Corporate Director of Environmental Health and Safety

Job DescriptionJob Description

The Corporate Director of Safety provides strategic and operational safety leadership across a portfolio of affiliated operating companies, including a real estate development and property management firm, a logistics company, a private security company, and a construction company specializing in mission-critical data center builds. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and continuously improving a unified Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) program that meets or exceeds federal, state, and local regulatory requirements while reflecting the unique risk profile of each business unit.

The Director leads a team of safety professionals embedded across the operating companies and serves as the senior subject-matter expert on OSHA compliance, hazard prevention, incident investigation, regulatory reporting, and workforce safety training. The successful candidate will combine technical expertise with a strong leadership presence, capable of operating in a corporate boardroom one day and a confined space, tenant build-out, transportation yard, or active data center construction site the next.

Operating Companies Supported

Real Estate Development & Property Management

Oversee safety programs for development sites, leased and owned commercial and industrial properties, on-site maintenance teams, and tenant improvement work. Address risks including slip/trip/fall, electrical, hot work, lead/asbestos in older assets, indoor air quality, elevator and life-safety systems, and contractor management.

Logistics & Transportation

Lead safety strategy for warehouse operations, dock/yard activity, material handling, and motor carrier operations. Ensure alignment with OSHA general industry standards and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements, including driver qualification, hours of service, drug and alcohol testing, vehicle inspection, and CSA score management.

Private Security

Direct safety oversight for armed and unarmed security operations, including use-of-force training compliance, firearms safety, workplace violence prevention, lone-worker protocols, vehicle operations, and fitness-for-duty programs. Coordinate with state licensing boards and ensure officer training records meet jurisdictional requirements.

Data Center Construction

Serve as the senior safety authority on ground-up and expansion data center projects. Manage high-hazard exposures, including arc flash and high-voltage electrical work, crane and rigging operations, structural steel, fall protection at height, trenching and excavation, confined spaces, and complex multi-employer worksites with general contractors, subcontractors, and owner representatives. Ensure full alignment with OSHA 29 CFR 1926 and client-specific (hyperscale) safety requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Safety Strategy & Program Leadership

• Design, implement, and continuously improve a unified corporate EHS management system covering all operating companies, scaled appropriately to each business line, including office, property maintenance, warehouse, drivers, security officers, field supervisors, and construction crews/subcontractors.
• Establish leading and lagging safety metrics (TRIR, DART, near-miss reporting, audit scores, training completion) and report performance to executive leadership and ownership on a routine cadence.
• Develop and maintain written safety programs, site-specific safety plans (SSSPs), job hazard analyses (JHAs), and standard operating procedures.
• Drive a proactive safety culture through visible leadership, behavior-based safety initiatives, and meaningful employee engagement at every level.
• Partner with project managers, engineers, and design teams to integrate EHS considerations into the design and pre-construction phases of data center and other capital projects; review project plans for hazards and mitigation strategies before mobilization.

OSHA & Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain expert-level knowledge of OSHA 29 CFR 1910 (General Industry) and 29 CFR 1926 (Construction), as well as DOT/FMCSA, EPA, NFPA, ANSI, and applicable state-plan requirements.
• Lead the company response to OSHA inspections, citations, informal conferences, and abatement, including coordination with legal counsel.
• Maintain compliance calendars for required inspections, certifications, and trainings; ensure documentation is current and auditable.
• Own OSHA recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including OSHA 300/300A/301 logs, electronic submission via ITA, and timely reporting of fatalities, hospitalizations, amputations, and loss-of-eye incidents.
• Ensure compliance with state and municipal licensing, permitting, and reporting obligations across all operating jurisdictions.
• Conduct routine internal audits, gap assessments, and pre-OSHA mock inspections; track corrective actions to closure.

Training & Workforce Development

• Build and maintain a comprehensive corporate training matrix mapping required training to job role, jurisdiction, and operating company.
• Develop, deliver, and track training programs, including OSHA 10/30, fall protection, scaffolding, electrical safety, NFPA 70E, lockout/tagout, confined space, powered industrial trucks, hazard communication, bloodborne pathogens, defensive driving, workplace violence, and active threat response.
• Maintain a learning management system (LMS) of record; ensure training documentation is audit-ready and retained per regulatory requirements.
• Develop new-hire safety tailored to each operating company and onboard subcontractors and vendors to corporate safety expectations.
• Identify, qualify, and manage third-party training vendors as needed.

