Director of Safety

Brewster Companies Inc. is a family-owned and operated company that specializes in heavy civil and transportation construction. As a rapidly growing company, we are looking for employees with a strong work ethic and great personality to join our team. The Construction Safety Officer will work closely with our owners, managers and superintendents to ensure the highest standards of safety. Brewster Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

Position Summary:

The Construction Safety Director is a key member of the leadership team responsible for shaping and driving Brewster Companies' overall safety strategy. This role partners closely with ownership, human resources, and on-site superintendents to develop, implement, and sustain a culture of safety across all operations. The Safety Director provides leadership, guidance, and accountability for safety practices, ensures compliance with OSHA regulations, and serves as a trusted advisor to management on risk reduction and employee well-being.

Benefits:

• Company Paid Medical Insurance for full-time employees.
• Dental/Vision/Life Insurance available after one month.
• 401(k) with competitive company match.
• Paid Holidays available upon hire.
• Paid Vacation accruals upon hire.
• Strong Family Culture – Family-Owned Business.
• Growth Opportunities – Promotions from within.

Job Duties:

Leadership & Collaboration

• Partner directly with ownership to establish company-wide safety goals, strategies, and policies aligned with Brewster's values and long-term growth.
• Work closely with project managers and superintendents to ensure safe jobsite practices, proactively addressing risks before they become incidents.
• Collaborate with Human Resources to align safety training, onboarding, workers' compensation, and return-to-work processes with company policies and compliance requirements.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to managers and superintendents, coaching them on leadership responsibilities in safety management.
• Spearhead Safety Review Board meetings, ensuring lessons learned are communicated and corrective actions are implemented consistently across projects.

Program Development & Oversight

• Create, update, and enforce comprehensive company safety policies and procedures.
• Develop, deliver, and track company-wide safety training programs, including OSHA courses, specialized construction certifications, and Competent Person training.
• Establish safety performance metrics and reporting standards; provide regular updates to ownership on progress, trends, and areas for improvement.
• Oversee subcontractor safety compliance to ensure alignment with company expectations.
• Maintain and leverage safety management software, using analytics to identify trends, track incidents, and measure effectiveness of safety programs.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Lead all accident and incident investigations, producing detailed reports, root cause analyses, and corrective action recommendations.
• Implement incident follow-up training to prevent recurrence of similar events.
• Maintain OSHA logs (300/300A) and ensure accurate documentation and timely postings.
• Partner with Midwest Occupational Medicine and HR to manage workplace injuries, recordables, lost-time cases, and workers' compensation claims.
• Conduct proactive field and fleet inspections, identifying hazards and recommending corrective measures.
• Stay current on federal, state, and local safety laws, rules, and regulations, ensuring company compliance at all times.

Culture & Engagement

• Champion a culture of safety where every employee understands their personal responsibility in maintaining safe practices.
• Build strong, positive relationships with field employees to promote accountability and encourage open reporting of safety concerns.
• Recognize and reinforce safe behaviors across the workforce to keep safety top-of-mind on all projects.
• Actively participate in industry safety networking events and represent Brewster in external safety forums, strengthening relationships and keeping current with best practices.
• Support injury mitigation and early intervention strategies, ensuring prompt care and reducing the likelihood of lost-time cases.

Job Qualifications:

• BCSP certifications, or willingness to pursue certification.
• OSHA 30-hour Construction Outreach card (required).
• Authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer (ability to issue 10/30-hour cards preferred).
• National Safety Council authorization to conduct PIT (Powered Industrial Truck) training (preferred).
• Strong background in construction safety with working knowledge of OSHA standards and safe work practices.
• First Aid, CPR, and AED certification (required).
• Experience conducting incident investigations and safety audits.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to maintain accurate safety records and reports.

Personal Attributes:

• Strategic Leader: Aligns safety initiatives with company goals and long-term success.
• Collaborative: Builds trust and works effectively with ownership, HR, and field leadership.
• Decisive & Confident: Provides clear direction and guidance to ensure compliance and accountability.
• Proactive: Anticipates risks and develops preventive strategies before issues arise.
• Approachable & Positive: Engages employees at every level, encouraging open communication about safety.
• Detail-Oriented: Ensures accuracy in reporting, training, and compliance.
• Integrity-Driven: Holds self and others accountable to the highest safety standards.