Safety Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Construction Safety Manager – Data Center Projects Job Description

This role leads on-site safety for a high-profile data center construction project, ensuring strict adherence to project, site-specific, and client-specific safety requirements. You will serve as a designated EHS representative, spending most of your time in the field engaging with crews, monitoring safety practices, and driving a proactive safety culture. The position requires strong technical safety expertise, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage documentation, incident response, and trade partner engagement in a fast-paced construction environment.

Responsibilities

• Implement and enforce the project’s safety guidelines, site-specific safety plan, and any client-specific safety requirements across the jobsite.
• Coordinate with the regional safety lead to ensure all required safety signage and personal protective equipment (PPE) are available and properly maintained.
• Confirm that all personnel scheduled to work on-site have completed the required safety orientation training before starting work.
• Gather and organize safety documentation from subcontractors and trade partners, including Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), Safety Data Sheets (SDS), High-Risk Activity Plans, Heat Illness Prevention Plans (as applicable), and training certifications such as site-specific safety training and equipment operator cards.
• Conduct at least one safety audit per day using the designated digital platform, including annotated photos and detailed notes.
• Share safety audit findings and recommended corrective actions with the project team to ensure visibility, accountability, and timely resolution.
• Submit a minimum of two Safety Observation Reports (SORs) per week to document positive behaviors and improvement opportunities.
• Spend approximately 60–70% of working time in the field, engaging directly with crews, observing work practices, and reinforcing safe behaviors.
• Attend and actively contribute to daily huddles, coordination meetings, foremen’s meetings, and preconstruction meetings to integrate safety into planning and execution.
• Lead or support weekly all-hands safety meetings, including preparing materials, presenting content, and tracking attendance.
• Spot-check safety documentation during site visits to verify that records are accurate, complete, and up to date.
• Review and track Daily Action Plans (DAPs), High-Risk Activity Plans, hot work permits and checklists, safety orientation records, and project-specific safety documentation such as SDS and confined space plans.
• Immediately notify the project team and regional safety lead of any incidents, injuries, or near-misses, following established escalation procedures.
• Assist in incident investigations, including fact-finding, root-cause analysis, and reviewing incident reports prior to submission.
• Ensure a clear and actionable “Lessons Learned” summary is created for each incident or near miss and shared appropriately with project stakeholders.
• Conduct site-specific safety orientations for all trade partners and ensure they understand project expectations and procedures.
• Maintain regular communication with subcontractor safety representatives to align expectations, address concerns, and coordinate high-risk activities.
• Participate in or lead planning meetings for high-risk activities such as crane operations, confined space entry, and work requiring fall protection.
• Work collaboratively alongside another safety professional and a broader safety team of 4–5 individuals, sharing responsibilities and best practices.
• Maintain clear, frequent, and professional communication with the project team, safety leadership, and trade partners.
• Respond promptly to field inquiries, proactively address safety concerns, and escalate issues when necessary.
• Ask questions when clarification is needed and openly share observations or suggestions to continuously improve site safety.
• Align personal work schedule with project jobsite hours, typically starting at 5:00 or 6:00 AM, and remain on-site during active construction hours.
• Support and align with the project schedule, including accommodating extended hours when project needs require it.
• Uphold a strong safety-first culture, modeling professional conduct, reliability, and accountability at all times.

Essential Skills

• Minimum 5 years of experience in construction safety, with at least 3 years of management or leadership experience in safety roles.
• At least 2 years of experience in the construction industry while serving as a designated EHS representative or equivalent safety role.
• Safety engineering degree or equivalent qualification in safety, environmental health and safety (EHS), or a closely related field.
• Current OSHA 510 certificate or higher (such as OSHA 30-hour or equivalent).
• Current CPR and First Aid certifications.
• Prior experience supporting data center construction projects is strongly preferred; experience in commercial building construction will be considered.
• Demonstrated experience acting as a safety specialist on data center or commercial building projects, with data center experience highly preferred.
• Strong background in site safety, construction safety, and EHS practices, including hazard identification and control.
• Proficiency in using computers and digital tools, including safety management platforms and electronic documentation systems.
• Excellent professional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to interact effectively at all levels of the project team.
• Proven reliability, punctuality, and ability to align with and support demanding project schedules, including early start times.
• Comfort working primarily in the field (approximately 70% field, 30% office) in an active construction environment.
• Ability to pass a background check and drug/alcohol test as required by the project.
• Willingness and ability to remain on-site during active construction hours and to be flexible when project needs extend beyond standard hours.
• Experience in safety management for data center or commercial construction projects located in Elk Grove, IL or similar environments.
• Strong commitment to a safety-first mindset and proactive problem-solving.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Professional safety certifications such as CHST, GSP, CSP, or ASP are not required but are considered a strong plus.
• Construction management or construction safety management experience is beneficial.
• Experience supporting data center projects under non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) is a plus.
• Experience with safety management in small-footprint or tight-site projects is advantageous.
• Prior experience working as part of a multi-person safety team on complex commercial or data center projects.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or facilitate all-hands safety meetings and training sessions.
• Strong organizational skills for managing documentation such as JHAs, SDS, permits, and training records.
• Ability to maintain composure and professionalism while responding to incidents, near-misses, and urgent field inquiries.
• Comfort using digital platforms for safety audits, annotated photo documentation, and reporting.
• Experience with planning and oversight of high-risk activities such as crane operations, confined space entry, and work at height.
• Flexibility to support 40–50 hours per week as project demands require.
• Candidates with exclusive oil and gas experience without commercial or data center construction experience will not be considered.

Work Environment

This role is fully on-site at a data center construction project in Elk Grove, IL. You will work in a small-footprint, tight-site environment where the project is expanding an existing building and additional buildings are planned at the same location. The position requires being on-site every day, with approximately 70% of your time spent in the field and 30% in an office setting. The project office is located in a nearby warehouse a short distance from the jobsite. Typical jobsite hours begin at 5:00 or 6:00 AM, and you are expected to align your schedule with these start times, remain on-site during all active construction hours, and be flexible to support extended hours when project needs require it. You will work closely with a team of 4–5 safety professionals and broader project staff in a collaborative, safety-first culture that emphasizes proactive problem-solving, clear communication, and continuous improvement. The environment involves active construction activities, use of heavy equipment, and high-risk operations, requiring consistent use of appropriate PPE and adherence to all safety protocols.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chicago, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $75.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Chicago,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 17, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

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