Director of Safety & Health (Utility-Scale EPC)

Position Summary

The Director of Safety & Health is responsible for developing, implementing, and enforcing a comprehensive safety, health, and environmental (HSE) program across all utility-scale EPC operations. This role provides strategic leadership to ensure compliance with OSHA, DOT, EPA, client, and utility owner requirements while driving a proactive safety culture that supports zero-incident performance across transmission, distribution, substation, renewable energy, and heavy civil projects.

Key Responsibilities

Safety Leadership & Strategy

• Develop and lead a company-wide safety and health strategy aligned with EPC operations and client expectations.

• Champion a zero-incident safety culture through leadership engagement, field presence, and accountability.

• Serve as the senior safety authority for all utility-scale EPC projects.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with OSHA (29 CFR 1910, 1926), DOT, EPA, MSHA (if applicable), and state/local regulations.

• Interpret and implement safety requirements from utility owners, ISOs, and EPC clients.

• Oversee incident investigations, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and regulatory reporting.

• Manage workers' compensation, insurance claims, and coordination with carriers and legal counsel.

Field Operations & Project Support

• Partner with Operations, Project Management, and Construction leadership to integrate safety into planning and execution.

• Ensure job hazard analyses (JHAs), pre-task plans, lockout/tagout, confined space, energized work, and fall protection programs are executed consistently.

• Conduct executive-level site audits and field observations.

• Support mobilization of new projects with safety plans, site-specific programs, and training.

Training & Workforce Development

• Develop and oversee training programs including:

  • OSHA 10/30

  • NFPA 70E

  • Substation & transmission safety

  • Heavy equipment and crane safety

  • Confined space, trenching, and excavation

• Ensure competency of safety staff, supervisors, and craft workers.

• Promote leadership safety training for superintendents and project managers.

Data, Metrics & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and track safety KPIs (TRIR, DART, severity rates, near-miss reporting).

• Analyze trends and implement corrective and preventive actions.

• Prepare executive dashboards and client-facing safety reports.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across all regions and projects.

Client & Stakeholder Interface

• Act as primary safety liaison with utility owners, EPC clients, and regulatory agencies.

• Participate in client audits, prequalification processes, and safety reviews.

• Support business development efforts by demonstrating strong safety performance and programs.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Safety, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field (or equivalent experience).

• 10+ years of progressive safety leadership experience in utility-scale EPC, transmission & distribution, substation, renewable energy, or heavy civil construction.

• Deep knowledge of OSHA construction standards and utility safety requirements.

• Proven experience managing multi-site safety teams across large geographic areas.

• Strong incident investigation, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance expertise.

Preferred

• CSP, ASP, CHST, or equivalent professional certification.

• Experience working with investor-owned utilities (IOUs), cooperatives, or public utilities.

• Union and non-union workforce experience.

• Experience supporting EPC projects exceeding $50M–$500M+.