Incident Management & Risk Reduction

• Lead and document investigations of all incidents, near-misses, and serious injury and fatality (SIF) potential events using root cause methodologies; ensure corrective and preventive actions are implemented and verified.
• Oversee emergency action plans, fire prevention plans, business continuity, and crisis response protocols across all sites.
• Coordinate post-incident care and return-to-work processes with HR/medical partners (as applicable).

Team Leadership

• Lead, develop, and grow a team of safety professionals—including site safety managers, safety coordinators, and training specialists—distributed across the operating companies and active project sites.
• Set clear performance expectations, conduct regular one-on-ones and performance reviews, and create development plans and career pathways for team members.
• Recruit and onboard new safety personnel as the portfolio grows; build bench strength and succession depth at the site-leader level.
• Mentor field leadership and operations managers on safety accountability and integrate safety performance into supervisor and manager evaluations.
• Manage the corporate safety budget, including staffing, PPE, training, equipment, software, and consulting expenditures.

Environmental Stewardship

• Manage environmental compliance programs across the operating companies, including hazardous and non-hazardous waste handling and disposal, Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans, stormwater (SWPPP), and air and water quality requirements.
• Coordinate environmental permitting, ongoing monitoring, and reporting in partnership with project teams and outside environmental consultants.
• Support sustainability initiatives such as energy efficiency, resource conservation, and waste reduction in alignment with corporate and client (including hyperscaler) ESG expectations.

Stakeholder Engagement & External Affairs

• Serve as the primary point of contact with regulatory agencies, including OSHA, EPA, DOT/FMCSA, and applicable state and local authorities.
• Communicate EHS performance, key risks, and strategic initiatives clearly to senior leadership, ownership, employees, clients, and other stakeholders.
• Represent the organization in industry associations, peer groups, and community engagements; remain current on evolving regulations, technologies, and best practices through ongoing professional development.

Data Analytics & EHS Reporting

• Implement and administer EHS data management systems to track incidents, near-misses, observations, inspections, training completion, and compliance status across all operating companies.
• Analyze trends, identify systemic risks, and translate data into actionable recommendations and continuous improvement plans.
• Prepare and present regular EHS dashboards and reports for executive leadership, ownership, and operating company management.

Qualifications

Required

• A bachelor's degree in occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene, engineering, construction management, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive EHS experience, with at least 5 years in a multi-site or corporate-level role.
• Demonstrated experience in construction safety; data center, mission-critical, or large-scale industrial construction is strongly .
• Working knowledge of logistics and warehouse safety.
• Expert command of OSHA 29 CFR 1910 and 1926, NFPA 70E, ANSI standards, and applicable state-plan requirements.
• OSHA 30-Hour Construction and OSHA 30-Hour General Industry completion (current).
• Proven track record of leading OSHA inspections, managing citations, and engaging directly with Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to influence at the executive, operational, and craft-worker levels.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel at least 50% of the time.

• A master's degree in safety, industrial hygiene, or business administration.
• Professional certifications such as CSP (Certified Safety Professional), CHST (Construction Health and Safety Technician), CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist), ASP, OHST, or STSC.
• First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor certification.
• Experience supporting hyperscale data center clients (e.g., Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, QTS, Equinix) and familiarity with their contractor safety expectations.
• Experience with property management or commercial real estate operations.
• Experience supervising or coordinating with private security operations, including armed personnel.
• Experience implementing and administering EHS software.
• Multilingual ability, with Spanish proficiency particularly valued for delivering training, leading toolbox talks, and communicating with field crews.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Work is performed in a combination of corporate office, warehouse, terminal, property, and active construction site environments.
• Must be able to wear required PPE, including a hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, high-visibility apparel, gloves, a fall protection harness, and respiratory protection as needed.
• Must be able to climb ladders and stairs, traverse uneven terrain, work at heights, and access all areas of active job sites.
• Occasional lifting up to 50 pounds; extended periods of walking, standing, and field observation.
• Exposure to outdoor weather conditions, construction noise, dust, fumes, and varying temperatures.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive base salary commensurate with experience, comprehensive medical/dental/vision benefits, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and ongoing professional development support, including dues, certifications, and continuing education.