Director of Safety

Brown NationaLease; Urbandale (IA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Laptop

Car allowance

Cell phone

401K

Relocation

Job summary

Brown Nationalease, a long‑standing truck leasing company, seeks a Director of Safety in the Des Moines area. You will lead safety programming for company drivers and diesel mechanics, manage injury claims and accidents, and ensure FMCSA, DOT, OSHA and other regulations are met.

The role requires collaboration with Operations and Logistics leaders and hands‑on training for staff. Ideal candidates bring 5+ years in transportation safety, strong incident investigation skills, and experience

Qualifications

• Experience designing safety programs for company drivers.
• Knowledge of FMCSA, DOT, OSHA, CSA, HMR, ELD, HOS.
• Experience with workers' compensation claims and investigations.
• Ability to develop and deliver training materials.
• Strong analytical and reporting capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Establish and sustain companywide safety and risk management programs.
• Lead safety meetings across locations and coordinate with ops teams.
• Oversee accident management and claims processes, including driver actions.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Analyze safety data and prepare leadership reports with recommendations.

Skills

Safety program design

Regulatory compliance

Injury & workers' comp

Accident investigation

Driver training

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, or Transportation

Job description

Position: Director of Safety

Company Overview: Brown Nationalease is a full-service truck leasing company offering truck and trailer rental and leasing, contract maintenance, and logistics services including dedicated contract carriage. The company has been in business for more than 80 years and has over 4000 pieces of equipment across 20 locations.

Role Summary: Reporting to the President, the Director of Safety leads three primary operational pillars: safety programming (with a specialized focus on company drivers and diesel mechanics), injury claims management, and accident management. A critical immediate goal for this role is bringing dedicated expertise to revitalize and boost the current company driver safety program. To ensure a smooth onboarding and transition, the incoming Director will train directly alongside our current Safety Director, who remains on staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Safety Program & Training: Establish, maintain, and continuously improve companywide safety and risk management programs to minimize exposure, reduce costs, and promote a culture of safety. Collaborate closely with the VP of Operations and VP of Logistics to plan, coordinate, and lead monthly safety meetings, including traveling to various company locations to conduct these meetings on-site. Lead and enhance safety initiatives, DOT regulatory compliance, and ongoing training tailored to company drivers and diesel mechanics.

• Accident Management: Oversee the accident management process, working closely and collaboratively with our leasing customers when they are involved in accidents. Review accident reports, direct special driver action, and lead efforts for employee recognition to foster a safety-first environment.

• Injury & Claims Management: Oversee the claims process for workers' compensation, employee injuries, and unemployment claims, including selecting and working with legal teams to resolve complex cases.

• Compliance & Leadership: Supervise, assist, and set overall expectations of the personnel in the Compliance and Maintenance departments. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations including FMCSA, DOT, and OSHA.

• Data Analysis & Reporting: Analyze risk, safety, and employee benefit utilization data to identify trends, track performance, and highlight areas for improvement. Prepare reports for executive leadership outlining key risks, safety metrics, and recommended strategies to mitigate claims expense and improve profitability.

Background Required

• Expertise in designing and managing safety programs specifically for company drivers.

• Transportation Risk, Safety, or Compliance-regulatory (5+ yrs.).

• Accident-Incident and Injury Investigation and Prevention.

• Claims prevention, investigation, and analysis (focusing heavily on Workers' Compensation).

• FMCSA, HMR, CSA, OSHA, DOT, ELD, HOS.

• Driver Qualification, Training, and Orientation process.

• Analysis and Development of training materials to prevent future occurrences.

• Residence: Des Moines, IA.

Background Preferred (but not required)

• Warehousing Exposure.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree (i.e., Supply Chain, Logistics, or Transportation).

• Safety Audits (i.e., DOT, OSHA & EPA).

Other Essential Abilities and Skills

• Excellent communications (verbal, written, and presentation).

• Advanced attention to detail & organization.

• Critical thinking and multi-tasking.

• Collaborative.

Compensation Structure

• Compensation: Competitive; based on candidate qualifications and experience.

• Allowances: Laptop, car allowance, cell phone, benefits, 401K, relocation.