Safety Manager

Key People; Joliet (IL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle

Laptop provided

Phone provided

15 days PTO

Job summary

Key People in Joliet, IL is seeking a hands-on Safety Manager to lead a best-in-class safety culture across Chicago-area commercial jobsites. This role emphasizes field credibility, coaching union crews, and partnering with GC clients to position the company as a safety leader.

The role focuses on proactive planning, equipment upgrades, and a strong injury-prevention program, aiming to reduce injuries and improve safety metrics across projects.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in construction safety with at least 3 years leading field crews.
• OSHA 30 Construction and First Aid/CPR/AED required.
• Procore experience is a must.
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.

Responsibilities

• Investigate and document incidents and near misses with thorough root-cause analysis.
• Write clear incident reports and monthly safety reports for leadership.
• Audit active jobsites, coach foremen, and build trust with union crews.
• Manage workers' comp claims and lead the return-to-work program.
• Track safety data in Procore (inspections, toolbox talks, pre-task plans, near misses).
• Drive injury prevention programs to reduce TRIR/DART/EMR.

Skills

Safety leadership

Field leadership

OSHA 30

Procore

Bilingual English/Spanish

Root-cause investigations

Incident reporting

Tools

Procore

Job description

Safety Manager

Location: Joliet, IL (Covers Chicago Area Commercial Jobsites)

Salary: $95,000 – $125,000 + Annual Bonus

About Us

We are a stable, growing union subcontractor (carpentry, drywall, interiors) based in Joliet, IL, serving commercial jobsites across the Chicago area since 2013. We are looking for a hands-on Safety Manager to build a best-in-class safety culture where crews and foremen take real ownership of jobsite safety.

The Role

You will lead the charge in reducing soft-tissue and material-handling injuries through proactive planning, equipment upgrades, and coaching. We don’t just want a "clipboard cop" who enforces rules—we need a safety leader with field credibility who can partner with our union crews and make our company known as a safety leader with General Contractors.

What You’ll Do

• Investigate & Document: Run thorough root-cause investigations (witness statements, photos, corrective actions) for incidents and near misses. Maintain OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 logs.
• Report: Write clear, factual, and defensible incident reports and monthly safety reports for executive leadership.
• Field Leadership: Spend most of your week on active jobsites auditing safety, coaching foremen, and building respect with union crews.
• Manage Claims: Work directly with insurance carriers on workers' comp claims and lead our light-duty / return-to-work program.
• Track in Procore: Manage all safety reporting (inspections, toolbox talks, pre-task plans, near misses) seamlessly using Procore.
• Drive Results: Implement injury prevention programs (ergonomics, stretch-and-flex, pre-task plans) to actively drive down TRIR, DART, and EMR.

What You Bring

• Experience: 5+ years in construction safety, with at least 3 years responsible for field crews. Subcontractor or trade experience (carpentry, drywall, interiors) is strongly preferred.
• Proven Track Record: Demonstrable before-and-after numbers showing injury reduction (especially for strains/sprains).
• Certifications: OSHA 30 Construction and First Aid/CPR/AED required.
• Tech-Savvy: Hands-on experience with Procore is a must.
• Communication: Exceptional factual report writing and root-cause investigation skills.
• Bonus Skills: Bilingual (English/Spanish), OSHA 500, CHST/ASP/CSP, and experience with GC prequalification platforms (ISNetworld, Avetta, Highwire).

What Success Looks Like

• 90 Days: Audit active jobsites, review historical incident patterns, and present a targeted injury prevention plan to leadership.
• 6 Months: Standardize daily pre-task plans, launch a near-miss reporting program, and train foremen to confidently lead toolbox talks.
• 12 Months: Achieve a significant reduction in recordable injuries, trend EMR downward, and position our safety program as a selling point in bids.

What We Offer

• Compensation: $95,000 – $125,000 base salary + annual bonus
• PTO: 15 days
• Equipment: Company vehicle, laptop, and phone provided
• Support: Complete backing and funding from executive leadership to build your program
• Timeline: Immediate start date available