for the safety team.
• Lead on-site incident reviews, including serious incidents and near-misses, and generate required reports.
• Assist construction project teams in reviewing and developing safety, health, and environmental plans for construction projects.
• Participate in pre-bid conferences, site walk-throughs, and pre-construction meetings to identify and mitigate safety risks.
• Develop and maintain regular interface with general contractors and subcontractors to support site reviews and safety planning.
• Collaborate with contractors and subcontractors to prevent injuries and minimize operational impacts.
• Perform regular site safety assessments across multiple data center projects and work locations.
• Document site observations, recommendations, and corrective actions for each worksite and project team.
• Prepare summary safety reports and other documentation as requested by project leadership.
• Develop, promote, and sustain comprehensive safety-related training programs for field personnel.
• Provide training in areas such as fall protection in construction, scaffolding, respiratory protection, forklift operation, aerial lift operation, and confined space entry.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local construction safety regulations, NFPA 70E, and relevant consensus standards.
• Support the safe operation of construction sites, including excavation, scaffolding, forklift operation, cranes and hoists, fall protection, signage and barricades, steel erection, hand and portable tools, confined space, and hearing conservation.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with project managers, construction superintendents, and foremen in a decentralized environment.
• Utilize data management tools to analyze construction reporting data and identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Apply strong project management, analytical, and negotiation skills to prioritize safety initiatives and meet deadlines.
• Communicate effectively in writing and verbally with all levels of the organization regarding safety expectations, findings, and recommendations.
• Carry a cell phone and respond to safety-related emergencies during non-business hours as required.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 5+ years' experience in commercial or industrial electrical construction site safety management.
• Safety management experience on commercial and industrial projects, including data center environments.
• Experience in electrical construction, including work with electrical subcontractors and medium to high voltage systems.
• Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local construction safety regulations.
• Working knowledge of NFPA 70E and applicable construction consensus standards.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with project managers, construction superintendents, and construction foremen.
• Ability to function effectively in a role that serves independent operating units within a decentralized environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to understand and utilize data management tools for analyzing construction reporting data.
• Extensive knowledge of safe construction site operations, including excavation, scaffolding, forklift operation, cranes and hoists, fall protection, signs and barricades, steel erection, hand and portable tools, confined space, and hearing conservation.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and support safety training programs.
• Experience with construction safety practices in commercial and industrial settings.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health and Safety or a related field is preferred.
• Professional safety certifications such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), or Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) are preferred.
• Leadership experience in a field environment is highly desirable.
• Experience in the construction industry,…