Senior Manager Health, Safety and Environmental

Northern Lights & Jdh Contracting; Plainfield (IN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Lights Locating and Inspection seeks a Senior Manager of Health, Safety, and Environment to lead strategic HSE programs across multiple states and drive risk reduction for a 600-employee operation. This role reports to the VP of Operations and supports a growing national safety operation.

The position emphasizes policy development, regulatory compliance, fleet safety, and cross-functional collaboration with Operations and Risk Management to improve safety culture.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading HSE programs across geographically dispersed operations.
• Willingness to travel 75% or more.
• Experience in utility locating or related field services.
• Strong leadership and analytical decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, implementation, and continuous improvement of comprehensive HSE programs across regions.
• Establish national HSE standards, policies, and procedures for multi-state consistency.
• Align safety initiatives with company strategy, operations, and customer requirements.
• Oversee regulatory compliance and risk assessment across 22 states.
• Lead investigations, root-cause analyses, and corrective actions.
• Develop training and safety materials; monitor inspections and audits.
• Engage with customers, regulators, and internal stakeholders on safety matters.

Skills

HSE Leadership

Fleet Safety

Regulatory Compliance

Risk Management

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Safety/Environmental

CSP/ASP/CHMM certifications

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: Plainfield, IN 46168, Position Type: Full Time,

Job Summary

The Senior Manager, Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) provides strategic leadership, governance, and operational oversight of all health, safety, environmental, and driver safety programs across Northern Lights Locating and Inspection. This role reports directly to the Vice President of Operations and supports a multi-state, national safety operation spanning 22 states and growing.

This position ensures consistent execution of HSE and fleet safety programs across all regions. The Senior Manager leads enterprise risk reduction efforts, regulatory compliance, and safety culture development. The role partners closely with Operations leadership and supports approximately 600 employees.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Health and Safety Leadership

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of comprehensive HSE programs across all operating regions
• Establish national HSE standards, policies, and procedures to ensure consistency across a multi-state footprint
• Align safety and environmental initiatives with company strategy, operational priorities, and customer requirements
• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on risk management, regulatory exposure, and safety performance trends

Regional and National Oversight

• Manage and mentor Regional Damage Safety Specialists and other assigned HSE personnel
• Oversee HSE operations across 22 states and additional expansion areas
• Ensure consistency in incident reporting, investigations, corrective actions, and safety metrics
• Conduct regular regional reviews to evaluate performance, compliance, and resource needs

Fleet Safety and Driver Risk Management

• Administer and analyze Samsara fleet safety and telematics data to identify risk trends and improve driver behavior
• Lead the enterprise-wide implementation and ongoing management of the Smith Driver Safety System
• Develop and enforce driver safety policies, coaching programs, and accountability standards
• Analyze and report fleet and driver safety metrics to senior leadership
• Ensure fleet safety programs comply with DOT regulations, insurance requirements, and loss control strategies

Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with OSHA, DOT, EPA, and applicable state and local regulations
• Lead investigations of serious incidents, near misses, and regulatory events
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions
• Partner with Risk Management and insurance carriers on loss control, claims trends, and return-to-work programs
• Audit field operations and recommend corrective actions to address risk exposure

Training, Audits, and Performance Improvement

• Oversee development and delivery of HSE and driver safety training programs
• Ensure job site inspections, audits, and safety observations are conducted consistently
• Track and analyze leading and lagging safety indicators
• Maintain and continuously improve company safety and health program manuals

Environmental Compliance

• Provide oversight of environmental compliance related to excavation, soil, water, air quality, and hazardous materials
• Ensure proper waste disposal practices across all operating states
• Support sustainability initiatives such as fuel efficiency, recycling, and environmental stewardship

Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary HSE contact for major customers, regulatory agencies, and internal stakeholders
• Lead the company Safety Committee and establish goals, agendas, and performance dashboards
• Partner with Operations, Human Resources, Risk Management, and external vendors
• Maintain customer compliance platforms including ISNetworld, Avetta, and Browz

Job Requirements

• Extensive experience leading HSE and fleet safety programs across geographically dispersed operations
• Willingness and ability to travel 75 percent or more
• Experience in the utility locating industry or a closely related construction or field services environment
• Strong leadership, coaching, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Availability for emergency response and after-hours support as required
• Valid driver license and ability to obtain DOT medical certification
• Ability to pass drug and alcohol screening

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, or a related field preferred
• Professional certifications such as CSP, ASP, CHMM, or equivalent strongly preferred
• Seven to ten or more years of progressive HSE leadership experience with regional or national oversight
• Demonstrated experience managing fleet safety platforms, telematics data, and driver safety programs
• Thorough knowledge of OSHA, DOT, EPA, and multi-state regulatory requirements
• Proven ability to scale safety systems to support organizational growth

Equal Employment Opportunity

Northern Lights Locating and Inspection is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.