EHS Manager

Broadband EHS Manager – OperationsAFL provides industry-leading fiber optic products and services across the globe. Our company was founded in 1984 with a single fiber optic cable and now manufactures more than 2,000 products, employs over 5,000 associates, and consistently generates annual revenues exceeding $2 billion. With our commitment to professional growth and employee development, let AFL Connect you to your next career opportunity!Job SummaryThe EHS Manager – BroadbandOperations is responsible for leading environmental, health, safety, and security (EHSS) performance across AFL’s Broadband construction, installation, and operational field activities. This role protects employees, contractors, customers, and the public while enabling safe, efficient, and predictable project execution in fast-paced telecommunications environments.The EHHS Manager serves as the primary EHSS liaison between AFL Broadband leadership, customers, municipalities, utilities, contractors, and field operations teams. Success is measured not only by injury prevention, but by proactive risk identification, effective hazard control implementation, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement across broadband operations.This role reports to the EHS Director and has the authority to escalate safety concerns and stop work when critical controls are absent or when conditions present imminent risk to personnel, property, customer infrastructure, or the public.Scope of ResponsibilityConstruction & DeploymentFull EHSS oversight of broadband construction and deployment activities, including:Fiber optic installationAerial and underground constructionDirectional drilling and trenchingUtility make-ready activitiesPole attachment workNetwork expansion and upgrade projectsOperationsEHSS support for broadband maintenance, repair, service activation, network restoration, warehousing, and other field operations as assigned.CoverageSupports multiple concurrent projects, customers, and geographic markets.Position is highly field-oriented and requires significant travel to active project sites.Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership, Authority & Safety CultureLead and sustain a proactive, risk-based safety culture throughout Broadband Operations.Promote the philosophy that safety is achieved through effective risk identification and control verification, not merely the absence of incidents.Maintain a strong field presence to coach leaders, supervisors, field technicians, and contractors where work is being performed.Partner with operational leaders to integrate EHSS controls into project planning, execution, quality, and customer commitments.Exercise stop-work authority when critical controls are missing or ineffective.Support leadership accountability for EHSS performance across all levels of the organization.Customer, Contractor & Stakeholder InterfaceServe as the primary EHSS liaison between:AFL Broadband leadershipCustomer EHSS and program representativesMunicipalities and permitting authoritiesUtility owners and pole providersGeneral contractors and construction partnersSpecialty subcontractors and service providersAdditional responsibilities include:Translating customer-specific EHSS requirements into practical field execution standards.Supporting customer audits, site visits, inspections, and compliance reviews.Promoting consistent EHSS expectations across multi-employer work environments.Building strong relationships that reinforce AFL's commitment to safe project delivery.Risk Management & Field ExecutionLead hazard identification, risk mitigation, and control verification related to:Utility construction activitiesAerial fiber constructionPole climbing and elevated workBucket truck operationsExcavation and trenchingHorizontal directional drilling (HDD)Traffic control and work-zone safetyElectrical hazards and utility exposureConfined space entry, where applicableFleet and mobile equipment operationsEnvironmental and storm-response workResponsibilities include:Supporting job hazard analyses (JHAs) and task-specific risk assessments.Participating in pre-task planning and daily safety briefings.Verifying implementation of critical controls before work begins.Supporting management-of-change processes when work scope or conditions change.Conducting field inspections and risk assessments focused on high-risk activities.Contractor Safety OversightSupport contractor prequalification and onboarding processes.Verify contractor compliance with AFL standards, customer requirements, and regulatory obligations.Conduct safety observations, audits, and field assessments.Identify performance gaps and drive corrective actions.Provide coaching, mentoring, and accountability for contractor EHSS performance.Incident, Emergency & Crisis ManagementLead or support investigations involving:Injuries and illnessesVehicle incidentsProperty damageUtility strikesNear misses and high-potential eventsPublic safety incidentsConduct structured root cause analysis and ensure corrective actions are effective and sustained.Support emergency preparedness and response planning.Coordinate incident reporting and escalation in accordance with AFL and customer requirements.Share lessons learned throughout Broadband Operations to prevent recurrence.Security, Compliance & Program SupportReinforce site security expectations and protection of customer infrastructure.Support compliance with federal, state, local, and customer EHSS requirements.Interpret and apply OSHA regulations and industry standards applicable to telecommunications and utility construction.Maintain accurate and auditable EHSS documentation and records.Support internal audits, regulatory inspections, and customer compliance reviews.Training, Communication & EngagementDevelop and deliver practical EHSS training programs for employees and contractors.Oversee onboarding, refresher training, and task-specific qualifications.Communicate safety expectations using clear, practical, field-focused messaging.Support leadership engagement initiatives, toolbox talks, and safety campaigns.Reinforce safe behaviors through coaching and field interaction.Metrics, Reporting & Continuous ImprovementTrack and analyze key performance indicators including:Incident frequency and severityNear-miss reporting trendsUtility strike prevention metricsVehicle safety performanceAudit findings and corrective action closure ratesTraining completion ratesField compliance observationsCustomer performance measuresAdditional responsibilities include:Reporting trends and risk insights to Broadband and EHSS leadership.Leveraging data and field observations to drive continuous improvement initiatives.Identifying leading indicators that reduce operational risk and improve safety performance.Success Measures / KPIsReduction in recordable and high-potential incidentsReduction in utility damages and service interruptionsTimely closure of audit findings and corrective actionsContractor compliance and field execution qualityEffective management of high-risk construction activitiesPositive customer audit and program feedbackIncreased proactive hazard identification and near-miss reportingStrong EHSS culture and engagement across Broadband OperationsQualificationsRequiredBachelor's degree in Environmental Health & Safety, Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience).7+ years of EHSS experience supporting construction, utility, telecommunications, or field-based operations.Demonstrated experience managing EHSS programs in multi-employer construction environments.Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations and telecommunications construction safety requirements.Experience supporting aerial, underground, utility, or broadband infrastructure work.Proven ability to influence without direct authority and build credibility with operational leaders and contractors.Ability to travel up to 50% and support off-hours, emergency, or restoration activities as needed.PreferredBroadband, telecommunications, fiber optic, utility, or infrastructure construction experience.Experience supporting large-scale fiber deployment programs.OSHA 30-Hour Certification.Professional certification such as CSP, CHST, ASP, or equivalent.Experience with utility coordination, excavation safety, or directional drilling operations.Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.Working ConditionsRemote-based with frequent travel to project sites, customer locations, and field offices.Regular exposure to active construction environments, utility corridors, roadside work zones, and underground infrastructure projects.Exposure to varying weather conditions and physically demanding environments.Flexibility to support evening, weekend, emergency restoration, storm response, and customer-driven activities as required.#LI-JR1Job SummaryRequisition Number: EHSMA009091Job Category: Environmental Health \& SafetySchedule: Full-Time