Health and Safety Field Lead

The Health and Safety Field Lead role performs multifaceted occupational health and workplace safety tasks and provides technical support for successful project delivery. This includes the development, review and implementation of safety plans, policies, procedures and other guidance related to supporting client and/or company compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and standards. The role primarily supports project delivery by applying knowledge and experience to provide solutions to complex problems involving workplace incident prevention, risk analysis and effective hazard controls. Work is performed independently under limited supervision with occasional guidance on complex or strategic issues.

Responsibilities 

• Support environmental, health and safety compliance consulting within area of knowledge for clients that including on-site auditing and/or deliverable development.

• Support conducting Prevention through Design (PtD) reviews for applicable projects within area of knowledge and experience.

• Participate in development of project-specific design, construction or other health and safety related specifications as well as related contractor submittal reviews.

• Serve, if/when needed, as on-site Site Safety Officer during high-risk activities on projects and/or as a dedicated Construction Safety Officer for a project’s full or partial duration. 

• Provide coaching and support to functional areas, project teams, and /or employees on health and safety policies, procedures, and other guidance. This includes monitoring compliance, performance indicator tracking and/or reporting within the area of support.

• Support the development and implementation of project-specific Health and Safety Plans.

• Participate in the facilitation of company H&S Training program within area of knowledge and experience including leading virtual or classroom training.

• Support facilitation of internal health and safety program, procedures, and systems on an as-need basis.

• Escalate and coordinate appropriate support in case of workplace incidents, near misses or other H&S concerns.

• Flexibility to adapt and execute various additional assignments based on evolving needs. 

Mentorship 

• May provide mentorship, guidance, support and knowledge-sharing to help less experienced team members develop their skills and grow in their roles. 

Skills and Competencies  

• Ability to complete complex assignments independently and with minimal supervision.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills for effective relationship building and fostering collaboration with a variety of business partners.

• Strong communication and decision-making skills, with demonstrated ability to provide guidance within organizational policies, procedures, and other guidelines. 

• Solid understanding of health and safety regulations and standards. 

• Strong understanding of common hazards and minimum controls associated with water supply and wastewater (sanitary or process) treatment facilities (e.g., confined space entry, air monitoring, fall protection, etc.) and/or operations (e.g. investigation, remediation, O&M of treatment systems, etc.) that fall under the HAZWOPER standard 

• Strong ability to be able to review and interpret regulatory and/or company policies, procedures, and guidance for implementation, maintenance and/or development.

• Strong knowledge in hazard assessment and control principles demonstrated experience in identifying hazards and eliminating or mitigating associated potential risks. This includes the ability to develop and appropriately review task-specific Job Hazard Analysis (JHAs). 

• Strong understanding of company incident management program with ability to effectively support incident management and investigation through close-out. Including demonstrated ability to provide guidance and recommendations for appropriate actions to prevent recurrence.

• Strong understanding of H&S organization and functional area leading and lagging indicator tracking and reporting processes.

• Demonstrates a strong aptitude for quickly mastering new software applications and documenting procedures, ensuring alignment with BC’s evolving programs and guidelines to maintain up-to-date and compliant operations (i.e., CoPilot, Adobe/Bluebeam/SpecLink). 

• Capable of managing and maintaining H&S systems with strong skills in adapting to new technology and adopting new systems or software.

• Skilled in MS Office products including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook; proficiency with Internet applications. 

Experience 

• Typically, a minimum of 5 years of experience in a health and safety role within a similar work environment. 

• Experience with developing and/or facilitating occupational health and workplace safety standards and protocols for active, on-site projects involving aspects of waste or wastewater treatment, environmental investigation or remedial activities, and/or during construction activities 

• Experience with supporting incident management, investigation and corrective/preventative action development.
• Typically certified in the SMS Framework, and progressing through the SMS competencies. 

Preferred Experience  

•  7-8+ years of progressive health and safety leadership experience on field-based civil, industrial, or infrastructure construction projects.
• Experience working in a predominantly field-focused H&S role, with ability to recognize and advise on hazards related to construction activities rather than program development or corporate safety programs.
• Background in Construction Management, specifically observing Contractor construction activities and reporting safety concerns is highly preferred.
• Experience in advising on hazards and controls related to confined space entry, electrical work, excavation, work at heights, heavy equipment and work in NFPA 820 hazardous classified areas.
• Professional safety certifications such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP) , Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) , or other Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) credentials are preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with field teams, Contractors, and program leadership to promote safe work practices and ensure regulatory compliance.

Education 

• Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in Health and Safety (Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Safety Management, etc.) or in similar field (Chemistry, Engineering, Construction Management, etc.) or equivalent is required. 

About Brown and Caldwell

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Brown and Caldwell is a full-service environmental engineering and construction services firm with 50 offices and over 2,100 professionals across North America and the Pacific. For more than 75 years, we have created leading-edge environmental solutions for municipalities, private industry, and government agencies. We strive to be the company of choice—to our clients, who benefit from our passion for delivering exceptional quality, and to our employees, present and future, who share our commitment to client service, collaboration, and innovation. Join us, and you will find a home where you can do your best work, reach new levels of expertise, and enjoy exceptional development opportunities.