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Safety Director

Ryan Companies US, Inc.
life insurance, paid time off, employee discount
United States, Illinois, Chicago
Jul 29, 2026

Job Description:

The primary function of the Divisional Director of Safety is to lead, manage, and continuously improve the safety program within an assigned division. This role ensures all projects comply with regulatory requirements and Ryan Companies safety standards while supporting operations leadership, mentoring safety staff, champion our safety culture and driving consistent implementation of company safety initiatives across the division.

Safety Leadership
  • Lead the division in implementing short- and long-term safety objectives aligned with company strategy.

  • Clearly communicate the company safety vision through common goals, trust, accountability, and collaboration.

  • Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the safety status of all division projects within the division.

  • Frequently visit project sites to verify implementation of company policies and procedures.

  • Actively collaborate with divisional and regional operations leadership and office leadership teams.

  • Review safety trends, metrics, and leading indicators and provide actionable recommendations.

  • Lead communication with Project Executives and Project Directors regarding project safety performance.

  • Seek, recommend, and implement innovative practices to achieve best-in-class safety performance.

Safety Training
  • Communicate best practices and lessons learned across the division.

  • Lead and facilitate training sessions on relevant safety topics.

  • Develop and maintain high-quality safety training content.

  • Solicit and incorporate feedback from employees to improve training effectiveness.

  • Participate in company-wide and regional training initiatives.

Safety Management
  • Ensure OSHA and (Cal/OSHA if applicable) recordkeeping requirements are maintained throughout the division.

  • Conduct effective regional-level safety meetings.

  • Conduct and oversee project-level safety meetings and audits.

  • Actively mentor jobsite teams on hazard recognition and mitigation.

  • Lead Preconstruction Kick-Off Meetings related to safety and risk planning.

  • Provide guidance to preconstruction teams for budgeting purposes.

  • Participate in Project Safety Committee and Company Safety Committee meetings.

  • Lead project site walks throughout the division to identify and correct hazards.

Department Management
  • Assist with development and execution of the safety department strategy within your division.

  • Implement annual departmental goals and initiatives.

  • Ensure standardized rollout of new or updated safety programs and processes.

  • Lead and supervise regional safety staff.

  • Collaborate with project teams to ensure consistent application of safety programs.

  • Support employee development, including mentoring, training, and performance reviews.

  • Assist with development and management of regional safety budgets.

Risk Management & Compliance
  • Lead incident investigations and ensure thorough reporting and corrective actions.

  • Participate in claim management, OSHA responses, and insurance carrier reviews.

  • Oversee safety documentation collection, review, and compliance.

  • Ensure proper management of Job Hazard Analyses, permits, and required signage.

  • Lead or oversee safety audits and inspections.

  • Ensure the regional safety manual and procedures remain current with regulations.

Pre-Qualification & Preconstruction
  • Participate in subcontractor pre-qualification and safety evaluations.

  • Support preconstruction teams with safety planning and site walks.

  • Ensure compliance with client-specific safety requirements and third-party platforms.

  • Coordinate and oversee required Cal/OSHA permits. (if applicable)

Networking
  • Participate in industry safety organizations and committees.

  • Attend safety conferences and networking events.

  • Develop strong relationships with internal leadership and strategic trade partners.

  • Establish proactive relationships with local OSHA offices and regulatory agencies.

To be successful in this role, you must have:

  • Ability to work independently and productively with others.

  • Assist in incident investigations including near misses, injuries, property damage, and those impacting the public.

  • Individuals must possess a good working understanding of OSHA, NFPA 70E and LOTO requirements related to the construction industry.

  • Good oral communication - effectively relates to individuals or group situations.

  • Good written skills - able to express ideas and clearly communicate ideas.

  • Ability to utilize construction technology systems and multiple computer software platforms.

  • Demonstrates leadership - effective in leading group or individual toward completion of tasks.

  • Initiative - must be a self-starter and complete tasks with little supervision, take a pro-active approach and develop new and innovative solutions.

  • OSHA 30-hour construction certificate.

  • Four-year degree in Occupational Safety & Health, Construction Management, or related field or minimum 10-15 years of relevant project field experience in construction safety with an expectation to earn a degree that supports the growth of the department and position.

  • Current first-aid, CPR and AED training from a nationally recognized organization

  • CSP, CSP, CIH, ASP, CHST board certified credential is a plus.

  • Engage with local OSHA offices to ensure regulatory compliance.

  • Participate in industry safety trade organizations and conferences

  • Ability to temporarily travel to project locations.

Core Requirements

Ideal Attributes

Personal Attributes

  • Effective written and verbal language communication skills.

  • Work Efficiently - Allocate one's own time efficiently; handle multiple demands and competing priorities; efficiently process paperwork.

  • Show initiative, strive for increased responsibility and demonstrate desire to learn.

  • Show emotional maturity, punctuality and dependability.

  • Motivate and contribute to the teamwork / morale of the project team.

