Vice President Safety

Confidential; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company match

Vehicle allowance or program

Paid time off and holidays

Professional development and cert. Re-

Job summary

Confidential is seeking a Vice President of Safety to lead enterprise-wide safety strategy, culture, and compliance across dispersed field operations including construction, service, and maintenance.

The role will develop policies, establish metrics, and drive continuous improvement while partnering with executive leaders to embed safety into daily operations and balance regulatory demands with practical execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Construction Management, Engineering, or related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• 10+ years of progressive safety leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a senior safety leadership position.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA 1926 (Construction) and 1910 (General Industry) standards.
• Proven experience building, implementing, or scaling a safety program across multiple locations, crews, regions, or business units.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across all levels of an organization.
• CSP, CHST, or another recognized professional safety certification strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a company-wide safety strategy aligned with business objectives, growth plans, and risk tolerance.
• Serve as the executive owner of the company’s Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) management system across all business units and geographic locations.
• Lead, develop, and mentor a team of safety professionals, field safety leaders, and trainers.
• Advise executive leadership and ownership on safety risk, regulatory exposure, claims trends, and incident performance.
• Represent the company with insurance carriers, regulatory agencies, customers, and relevant industry organizations.

Skills

Safety leadership

EHS program mgmt

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder communication

Incident investigation

Contractor oversight

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Construction Management, Engineering, or related field

CSP/CHST certification preferred

Tools

EHS software

Job description

The Vice President of Safety will lead the company’s enterprise-wide safety strategy, culture, and compliance program. This executive will have responsibility for safety performance across a large, geographically dispersed field organization, including construction, service, maintenance, and other field operations.

The VP of Safety will develop and implement safety policies, programs, and standards designed to protect employees, contractors, customers, and the public while reducing organizational risk and liability. The role will establish clear safety expectations, metrics, and accountability at every level of the organization and will partner closely with operational and executive leaders to drive continuous improvement.

As a senior member of the leadership team, the VP of Safety will serve as a strategic advisor to the business, balancing regulatory compliance with practical field execution. The successful candidate will be a visible safety leader who can influence a decentralized workforce, strengthen safety ownership throughout the organization, and build a culture where safety is embedded in how the company operates—not simply treated as a compliance requirement.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a company-wide safety strategy aligned with business objectives, growth plans, and risk tolerance.
• Serve as the executive owner of the company’s Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) management system across all business units and geographic locations.
• Lead, develop, and mentor a team of safety professionals, field safety leaders, and trainers.
• Advise executive leadership and ownership on safety risk, regulatory exposure, claims trends, and incident performance.
• Represent the company with insurance carriers, regulatory agencies, customers, and relevant industry organizations.

Compliance & Regulatory

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local safety and environmental regulations across all jurisdictions in which the company operates.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve written safety programs addressing key field and operational hazards, including fall protection, lockout/tagout, confined space, electrical safety, excavation, hot work, respiratory protection, driver safety, and other applicable requirements.
• Own OSHA recordkeeping, reporting, and audit readiness, including OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 requirements.
• Manage the company’s response to regulatory inspections, citations, and investigations.
• Monitor regulatory developments and ensure safety policies and practices evolve accordingly.

Field Safety & Culture

• Conduct and oversee jobsite and field audits, inspections, and hazard assessments across construction, service, maintenance, and other operational environments.
• Drive a proactive, positive safety culture through employee engagement, accountability, recognition, education, and visible leadership in the field.
• Standardize safety onboarding, toolbox talks, and ongoing training for field employees, apprentices, contractors, and subcontractors.
• Partner with Human Resources to establish consistent onboarding requirements, including required screenings, certifications, training, and other job-related qualifications.
• Monitor driver safety programs, including vehicle safety technology, telematics, and related reporting.
• Oversee incident investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective-action tracking for injuries, near misses, vehicle incidents, and property damage.
• Partner with operational leaders to integrate safety planning into project planning, scheduling, field execution, and daily operations.
• Build strong relationships with field leadership and employees to ensure safety expectations are understood, practical, and consistently followed.

Risk, Metrics & Reporting

• Establish and monitor leading and lagging safety KPIs, including TRIR, DART, EMR, near-miss activity, and other relevant measures.
• Provide regular safety performance reporting and insights to executive leadership and the board.
• Maintain accurate and reliable safety incident reporting and data management systems.
• Partner with Risk Management and Insurance on claims management, workers’ compensation, loss prevention, and strategies to improve the company’s overall risk profile.
• Support customer bid, prequalification, and qualification processes by maintaining strong safety performance metrics and documentation.
• Develop and manage the safety training, certification, audit, and professional services budget.
• Oversee field safety audits, safety personnel, consultants, and vendors.
• Evaluate and implement safety technologies and systems, including EHS platforms, digital inspections, job hazard analyses, telematics, and other tools that improve visibility and accountability.
• Develop contractor and subcontractor safety prequalification, onboarding, and oversight standards.
• Lead emergency preparedness, business continuity, and crisis response planning for operational locations and field environments.
• Continuously evaluate safety programs and processes to identify opportunities to improve performance, reduce risk, and strengthen employee engagement.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 10+ years of progressive safety leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a senior safety leadership position.
• Strong knowledge of safety practices and hazards associated with skilled trades, field service, construction, maintenance, or other operational environments.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA 1926 (Construction) and 1910 (General Industry) standards.
• Proven experience building, implementing, or scaling a safety program across multiple locations, crews, regions, or business units.
• Demonstrated track record of improving safety performance, including measurable reductions in TRIR, EMR, recordable incidents, or other key safety indicators.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across all levels of an organization, from field employees and frontline supervisors to executive leadership and customers.
• CSP, CHST, or another recognized professional safety certification strongly preferred.
• OSHA 500/501 or equivalent safety training experience preferred.
• Experience working with both field-based and office-based employees.
• Experience in both project-based and service/maintenance environments strongly preferred.
• Experience working with contractors and subcontractors and establishing appropriate safety standards and accountability.
• Familiarity with modern EHS and safety management software platforms.

Physical & Travel Requirements

• Regular travel to active jobsites, operational locations, customer sites, and company facilities.
• Ability to work in and navigate active field environments, including exposure to heights, confined spaces, mechanical equipment, electrical equipment, and other occupational hazards.
• Ability to properly wear and use required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between locations as required.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary plus performance-based incentive compensation.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Vehicle allowance or applicable vehicle program.
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• Professional development and certification reimbursement.