Safety and Training Manager

Ceres Caribe; San Juan (PR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Ceres Caribe is seeking a Safety Manager to lead our safety program across utility construction and vegetation management projects in Puerto Rico. This role involves setting safety strategy, ensuring regulatory compliance, and fostering a proactive safety culture at all sites.

You will supervise the Safety Officer and partner with operations leadership to maintain safe, high‑quality project execution. The position requires field leadership, travel across Puerto Rico, and a focus on reducing

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of vegetation management and line clearance safety experience.
• Current CTSP, Certified Arborist, or TRAQ Arborist certifications.
• Knowledgeable in construction safety and HSE regulations.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Strong organizational, written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to travel across Puerto Rico.
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide safety and training support, including local policy and training implementation and compliance.
• Assist the Sr. Safety Manager with developing safety policy and procedures per local requirements.
• Assist with safety in line clearance and vegetation management operations.
• Investigate unsafe conditions and injuries through inspections and observations.
• Implement corrective actions and track performance metrics.
• Review project plans for safety conformance and audits.
• Coordinate Traffic Control training and monitoring.
• Travel between job sites and adapt to varying environments.

Skills

Vegetation Management

Line clearance safety

CTSP

Certified Arborist

TRAQ Arborist

Construction safety

HSE regulations

MS Word & Excel

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Work ethic

Independent or team player

Willingness to travel

Education

Associate/Bachelor’s degree in Construction or Safety

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

Job description

Job Title:

Safety and Training Manager

Location:

Puerto Rico (Field-based with travel to project sites and locations across the island)

Reports to:

Senior Safety EHS Manager

About Ceres Caribe

Ceres Caribe was founded in Puerto Rico in 1998 after Hurricane Georges. It has since grown to be one of the largest employers by providing careers on the island. Ceres Caribe is recognized for its rapid disaster recovery including debris removal, demolition, and blue roofs. We perform resiliency services, including vegetation management and utility line clearing for the Puerto Rican power grid. Ceres Caribe is also nationally recognized for creating natural parks and an aviary center on the island. The company is expanding its efforts to assist in securing the power grid for the Island.

Driven by Purpose, Powered by People

At Ceres Caribe, we believe you’re more than just an employee; you’re part of a team with a purpose and a meaningful mission. Whether in management, field operations, or behind the scenes, every team member plays a vital role in restoring hope, helping communities recover and rebuild.

We value initiative, respect diversity, and give our people the freedom to lead. We offer competitive pay, travel opportunities, and a culture built on resilience and teamwork. If you show up with compassion, share the commitment, react with urgency, and deliver solutions, you’ll fit right in. We don’t just respond to challenges; we rise to them.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking an experienced and highly accountable Safety Manager to lead our safety program across utility construction and vegetation management operations in Puerto Rico. This leadership role is responsible for setting the safety strategy, driving compliance, and ensuring a strong, consistent safety culture across all job sites, crews, and projects.

The Safety Manager directly supervises the Safety Officer and serves as the senior safety authority in the field—partnering closely with operations leadership to ensure safe execution in high-risk environments, including work within the minimum approach distance of energized utility lines and critical infrastructure.

Success in the first 12 months looks like: building a proactive, behavior-based safety culture; achieving full compliance with OSHA, ANSI, and client requirements; developing and mentoring the Safety Officer; reducing incident rates through data-driven strategies; strengthening field accountability; and supporting zero lost‑time incidents while enabling efficient project delivery across Puerto Rico.

What You Will Do

• Provide safety and training support, such as local policy and training implementation and compliance.
• Assist the Sr. Safety Manager with the development of Ceres Caribe Safety policy and procedure by advising on local requirements.
• Assist with safety requirements as needed in the line clearance and vegetation management operations.
• For employees and subcontractors, assist in determining the cause of unsafe conditions and injury claims through procedure, equipment, facilities inspection and worker observation.
• Provide and implement corrective actions and assist in the implementation, maintenance, and reporting metrics for tracking and reporting on performance issues.
• Review project work plans for accuracy in conformance with the standards and assist in site and project safety program audits, coaching, and training.
• Traffic Control training and monitoring.
• Carry out duties in varying work environments including wide‑ranging weather conditions and terrain which may require travel/temporary relocation to other job sites/projects.

Required Qualifications

• 3-5 years of Vegetation Management and line clearance safety experience required.
• Current CTSP, Certified Arborist, or TRAQ Arborist certs.
• Knowledgeable in construction safety and HSE regulations and standards.
• Working knowledge of computers and experience with Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Good attention to detail.
• Strong work ethic.
• Works well independently or as part of a team.
• Ability to freely access all points of a construction site in wide‑ranging climates and environments.
• Must be able to travel/temporarily relocate as necessary to multiple work sites.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate/Bachelor’s degree in Construction or Safety is strongly preferred.
• CSP or ASP certification preferred.
• Bilingual skills in Spanish and English.

What To Expect

In this role, expect a highly visible, hands‑on leadership position with significant time spent in the field. You will travel frequently across Puerto Rico to support multiple active job sites, oversee safety execution, and mentor field safety personnel.

Daily activities include site inspections, leadership engagement with crews, incident response, and collaboration with project leaders in demanding environments involving energized lines, heavy equipment, and vegetation management work.

This role requires strong leadership presence, decisive action, and the ability to influence behavior in high‑risk environments. While rewarding in its impact on workforce safety and operational excellence, it demands resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to safety as a core value.

Physical Requirements And Environment

• Ability to work in adverse weather/field conditions, elevated spaces, and extreme temperatures.
• Exposure to mechanical parts, wet and/or humid conditions, high precarious places, fumes or airborne particles, risk of electrical shock, vibration, and loud noise levels.
• Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Willingness to wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) including but not limited to hard hat, protective eyewear, and steel‑toed boots.
• Commitment to adhering to all safety standards and protocols.

Why Join Ceres Caribe?

At Ceres Caribe, you won’t just have a job; you’ll have a mission. Your work will directly impact the speed and strength of community recovery after disasters.

We Offer

• A collaborative, mission‑driven culture.
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
• The chance to make a lasting difference for communities.

Ceres Caribe is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, religion, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

E-Verify: We comply with Federal law by verifying employment eligibility.