Construction Safety Director
Los Angeles & North Orange County, CA | Direct Hire | Full-Time
About the Company
Our client is a trusted heavy civil contractor headquartered in Southern California, with over 60 years of experience delivering complex infrastructure projects across the region. Safety is not just a priority, it is a core value woven into every aspect of the organization. The company's commitment to providing peace of mind to their people, stakeholders, and communities is non-negotiable, and this role sits at the center of that commitment.
Position Overview
Our client is seeking a seasoned Construction Safety Director to lead, develop, and manage the company's safety program across all active construction projects and field operations. This role is based out of their Southern California headquarters and will primarily support project work performed throughout the Los Angeles and North Orange County areas. This is a senior leadership role responsible for building and maintaining a strong safety culture, ensuring regulatory compliance, and protecting the health and wellbeing of every person on the job site.
The Head of Safety will partner closely with project managers, superintendents, field crews, and executive leadership to drive proactive safety practices across underground utility, water, wastewater, and heavy civil construction operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, implement, manage, and continuously improve the company's comprehensive safety program, policies, and procedures across all projects and operations.
- Serve as the primary safety leader and subject matter expert for the organization, providing guidance to project managers, superintendents, foremen, and field crews.
- Conduct regular site safety inspections and audits across active construction projects to identify hazards, assess risk, and drive corrective actions.
- Lead incident investigations including near misses, injuries, property damage, and environmental events, conducting root cause analysis and implementing preventive measures.
- Ensure full compliance with Cal/OSHA regulations, federal OSHA standards, and all applicable safety codes and regulations for underground utility and heavy civil construction.
- Develop and deliver safety training programs for all field personnel, supervisors, and management, including new hire onboarding, toolbox talks, and specialized training.
- Manage and maintain all safety documentation including IIPP, JHA/JSAs, safety plans, training records, incident logs, and regulatory filings.
- Partner with project teams during preconstruction to develop project-specific safety plans, identify critical hazards, and establish site safety requirements.
- Build and maintain relationships with Cal/OSHA, regulatory agencies, clients, and subcontractors on safety-related matters.
- Track, analyze, and report on safety metrics including EMR, TRIR, DART rates, and leading indicators; present findings and recommendations to executive leadership.
- Lead the safety committee and foster a proactive, people-first safety culture throughout the organization.
- Manage subcontractor safety compliance and prequalification requirements.
- Stay current on evolving safety regulations, industry best practices, and emerging hazards relevant to underground utility and heavy civil construction.
- 8 years of construction safety experience with at least 3 years in a senior or leadership safety role.
- Deep knowledge of Cal/OSHA regulations and federal OSHA standards as they apply to heavy civil and underground utility construction.
- Proven experience managing safety programs across multiple concurrent active construction projects.
- Experience with trenching and excavation safety, shoring systems, confined space entry, and underground utility hazards.
- Strong incident investigation skills including root cause analysis and corrective action development.
- Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence and engage field crews at all levels.
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST), or equivalent certification preferred.
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction certification required.
- Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Construction Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
- Experience working for a heavy civil contractor in Southern California with public agency clients.
- Familiarity with union labor environments and prevailing wage projects.
- Experience with safety technology platforms such as Procore Safety, iAuditor, or similar tools.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish is a strong plus given the composition of field crews.
Benefits
Our client offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, along with comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plan participation, paid time off, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on a team that puts safety first every single day.
Nesco Resource offers a comprehensive benefits package for our associates, which includes a MEC (Minimum Essential Coverage) plan that encompasses Medical, Vision, Dental, 401K, and EAP (Employee Assistance Program) services.
Nesco Resource 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, or local laws.
