Michael Page
Safety Director
Join our team as a Safety Director in the property industry, where you will lead safety initiatives for our construction department. This role is based in Chicago and offers a great opportunity to ensure a safe and compliant work environment.
Base pay range $125,000.00/yr - $160,000.00/yr
Description Summary
The Safety Director will lead and oversee Novak Construction's nationwide safety program, ensuring consistent compliance, proactive risk management, and a strong culture of safety across all projects. This role provides strategic leadership, manages regional safety staff, develops company-wide safety policies, and partners closely with operations teams to identify hazards and implement corrective actions. Responsibilities include directing incident investigations, conducting jobsite audits, overseeing training programs, ensuring OSHA and DOT compliance, and managing safety performance metrics. The position requires a minimum of 15 years of commercial construction safety experience, strong leadership abilities, and national travel with regular onsite presence in the Chicago office.
Key Responsibilities
Provide strategic leadership and oversight of Novak's national Safety Program across all projects and regions.
Develop, refine, and enforce company-wide safety policies, procedures, and standards aligned with OSHA and industry best practices.
Lead, mentor, and support Safety Team members.
Conduct routine and unannounced jobsite inspections, audits, and risk assessments to ensure compliance and identify hazards.
Oversee development and delivery of safety training, new hire orientations, subcontractor onboarding, and specialized programs.
Direct investigations of accidents, incidents, and near misses; lead root‑cause analysis and corrective action development.
Partner with Project Managers, Superintendents, and Executive Leadership to integrate proactive safety planning into project execution.
Review and approve project‑specific Safety Plans, JSAs, AHAs, and safety logistics plans.
Serve as primary liaison for OSHA and other regulatory agencies during audits, inspections, and compliance reviews.
Track company safety performance metrics and present trends, risks, and improvements to leadership.
Oversee DOT compliance programs, including CDL requirements, drug/alcohol programs, and driver qualification files.
Ensure compliance with environmental regulations including NPDES permit requirements; CESSWI or equivalent preferred.
Stay current on building code requirements, quality standards, emerging hazards, and evolving industry trends.
Lead emergency response planning and crisis management procedures.
Support preconstruction teams in safety‑related risk assessments and planning.
Qualifications
Minimum 15 years of progressive safety experience in commercial construction, including senior or director-level leadership.
Frequent national travel required (3-5 days per week).
Onsite presence in the Chicago office required.
Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Construction Management, Engineering, or related field preferred (or equivalent experience).
OSHA 30 required; OSHA 500/510 "Train the Trainer" preferred.
Professional certifications strongly preferred: CSP, CHST, OHST, STS, or equivalent.
Deep knowledge of OSHA regulations, hazard prevention strategies, industrial hygiene concepts, and construction safety systems.
Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence and build a culture of safety across large teams.
Proven ability to manage multi-state safety operations and improve organizational safety performance.
Skilled in incident investigation, documentation, and root cause analysis.
Highly organized with strong reporting, data tracking, and documentation abilities.
Proficient in Microsoft Office and digital safety reporting tools.
Must be willing to travel to job sites nationwide.
Job Offer
Competitive annual salary ranging from $125,000 to $160,000 USD.
Comprehensive benefits package:
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401(k) with company match, paid holidays, vacation, and sick time.
Weekly allowances for auto, fuel and mobile phone.
Per diem while traveling, in accordance with
GSA
rates.
Travel home every other weekend covered or reimbursed.
MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.
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Base pay range $125,000.00/yr - $160,000.00/yr
Description Summary
The Safety Director will lead and oversee Novak Construction's nationwide safety program, ensuring consistent compliance, proactive risk management, and a strong culture of safety across all projects. This role provides strategic leadership, manages regional safety staff, develops company-wide safety policies, and partners closely with operations teams to identify hazards and implement corrective actions. Responsibilities include directing incident investigations, conducting jobsite audits, overseeing training programs, ensuring OSHA and DOT compliance, and managing safety performance metrics. The position requires a minimum of 15 years of commercial construction safety experience, strong leadership abilities, and national travel with regular onsite presence in the Chicago office.
Key Responsibilities
Provide strategic leadership and oversight of Novak's national Safety Program across all projects and regions.
Develop, refine, and enforce company-wide safety policies, procedures, and standards aligned with OSHA and industry best practices.
Lead, mentor, and support Safety Team members.
Conduct routine and unannounced jobsite inspections, audits, and risk assessments to ensure compliance and identify hazards.
Oversee development and delivery of safety training, new hire orientations, subcontractor onboarding, and specialized programs.
Direct investigations of accidents, incidents, and near misses; lead root‑cause analysis and corrective action development.
Partner with Project Managers, Superintendents, and Executive Leadership to integrate proactive safety planning into project execution.
Review and approve project‑specific Safety Plans, JSAs, AHAs, and safety logistics plans.
Serve as primary liaison for OSHA and other regulatory agencies during audits, inspections, and compliance reviews.
Track company safety performance metrics and present trends, risks, and improvements to leadership.
Oversee DOT compliance programs, including CDL requirements, drug/alcohol programs, and driver qualification files.
Ensure compliance with environmental regulations including NPDES permit requirements; CESSWI or equivalent preferred.
Stay current on building code requirements, quality standards, emerging hazards, and evolving industry trends.
Lead emergency response planning and crisis management procedures.
Support preconstruction teams in safety‑related risk assessments and planning.
Qualifications
Minimum 15 years of progressive safety experience in commercial construction, including senior or director-level leadership.
Frequent national travel required (3-5 days per week).
Onsite presence in the Chicago office required.
Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Construction Management, Engineering, or related field preferred (or equivalent experience).
OSHA 30 required; OSHA 500/510 "Train the Trainer" preferred.
Professional certifications strongly preferred: CSP, CHST, OHST, STS, or equivalent.
Deep knowledge of OSHA regulations, hazard prevention strategies, industrial hygiene concepts, and construction safety systems.
Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence and build a culture of safety across large teams.
Proven ability to manage multi-state safety operations and improve organizational safety performance.
Skilled in incident investigation, documentation, and root cause analysis.
Highly organized with strong reporting, data tracking, and documentation abilities.
Proficient in Microsoft Office and digital safety reporting tools.
Must be willing to travel to job sites nationwide.
Job Offer
Competitive annual salary ranging from $125,000 to $160,000 USD.
Comprehensive benefits package:
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401(k) with company match, paid holidays, vacation, and sick time.
Weekly allowances for auto, fuel and mobile phone.
Per diem while traveling, in accordance with
GSA
rates.
Travel home every other weekend covered or reimbursed.
MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.
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