Safety Manager - Columbus, OH

Kokosing Construction Company, Inc.; Westerville (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Kokosing Construction Company, Inc. seeks a Senior Safety leader to guide the Safety and Health Management System across projects. You will lead and mentor safety staff, coordinate audits and training, and partner with operations to reduce injuries while ensuring regulatory compliance.

The role requires a bachelor’s in safety and health and 9+ years in construction safety, with strong communication and analytical skills to drive continuous improvement. Occasional travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in safety and health or equivalent.
• 9+ years of experience in safety and health in construction preferred.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA, MSHA, DOT and EPA regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and monitor the Safety and Health Program at assigned locations.
• Audit, inspect, and coach to implement corrective actions and improve safety culture.
• Investigate injuries, incidents, and leverage data to reduce risk and losses.
• Develop and coordinate mitigation strategies with operations to meet business goals.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Safety training

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in safety and health

Tools

MS Office

Power BI

Job description

Kokosing (www.kokosing.biz) is one of America's 50 largest General Contractors and services a broad spectrum of clients in both the private and public business sectors. Kokosing's services include heavy civil/industrial construction such as highways, bridges, underground utilities, water/wastewater facilities, and marine construction. For over 75 years, Kokosing has successfully attracted the most qualified technical personnel in the construction industry by offering visible challenges, superior quality, and attractive rewards. With over $2.8 billion in annual sales and a commitment to its workforce, Kokosing is the winning team.

Job Description:

Position Summary:

Works directly with the company’s management, supervision and trade personnel to implement the company’s Safety and Health Management System. The position provides leadership to guide operations managers in setting and achieving strategic safety objectives, ensuring regulatory compliance and continuous improvement aligned with the company’s core values.

ESSENTIAL Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead and Monitor: Coach, implement, and monitor the Company Safety and Health Program at assigned location or locations. Lead and manage the company’s efforts to meet regulatory compliance as outlined in the Company’s Safety and Health Management System. Champion the implementation of the Company’s behavioral based program – Safety 24/7.
• Operational Leadership: Serve as both a hands‑on contributor and a leader, actively engaging in daily operations while guiding and supporting safety staff. Balance technical expertise with strong interpersonal skills to promote teamwork and collaboration, ensuring that safety practices are effectively and consistently integrated. Drive continuous improvement initiatives across their area of influence.
• Team Leadership: Supervise, mentor, and manage safety staff to ensure the effective application of the Safety and Health Management System. Build a collaborative and supportive environment that encourages continuous learning, development, and leadership among safety staff. Provide clear direction, set expectations, and ensure accountability, empowering the safety staff to take ownership of their roles while driving overall safety performance.
• Audits and Inspections: Ensure safety staff initiates, performs, and documents safety and health audits, inspections and safety conversations. Provide coaching to safety staff and operations managers to communicate and support the implementation of corrective and preventive actions. Facilitate operations’ involvement with the safety and health audit, inspection, and conversation processes.
• Incident Investigation and Analysis: Lead in investigating injury, illness, and general liability incidents, and is involved with the creation of strategies to reduce future occurrences. Coach safety staff and ensure quality and timely investigation, analysis and coding of workers’ compensation and general liability incidents into the company’s data management system. Work closely with safety staff to ensure there is partnership with operations managers that has a positive impact on future results.
• Mitigation Strategies: Partner with operations managers to develop and execute strategies targeted at reducing injuries, illnesses, and incidents, ensuring the achievement of business objectives.
• Process Adjustments: Propose and support the implementation of process improvements based on analysis of safety performance data to enhance the effectiveness of our safety and health management system and provide leadership to safety staff to do the same.
• Data Analysis: Analyze safety data from audits, inspections, conversations, incidents, and training to provide insights to operations management to support continuous improvement.
• Training and Communication: Based on upcoming operations, ensure safety staff identifies, initiates, coordinates and leads safety meetings and training programs to communicate company policies and distribute safety correspondence. Provide guidance to safety staff to examine incident trends and inspection data to recommend training solutions. Work with the operations managers at the projects, facilities, or regions to share knowledge and leverage best practices.
• Policy and Training Development: Collaborate with Safety Director or Company Safety Manager, and VP of Safety to assist with the development, organization, and implementation of safety policies, procedures, and trainings that facilitate the advancement of the Company’s Safety and Health Management System.
• Safety Program Coordination: Coach safety staff and provide leadership of project safety programs with subcontractors, vendors, and third‑party personnel to verify adherence to regulatory, owner, and site‑specific safety policies and procedures. Participate in subcontract/vendor pre‑construction and coordination meetings.
• Point of Contact: Under the guidance of a Company Safety Manager, Director or VP of Safety, at times serve as a point of contact for any federal, state, or municipal safety or risk management authority and/or personnel (i.e. OSHA, MSHA, EPA, etc.). Serve as the point of contact with the client. Assist corporate insurance personnel in investigating and managing incidents to minimize loss.

