Safety Director

Job Title: Safety Director

Reports to: CEO / VP of Operations / COO

Location: Sterling, VA onsite

Job Summary

We are seeking a visionary Safety Director to serve as the strategic architect of our organization’s workplace well-being. This senior leadership role moves beyond traditional compliance to weave a proactive "safety-first" culture into every aspect of our operations. You will be responsible for defining the safety vision, managing enterprise-wide risk, and leveraging 2026 technologies to anticipate hazards before they result in incidents.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Define the longterm safety vision and strategy for multiple sites or business units, aligning safety initiatives with overall business objectives.
• Policy & Compliance: Develop and enforce comprehensive health, safety, and environmental (HSE) policies that meet or exceed federal (OSHA, EPA, DOT), state, and local standards.
• Holistic Safety Culture: Promote a proactive culture that prioritizes both physical and psychological safety, ensuring employees feel empowered to report concerns without fear.
• Incident Management: Lead rootcause investigations (using techniques like TapRooT or Fishbone) for accidents and "nearmisses," implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• DataDriven Decisions: Utilize EHS management software and predictive analytics to track safety metrics (e.g., DART rates), identify undesirable trends, and present dashboards to executive leadership.
• Training & Development: Design and oversee the delivery of highimpact safety training programs, including emergency preparedness and specialized technical certifications.
• Risk Mitigation: Conduct job hazard analyses (JHA) and facility audits to identify and neutralize workplace hazards, including emerging risks related to automation and hybrid work environments.
• Liaison & Reporting: Act as the primary point of contact for regulatory agencies and insurance carriers, overseeing workers' compensation claims and returntowork programs.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Safety Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience: 812+ years of progressive safety management experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership or directorial capacity.
• Certifications: Professional credentials such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Certified Director of Safety (CDS) are highly preferred.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in EHS software (e.g., Intelex, Cority), Microsoft Power BI for data visualization, and modern incident tracking systems.

Key Competencies

• Influence & Persuasion: Ability to gain "buyin" for safety initiatives across all levels, from frontline workers to the Board of Directors.
• Analytical Thinking: Skilled in interpreting complex data trends to forecast potential failures.
• Crisis Management: Calm and decisive leadership during emergency response situations or prolonged operational disruptions.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written skills for presenting technical safety data to nontechnical audiences.