  • Show the desire and willingness to progress to the Senior Safety Manager role and responsibilities.

  • Commitment to Ryan Values: Safety, Integrity, Respect, Stewardship, Family, Excellence and Fun.

Interpersonal Attributes

  • Establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with all project stakeholders (Owner, jurisdictional agencies, design professionals, various Ryan departments, Ryan project team, and subcontractors)

  • Identify learning opportunities for local company safety staff.

  • Foster Teamwork - Participate and foster collaboration among team members and among teams.

  • Motivate Others - Encourage and empower others to achieve; build relationships; create enthusiasm, a feeling of investment, and a desire to excel.

  • Drive for Results - Drive for results and success; convey a sense of urgency and drive issues to closure; persist despite obstacles and opposition.

  • Show Work Commitment - Set high standards of performance; pursue aggressive goals and work hard to achieve them.

  • Actively pursue opportunities to enhance safety knowledge.

  • Show alignment with and promote Ryan Corporate Values.

Essential Skills Technical
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, Procore.

  • Work with Vice President of Safety to create annual goals.

  • Ability to troubleshoot and resolve basic technical issues.

Business and Management
  • Strong organizational and time-management abilities.

  • Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple deadlines.

  • Basic understanding of business operations and workflows.

Interpersonal
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills.

  • Ability to collaborate with diverse teams.

  • Professional demeanor and customer service orientation.

Personal

  • Detail-oriented and self-motivated.

  • High degree of integrity and accountability.

  • Lead efforts to maintain professional credentials and attend continuing education classes.

  • Willingness to learn and adapt in a dynamic environment.

Travel and Physical Requirements

  • Occasional overnight travel expected.

  • Ability to walk active construction sites over uneven terrain for extended periods.

  • Ability to climb stairs, ladders, scaffolding, and temporary access systems.

  • Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, wind, and humidity.

  • Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds occasionally.

  • Ability to operate a motor vehicle and maintain a valid driver's license for travel to project locations.

  • Ability to sit for extended periods while working at a computer, attending meetings, or conducting virtual training sessions.

Ryan Competencies

RELATIONSHIPS

Builds trusting and productive relationships. (Maximizes Relationships)

Supports and collaborates with others. (Cultivates Teamwork)

Draws on self and interpersonal awareness to navigate people and situations. (Manages Impact)

Pursues customer input and feedback and adapts accordingly. (Customer Centricity)

RESULTS

Maintains perseverance in the face of obstacles. (Demonstrates Resilience)

Persistent in working through tasks and following through on obligations. (Executes Work)

Sets and tracks ambitious goals and strives for excellence. (Drives Results)

INSIGHTS

Thinks deeply and broadly to identify opportunities. (Thinks Strategically)

Identifies solutions and finds a way forward when faced with new and unfamiliar situations. (Navigates Ambiguity)

Thinks through problems and leverages relevant information to draw conclusions. (Solves Problems)

LEADERSHIP

Models a willingness to take risks and do things differently. (Pursues Change)

Communicates thoughts and feelings in an authentic, genuine, and expressive manner. (Displays Courage)

Makes decisions and provides direction to and/or influence on others. (Directs Others)

Provides coaching and supports the development of individuals and teams to maximize performance and growth. (Develops Talent)

VALUING DIFFERENCES

Seeks to understand the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. (Empathy)

Recognizes own biases and blind spots, making an effort to mitigate their impact. (Self Awareness)

Incorporates others' diverse experiences, styles, backgrounds and perspectives to get results. (Inclusive Mindset)

Eligibility:

Position requires verification of employment to work in the U.S.

Benefits:

  • Competitive Salary

  • Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits

  • Retirement and Savings Benefits

  • Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts

  • Life Insurance

  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

  • Educational Assistance

  • Paid Time Off (PTO)

  • Employee Assistance and Wellness Programs

  • Parenting Benefits

  • Employee Discount Programs

  • Pet insurance

  • Ryan Foundation - charitable matching funds

  • Paid Time for Volunteer Events

Disclaimer: Eligibility may vary based on factors such as role, hours worked, employment status, length of service, location, and other considerations. Detailed information will be shared with eligible candidates during the hiring process, and the official terms and conditions will be outlined in each individual offer document.

Ryan Companies is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Notice to Candidates:

Please be advised that initial outreach regarding employment at Ryan Companies will only occur via email from the domain @ryancompanies.com email address. If you recieve communication from someone you believe is impersonating Ryan Companies, please report it to us at humanresources@ryancompanies.com

Non-Solicitation Notice to Recruitment Agencies:

Ryan Companies kindly requests that recruitment agencies and third-party recruiters do not submit unsolicited resumes or candidate information to any Ryan Companies employee or office. Ryan Companies will not be responsible for any fees or expenses associated with unsolicited submissions. If recruitment services are required, we will reach out directly to agencies on our approved vendor list. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

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