Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Safety Director

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a visionary and strategic Safety Director to champion our organization's commitment to a zero-incident workplace. In this executive leadership role, you will be the principal architect of our enterprise-wide Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) programs. You will be responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving policies and procedures that not only ensure full compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations but also proactively mitigate risk and cultivate a deeply embedded culture of safety excellence. This position requires a hands-on, influential leader who can inspire change, mentor teams, and align safety initiatives with our core business objectives to protect our most valuable asset: our people.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior EHS Manager
Regional Safety Manager
Corporate Risk Manager

Advancement To:

Vice President of EHS (Environment, Health, and Safety)
Chief Safety Officer (CSO)
Vice President of Operations or Risk Management

Lateral Moves:

Director of Corporate Compliance
Director of Risk Management

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and oversee the company's comprehensive safety and health strategy, policies, and management systems to ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and other applicable regulatory standards.
Lead the creation and execution of a long-term EHS vision that aligns with corporate strategic objectives, driving the organization towards world-class safety performance.
Direct and manage all incident investigations, including near-misses and property damage, utilizing root cause analysis methodologies (5-Why, Fishbone) to identify systemic failures and implement robust corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
Conduct and oversee comprehensive risk assessments, job hazard analyses (JHAs), and facility audits to proactively identify potential hazards and establish effective control measures.
Serve as the primary liaison and subject matter expert during regulatory inspections, inquiries, and audits from agencies such as OSHA, ensuring professional representation and timely resolution of findings.
Establish, track, and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) and leading/lagging safety metrics (e.g., TRIR, DART, LTI) to measure program effectiveness and report on EHS performance to the executive leadership team.
Design, deliver, and manage a comprehensive safety training and education program for all levels of the organization, covering topics from new hire orientation to specialized training like Lockout/Tagout, Confined Space Entry, and Fall Protection.
Champion and cultivate a proactive, positive safety culture throughout the organization through visible leadership, employee engagement programs, and behavior-based safety (BBS) initiatives.
Manage the corporate-wide Emergency Response Plan and crisis management protocols, ensuring all sites are prepared to respond effectively to emergencies.
Oversee the management of workers' compensation claims in partnership with Human Resources, focusing on effective case management, return-to-work programs, and cost containment.
Direct the selection, implementation, and management of EHS software and data management systems to streamline reporting, tracking, and analysis.
Provide strategic guidance and mentorship to a team of regional and site-level safety managers and professionals, fostering their professional development.
Develop and manage the annual EHS department budget, ensuring strategic allocation of resources to address key risks and initiatives.
Review and approve all high-risk work activities, including contractor safety plans, ensuring that all third-party partners adhere to company safety standards.
Lead and facilitate the corporate Safety Committee, ensuring productive meetings, cross-functional participation, and follow-through on action items.
Stay abreast of emerging EHS trends, regulatory changes, and industry best practices to ensure the company's safety program remains current, compliant, and effective.
Integrate safety and health considerations into the design and engineering phase of new projects, facility modifications, and equipment procurement.
Develop and maintain a comprehensive industrial hygiene program, including monitoring for chemical, physical, and biological hazards.
Manage environmental compliance programs, including waste management, air/water permitting, and sustainability reporting as required.
Drive continuous improvement of the EHS Management System, potentially leading efforts towards certifications like ISO 45001.

Secondary Functions

Collaborate with Legal and Insurance departments on liability matters and renewal of risk management policies.
Partner with Human Resources to integrate safety performance into employee performance reviews and incentive programs.
Represent the company in industry safety associations and forums to benchmark performance and share best practices.
Support sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives by providing data and expertise on environmental and social impacts.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Regulatory Expertise: Deep and demonstrable knowledge of OSHA, EPA, DOT, and other relevant federal, state, and local safety regulations.
EHS Management Systems: Proven experience in developing and implementing EHS management systems, with knowledge of standards like ISO 45001 and ISO 14001.
Risk Assessment Methodologies: Proficiency in conducting Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), and other formal risk assessment techniques.
Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis: Mastery of formal investigation techniques (e.g., TapRooT®, 5-Why, Fishbone) to determine systemic causes.
Industrial Hygiene: Understanding of IH principles, including exposure monitoring for chemical and physical agents.
Data Analysis & Reporting: Ability to analyze safety metrics (TRIR, DART), identify trends, and create compelling reports for executive leadership.
Certification: Professional certification such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or similar is highly desirable.

Soft Skills

Leadership & Influence: Ability to inspire and lead teams, and influence senior leaders and frontline employees to drive a positive safety culture without direct authority.
Strategic Thinking: Capacity to develop a long-term vision for safety and translate it into actionable, tactical plans that align with business goals.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills; ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to diverse audiences.
Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking: Strong analytical skills to dissect complex problems, evaluate options, and implement effective solutions.
Change Management: Proven ability to manage organizational change and overcome resistance when implementing new safety programs or cultural initiatives.
Business Acumen: Understanding of business operations and financial drivers to effectively articulate the business case for safety investments.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Science, or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Occupational Health and Safety
Environmental Science or Engineering
Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on operations

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 10-15+ years of progressive experience in Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) roles.

Preferred: A minimum of 7 years in a senior EHS leadership or management capacity, with multi-site or corporate-level responsibility. Experience within manufacturing, construction, logistics, or a related industry is strongly preferred.