Business Unit Safety Director - Chicago

Turner Construction Company; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Environmental Health & Safety Leader to spearhead safety initiatives in a dynamic construction environment. This full-time role in Chicago involves leading the EH&S program, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, and fostering a culture of safety across teams. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in construction safety, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Join a team that values safety and excellence, and make a significant impact on project outcomes while collaborating with diverse stakeholders. This is an opportunity to thrive in a challenging yet rewarding environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 13 years of construction safety experience required.
• Must have CHST certification or obtain within 6 months.

Responsibilities

• Lead and enforce EH&S policies and procedures.
• Drive cultural change and continuous improvement in safety practices.
• Conduct audits and maintain relationships with regulatory agencies.

Skills

Leadership

Incident Management

Safety Compliance

Environmental Health & Safety Knowledge

Communication

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Safety & Health

OSHA 30-hour training

First Aid/CPR/BBP and AED certification

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

EH&S related applications

Job description

Division:	Chicago Main
Project Location(s):	Chicago, IL 60602 USA
Minimum Years Experience:	15
Travel Involved:	10-20%
Job Type:	Regular
Job Classification:	Experienced
Education:	Bachelors Degree
Job Family:	Environmental Health and Safety
Compensation:	Salaried Exempt

This is a full-time position based in Chicago, IL. Please note that remote or travel-based candidates will not be considered.

Position Description: Lead business unit Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) program. Partner with BU leadership and staff and HQ EH&S to enforce company EH&S policies and procedures. Dotted line managerial responsibility for project site safety professionals in business unit. Contribute to development of EH&S national programs.

Essential Duties & Key Responsibilities:

• Execute Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) policies and procedures and enforce compliance with Business Unit (BU) and company requirements.
• Lead, influence, and motivate teams and stakeholders while modeling highest standards of Turner’s EH&S organization.
• Negotiate business and subcontract agreements related to EH&S. Review and provide feedback to Operations Manager (OM) on business and subcontract agreements related to EH&S.
• Lead and provide direction for decision-making for key EH&S business issues and opportunities.
• Contribute to development of EH&S national programs as directed by Headquarters (HQ) EH&S leadership.
• Identify, eliminate, and control hazardous conditions that may lead to injury and/or property damage using safety standards, best management practices, and EH&S policies and programs.
• Drive cultural change and continuous improvement by influencing and motivating BU leadership and project teams’ behaviors through development and execution of comprehensive EH&S program.
• Develop BU EH&S goals and review with BU leadership; lead implementation of proactive programs to reduce incidents, injuries, near misses, and claims costs.
• Analyze and track BU EH&S program results, identify opportunities, and define measures for continuous improvement and review with BU leadership.
• Lead development and implementation of Annual BU EH&S Plan and related goals aligned with headquarters (HQ) EH&S requirements. Drive goal progress, analyze and track results, identify opportunities, and collaborate with BU leadership to implement measures for continuous improvement.
• Assess completion of audit schedules for BU project site teams and review consistency of audit completion and quality with BU leadership.
• Conduct audits using HQ EH&S approved systems and analyze trends, metrics, reports, and incident data; report progress to HQ EH&S and BU leadership and develop required program improvements.
• Maintain working relationships with OSHA, Environmental Protection Agency, and other regulatory agencies to promote Turner safety programs. Manage regulatory exposures and OSHA citations to zero.
• Represent Turner as industry leader, participate with high profile involvement, in local and regional industry related professional organizations.
• Continuously assess safety knowledge and performance throughout all job families and participate in evaluation process related to EH&S performance.
• Evaluate needs for and recommend training throughout BU, recommend and follow-through on training to close knowledge gaps, and ensure alignment of skills with position requirements.
• Stay informed, with proactive training and education, on laws impacting areas of responsibility for compliance with industry requirements and Federal, State, and Local regulations. Influence and educate relevant BU stakeholders to adopt and maintain standards.
• Lead by example to set expectations of professional development, continuous learning, and maintain required certifications.
• Lead, mentor, and coach BU EH&S professionals to create inclusive environment.
• Manage BU EH&S departmental budget and review with BU leadership.
• Other activities, duties, and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree from accredited degree program in Occupational Safety & Health, Engineering, or related field of study, and minimum of 13 years of related construction safety experience, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Construction Health Safety Technician (CHST) certification required or within 6 months of appointment.
• Completed OSHA 30-hour training and maintain current First Aid/CPR/BBP and AED certification.
• Extensive knowledge and application of safety and environmental principles and techniques.
• Expert knowledge of Federal, State, and local Environmental Health & Safety regulations.
• Extensive experience in incident management and response.
• Cross-functional knowledge of general construction operations.
• Ability to assess construction processes to identify safety related exposures and lead implementation of corrective actions.
• Leadership and supervisory experience with ability to delegate and direct work of others.
• Management experience with ability to delegate and direct work of others and able to manage budget and resources.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite of applications, and EH&S related applications.
• Travel required, access to reliable transportation required.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Performance of the required duties requires physical ability to climb permanent and temporary stairs, passenger use of construction personnel hoists, ability to climb ladders and negotiate work areas under construction. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands, talk, and hear. The employee frequently views a computer monitor and frequently uses a computer keyboard. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is regularly required to be mobile, and the employee occasionally travels both short and long distances via a variety of conveyances. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 15 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works at construction work sites where the employee is exposed to moving mechanical parts, high precarious places, fumes, or airborne particles, outside weather conditions, and risk of electrical shock. The noise in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in an office setting. The noise in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate in an office setting. The employee is required to work in compliance with company safety policies, procedures, and applicable laws.

Turner is an Equal Opportunity Employer - race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.