Safety Director

Key Objectives

• Achieve and sustain full OSHA compliance, including removal from OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP), if applicable.
• Lead safety oversight for the new Melt Shop construction, ensuring all contractors and subcontractors meet Vinton Steel, OSHA, and applicable federal, state, and local safety requirements.
• Establish and maintain a proactive, accountable, and continuous-improvement safety culture across all departments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

OSHA Compliance & Regulatory Leadership

• Lead all efforts related to OSHA compliance, inspections, citations, abatements, and follow-up actions.
• Develop and execute a strategic plan to remove Vinton Steel from OSHA’s bad list/SVEP, including:
• Root cause analysis of prior violations
• Corrective and preventive action plans
• Ongoing monitoring and documentation of compliance
• Serve as the primary point of contact for OSHA and other regulatory agencies.
• Ensure timely and accurate completion and submission of OSHA logs (300, 300A, 301) and required reports.
• Conduct internal audits and gap analyses to identify and correct compliance deficiencies.

Melt Shop Construction Safety Oversight

• Oversee all safety aspects of the new Melt Shop construction project from planning through commissioning.
• Review and approve contractor and subcontractor safety programs, Job Safety Analyses (JSAs), and site-specific safety plans.
• Ensure contractor compliance with OSHA standards, Vinton Steel safety policies, and construction best practices.
• Conduct regular site safety inspections and audits of contractors and subcontractors.
• Enforce corrective actions for non-compliance and stop-work authority when unsafe conditions or behaviors are observed.
• Coordinate with engineering, project management, and operations teams to integrate safety into design, layout, and commissioning activities.

Contractor & Subcontractor Management

• Establish contractor safety orientation, onboarding, and qualification requirements.
• Monitor contractor injury rates, near misses, and safety performance metrics.
• Investigate contractor incidents and ensure corrective actions are implemented and documented.
• Maintain records of contractor compliance, training, and insurance as required.

Incident Management & Risk Reduction

• Lead investigations of workplace incidents, near misses, and property damage events.
• Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Track trends and develop initiatives to reduce recordable injuries, lost-time incidents, and high-risk exposures.
• Manage return-to-work and light-duty coordination in collaboration with HR.

Training & Safety Culture Development

• Develop, implement, and deliver safety training programs for employees, supervisors, and contractors.
• Ensure compliance with required training such as Lockout/Tagout, Confined Space, Hot Work, Fall Protection, Powered Industrial Trucks, and Hazard Communication.
• Promote employee engagement in safety through safety committees, toolbox talks, and reporting programs.
• Mentor supervisors and managers on safety leadership and accountability.

Program Development & Administration

• Develop, maintain, and update written safety programs, policies, and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with environmental regulations as applicable (air, water, waste, and spill prevention).
• Manage safety metrics, KPIs, and reporting to executive leadership.
• Oversee safety-related vendors, consultants, and medical providers.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Partner with HR, Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Project Management to align safety with business objectives.
• Advise executive leadership on safety risks, compliance status, and improvement initiatives.
• Participate in management reviews, audits, and strategic planning meetings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum of 10 years of safety leadership experience in heavy industrial or high-hazard environments (steel, manufacturing, construction, or similar).
• Demonstrated experience managing OSHA inspections, citations, and abatement processes.
• Proven experience overseeing construction safety, including contractors and subcontractors.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations (General Industry and Construction).

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and influencing skills
• Excellent communication and training abilities
• High attention to detail and documentation
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-risk environment
• Confidence to enforce safety standards at all organizational levels

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Regular presence in mill and construction environments
• Ability to walk, climb, and inspect industrial and construction areas
• Exposure to heat, noise, dust, and other industrial hazards

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• Safety Team Management: 3 years (Required)

Language:

• Spanish and English (Required)

License/Certification:

• OSHA 500/510 (Preferred)

Work Location: In person