Assistant Safety Director

Novak Construction Company; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time

Weekly allowances for auto, fuel and mobile phone

Per diem while traveling

Job summary

Novak Construction Company in Chicago is seeking an Assistant Safety Director to oversee its nationwide safety program. This role involves ensuring compliance with safety regulations and leading a safety team across various projects.

The ideal candidate will have at least 15 years of experience in commercial construction safety and a strong leadership presence in the Chicago office. This position also requires frequent national travel and collaboration with operations to promote a culture of safety.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of safety experience in commercial construction.
• Proven ability to manage multi-state safety operations.
• Deep knowledge of OSHA regulations and hazard prevention strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the national safety program across all projects.
• Establish compliance with OSHA and regulatory standards.
• Track and report safety performance metrics.

Skills

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Incident investigation

Knowledge of OSHA regulations

Root cause analysis

Job description

Location

Chicago office. Position requires regular national travel to project sites.

About Novak Construction

Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Chicago, Novak Construction is a premier national general contractor and construction management firm. We specialize in delivering complex, high‑profile projects across various sectors, including retail, healthcare, industrial, and cold storage. Our commitment to excellence, safety, and client satisfaction drives our reputation as a trusted partner in the construction industry.

Summary

The Assistant Safety Director will help lead and oversee Novak Construction’s nationwide safety program, ensuring consistent compliance, proactive risk management, and a strong culture of safety across all projects. This role provides strategic leadership, manages regional safety staff, develops company‑wide safety policies, and partners closely with operations teams to identify hazards and implement corrective actions. Responsibilities include directing incident investigations, conducting jobsite audits, overseeing training programs, ensuring OSHA and DOT compliance, and managing safety performance metrics. The position requires a minimum of 15 years of commercial construction safety experience, strong leadership abilities, and national travel with regular onsite presence in the Chicago office.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee Novak’s national safety program across all projects.
• Establish and enforce company‑wide safety policies in compliance with OSHA and regulatory standards.
• Mentor and manage the Safety Team.
• Conduct audits, inspections, and risk assessments to ensure proactive hazard control.
• Oversee safety training, incident investigations, and corrective actions.
• Partner with operations and leadership to integrate safety into all project phases.
• Manage regulatory compliance (OSHA, DOT, environmental) and serve as agency liaison.
• Track and report safety performance metrics; drive continuous improvement.
• Lead emergency response planning and crisis management.

Requirements

• Minimum 15 years of progressive safety experience in commercial construction, including senior‑level leadership.
• Frequent national travel required (3–5 days per week); onsite presence in the Chicago office as needed.
• Proven ability to manage multi‑state safety operations.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence and build a culture of safety across large teams.
• Skilled in incident investigation, documentation, and root cause analysis.
• Deep knowledge of OSHA regulations, hazard prevention strategies, and construction safety systems. OSHA 30 certification required.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401(k) with company match, paid holidays, vacation, and sick time.
• Weekly allowances for auto, fuel and mobile phone.
• Per diem while traveling, in accordance with GSA rates.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Novak Construction provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information.