Corporate Director of Construction Safety

Position Overview

CDI Contractors is seeking an experienced and operationally minded Corporate Director of Construction Safety to lead and continuously elevate our company-wide safety program across multiple business units and active project sites.

This highly visible operational leadership role is responsible for driving a proactive, field-centered safety culture that supports operational excellence, workforce engagement, and disciplined risk management. The ideal candidate is a respected construction professional who combines strong field credibility with strategic leadership, practical problem-solving, and the ability to influence teams at every level of the organization.

This role partners closely with company leadership, operations, project management, superintendents, and field teams to ensure safety is fully integrated into how projects are planned, staffed, and executed.

Safety Leadership & Culture

• Lead and champion a company-wide safety culture aligned with operational performance and project execution

• Partner closely with Operations leadership, Project Executives, Superintendents, and field personnel to embed safety into daily operations

• Establish high expectations for accountability, engagement, and visible leadership across all levels of the organization

• Maintain strong field presence and credibility through active jobsite involvement and coaching

Program Development & Operational Excellence

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve scalable construction safety programs and procedures

• Standardize safety systems and expectations across multiple offices, geographic regions, and 15–40 active projects simultaneously

• Ensure safety programs remain practical, executable, and field-oriented—not simply compliance-driven

• Support organizational growth through scalable systems, metrics, and training initiatives

Field Operations Support

• Conduct regular project site visits, audits, and operational safety reviews

• Provide coaching and mentorship to project teams and field leadership

• Assist project teams with site-specific safety planning and high-risk activity management

• Collaborate with preconstruction and operations teams during project planning and mobilization

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a lean but high-performing safety team

• Establish performance expectations, accountability standards, and professional development plans

• Help build organizational bench strength to support long-term company growth

Risk Management & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with OSHA and applicable federal, state, and local safety regulations

• Maintain audit-ready safety documentation and reporting systems

• Partner with insurance carriers, brokers, and risk management teams to reduce claims frequency and severity, improve EMR performance, and strengthen overall company insurability and prequalification profile

Incident Management & Continuous Improvement

• Lead investigations involving incidents, near misses, and recordable events

• Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective action strategies

• Monitor and actively manage key safety performance indicators including TRIR, LTIR, Severity Rates, and EMR trends

• Develop targeted improvement plans for underperforming projects or operational groups

Training & Workforce Development

• Develop and oversee scalable training initiatives for superintendents, foremen, craft workforce, and safety personnel

• Oversee onboarding, orientation, and continuing education programs

• Ensure consistent subcontractor safety expectations and accountability standards

Subcontractor Safety Management

• Lead subcontractor safety prequalification and evaluation efforts

• Support project teams in managing subcontractor compliance and field performance

• Promote consistent enforcement of safety expectations across all trade partners

Leadership Reporting & Strategic Communication

• Provide regular safety performance reporting to company leadership

• Identify trends, emerging risks, and operational improvement opportunities

• Deliver strategic recommendations that support company growth, operational efficiency, and risk reduction

Qualifications

Education & Certifications:

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

• CSP certification strongly preferred (or actively pursuing)

• CHST, ASP, or equivalent certifications valued

• OSHA 30-hour certification required

Experience:

• 10+ years of progressive construction safety experience

• Proven leadership experience managing safety teams or regional safety programs

• Experience supporting multiple concurrent commercial construction projects

• Demonstrated ability to influence field leadership and operations teams

Critical Success Factors

• Strong field credibility and practical construction knowledge

• Ability to build relationships while maintaining accountability

• Strong leadership presence with excellent communication skills

• Operational mindset with strong problem-solving ability

• Data-driven but highly practical leadership approach

• Experience helping organizations scale and mature operationally

Key Performance Metrics

• Year-over-year improvement in TRIR and LTIR

• Reduction in severity rates and claims costs

• EMR performance improvement

• Safety audit and field engagement performance

• Subcontractor compliance and accountability metrics

• Training completion and workforce participation

Travel & Work Environment

• Regular travel to active project sites across multiple regions (approximately 25–50%)

• Combination of field, office, and operational leadership engagement

• High-visibility leadership role with direct operational interaction