Director of Safety Operations

Job Description

Job Description

About the Company:

GreenWaste has been an industry leader in recycling and waste diversion for more than 40 years, specializing in all aspects of material collection and processing, tailoring our service offerings to the unique needs of our customers and communities, and helping to shape the evolution of the solid waste industry. Our business was founded on principles of environmental sustainability and innovation is a cornerstone of our ongoing operations and growth strategy. We provide collection services to more than 300,000 customers in 20+ municipalities, process materials from 50+ jurisdictions, operate 18 separate processing lines across 10 locations and widely recognize that our most valuable asset is our nearly 1,000 employees. Longevity and job satisfaction are high, and we proudly offer promotional opportunities, valuable training, great benefits, an atmosphere of camaraderie and respect at all levels . 

Position   Summary:

The Director of Safety Operations serves as a senior leader and strategic execution partner to the Vice President of Safety, providing technical leadership, operational support, organizational development, management system oversight, and enterprise initiative execution across GreenWaste's Safety function. This position partners closely with Safety leadership and operational teams to strengthen organizational capability, advance Safety culture, develop technical competency, and ensure successful implementation of enterprise Safety priorities, while serving as a key leadership continuity role as the company grows through acquisition and operational expansion.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Strategic Execution & Organizational Implementation

• Lead execution of strategic Safety initiatives and enterprise improvement efforts.
• Translate Safety strategy into operational action plans, standards, and implementation activities.
• Coordinate cross-functional projects involving operations, fleet, maintenance, human resources, risk management, and security.
• Support integration of acquired operations into GreenWaste Safety standards and programs.

Safety Management Systems & Program Development

• Lead development and continuous improvement of Safety management systems.
• Own the ongoing development, maintenance, implementation, and effectiveness of GreenWaste's Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), ensuring regulatory compliance while driving integration of IIPP requirements into daily operations, leadership expectations, and employee safety behaviors.
• Improve consistency of Safety program execution across all operating locations.
• Facilitate development of Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), risk assessments, and operational controls.
• Advance root cause analysis, corrective action verification, and incident investigation methodologies.
• Support implementation of GreenWaste Way standards & continuous improvement initiatives.

Technical Leadership & Capability Development

• Serve as a subject matter resource for complex Safety matters.
• Mentor, lead, and develop Safety personnel and operational leaders.
• Support advancement of technical Safety competencies throughout the organization.
• Promote best practices in hazard identification, risk assessment, auditing, and Safety leadership.

Organizational Development & Succession Support

• Serve as a trusted leadership partner to the Vice President, Safety.

• Assist with organizational planning, workforce development, succession planning, and talent assessment activities.
• Provide leadership continuity during periods of business growth, acquisition activity, organizational change, or executive absence.

Performance & Operational Support

• Assist in evaluating Safety performance trends and operational improvement opportunities.
• Support major incident reviews and corrective action implementation.
• Participate in Safety governance reviews, leadership meetings, and operational planning efforts.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:  

• Advanced knowledge of occupational safety principles, Cal/OSHA requirements, and safety management system practices within multi-site operational environments.
• Ability to translate safety strategy into practical programs, standards, training, and operational routines that drive consistent execution across locations.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate incident trends, identify root causes, verify corrective actions, and use data to support continuous improvement.
• Skilled in influencing, coaching, and developing leaders and employees to strengthen safety culture, accountability, and technical competency.
• Ability to manage cross-functional initiatives, communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels, and support change management in a growing organization.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health & Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 7+ years of progressive Safety leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience implementing Safety management systems in multi-site industrial, transportation, environmental services, manufacturing, or construction environments.
• Strong knowledge of Cal/OSHA and applicable regulatory requirements.
• CSP, ASP, CHST, CIH, or equivalent certification preferred.
• Ability to travel between GreenWaste facilities as needed.

Language Skill:

• Proficiency in English, fluency in Spanish a plus

Physical Demands:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Regular onsite facility visits requiring walking, standing, climbing stairs, and navigating operational areas, production floors, yards, shops, and other work environments.
• Must be able to safely move through areas with uneven surfaces, noise, dust, traffic, equipment movement, and varying indoor and outdoor conditions.
• Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment while conducting site observations, audits, inspections, and incident reviews.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times.

Work Environment:

Typical work week is Monday through Friday. May include weekday evenings or weekends as needed. Work will include travel throughout GreenWaste’s facilities, primarily located in Northern California. Ability to work in setting where time constraints and timely communication with management is crucial.

Compensation and Benefits:

Financial compensation will be commensurate with applicable experience. GreenWaste offers a competitive benefits package, including paid time off, holiday pay, 401K benefits, FSA, and full employee coverage for medical, dental and vision insurance

This Organization participates in E-Verify.

GreenWaste provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.