Education/Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in safety and health or equivalent combinations of technical training and experience. 9+ years of experience with safety and health in the construction industry preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, Skills and Abilities:

Technical Skills:

Demonstrates understanding of OSHA, MSHA, DOT, and EPA regulations as well as other state/federal safety regulations and company safety policies/procedures. Kowledge and experience supporting highway, bridges, utility, and mass earthwork projects. Ability to manage one or more project/facility locations, lead, and prioritize tasks to manage safety programs effectively. Knowledge and experience to coach, conduct, and document safety and health audits, inspections, and/or behavioral observations and conversations. Exceptional personal computer skills (MS Suite, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Phone Apps, Power BI, etc.). Strong organization and administrative recording skills to manage one or more project/facility locations. Demonstrates advanced written and verbal communication skills, effectively conveying complex safety information to various stakeholders at assigned project or facility. Demonstrated ability to coach safety staff to apply business unit operational means and methods, including leading and lagging indicators; uses this understanding to achieve results. Competent in identifying trends, needs for training, and root cause analysis to support proactive interventions that enhance safety culture. Competency in risk mitigation strategies and policy/procedure development. Ability to work in high production environment (50+ hours/week, including nights and weekends) and respond quickly and effectively under pressure and deadlines.

Leadership Skills:

Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to proactively coach and guide safety staff. Ability to explain information, convey performance expectations and handle sensitive issues with safety staff, with positivity and professionalism. Ability to set priorities for the safety staff to ensure timely and effective completion of safety assignments. Ability to think independently, coach safety staff and influence operations managers on the implementation of the appropriate corrective and preventative actions. Applies good judgment to identify, troubleshoot and resolve day‑to‑day technical and operational problems for safety staff. Ability to positively interact and influence safety staff and operations management to create a safe work environment. Ability to provide guidance, coaching, and support to help safety staff enhance their skills and achieve their professional goals. Fosters an environment of growth by identifying opportunities for learning and development. Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills. Ability to convey safety concepts effectively to diverse audiences, promoting a shared understanding of safety goals and practices. Demonstrates a proactive approach to own development by seeking out new knowledge, skills, and experiences, focusing on continuous improvement. Stays updated with industry trends and actively pursues opportunities for growth and improvement. Role model to safety staff and operate with honesty and integrity.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS:

• Valid Driver’s License, good driving record required.
• CPR/First Aid certification preferred.
• OSHA 30-Hour and 10-Hour Trainer certification preferred.
• GSP, ASP, CSP or CHST Designation preferred.

Working environment:

Exposure to various weather conditions (heat, cold, rain, etc.) and in‑office setting. Requires extended periods of walking, standing, climbing, or bending while inspecting work areas, equipment, and safety practices. Must navigate safely around heavy equipment, hazardous materials, and other potential risks. May require lifting up to 50 lbs. Some travel may be required.

Kokosing is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action federal and state contractor. The company does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class.

Kokosing (www.kokosing.biz) is one of America's 50 largest General Contractors and services a broad spectrum of clients in both the private and public business sectors. Kokosing's services include heavy civil/industrial construction such as highways, bridges, underground utilities, water/wastewater facilities, and marine construction. Since 1951, Kokosing has successfully attracted the most qualified technical personnel in the construction industry by offering visible challenges, superior quality, and attractive rewards. With over $2.8 billion in annual sales and a commitment to its workforce, Kokosing is the winning team.