Director of Safety

Director of Safety

Reports to : VP of Operations

Status : Exempt

Department : Operations

Office Location : St. Louis Support Center

Position Summary

The Safety Director is responsible for building and leading a scalable, field-focused safety program across Telle Tire & Auto Centers' growing multi-state operations. This role partners closely with Operations, Human Resources, Training, and Risk Management to reduce workplace incidents, strengthen regulatory compliance, improve accountability, and embed safety into daily store operations.

The Safety Director serves as a hands-on operational leader who works directly with District Managers, Store Managers, and field associates to create practical, sustainable safety processes that support both business performance and employee well-being.

Essential Responsibilities

1. Safety Program Leadership

• Develop and implement a standardized company-wide safety program
• Establish safety policies, procedures, and operational expectations
• Build scalable safety systems to support company growth and acquisitions
• Promote a proactive safety culture across all locations

2. Incident Management & Risk Reduction

• Standardize incident reporting, investigation, and corrective action processes
• Review workplace injuries, near misses, and claims to identify trends and root causes
• Partner with Operations and HR to implement corrective actions and reduce repeat incidents
• Manage incident escalation protocols and response expectations

3. Field Safety Operations

• Conduct regular store and shop safety inspections
• Identify operational hazards and compliance gaps
• Partner directly with field leadership to improve day-to-day safety execution
• Ensure accountability for safety standards across all markets

4. Safety Training & Development

• Develop and deploy safety training programs for leaders and associates
• Support onboarding and ongoing safety education initiatives
• Partner with Training and Operations teams to reinforce safe work practices
• Promote awareness of OSHA requirements and company safety expectations

5. Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations and applicable state safety requirements
• Maintain oversight of OSHA logs, reporting obligations, and documentation practices
• Partner with HR and Risk Management on workers' compensation and safety-related compliance matters
• Support internal audits and corrective action planning

6. Reporting & Analytics

• Build and maintain safety dashboards and reporting metrics
• Track trends related to injuries, claims, inspections, and corrective actions
• Present regular safety updates and recommendations to leadership
• Develop measurable safety KPIs and accountability standards

7. Acquisition & Integration Support

• Support safety due diligence efforts for acquisitions
• Assess operational safety risks during integration activities
• Implement standardized safety processes across newly acquired locations
• Partner with leadership to align acquired operations with company safety expectations

Qualifications

• 5+ years of safety leadership experience in multi-site operations
• Experience in automotive service, tire, dealership, fleet, distribution, manufacturing, industrial services, or similar operational environments preferred
• Strong knowledge of OSHA standards and workplace safety best practices
• Experience conducting investigations and developing corrective action plans
• Ability to build structure and process in a rapidly growing organization
• Bachelor's degree preferred; CSP, ASP, OHST, or related certifications preferred
• Ability to travel regularly to field locations across multiple states

Key Competencies

• Operational leadership
• Safety program development
• Investigative judgment
• Influencing and coaching skills
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Strong communication and presentation abilities
• Data analysis and reporting
• Field credibility and relationship building
• Practical, hands-on problem solving
• Ability to work effectively in a blue-collar operational environment

Success Measures

• Reduction in workplace injuries and OSHA recordables
• Improvement in incident reporting and investigation quality
• Increased field compliance with safety standards
• Reduction in repeat incidents and high-risk behaviors
• Positive feedback from Operations leadership
• Successful implementation of standardized safety processes across all markets
• Improved safety metrics and reporting visibility