Director, Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE)

Description

For over twenty years, Cinterra has provided specialized infrastructure construction services supporting the electrical utility, renewable energy, natural gas, industrial, municipal, and government sectors. We partner with some of the nation's leading utilities, contractors, developers, municipalities, and government agencies to build, maintain, and strengthen critical infrastructure. Our commitment to quality, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence is matched by one of the strongest safety cultures in the industry. The work we perform helps deliver essential energy and infrastructure services to communities across the country.

Position Summary

The Director, Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) provides strategic and operational leadership for the Company's HSE function. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and serving on the Operations Leadership Team, this role is responsible for the overall performance, compliance, and continuous improvement of the Company's health, safety, and environmental programs.

The HSE Director leads the HSE organization and partners closely with operations leadership to deliver practical, risk-based solutions that support safe, compliant, and efficient project execution. This position is accountable for HSE personnel, programs, training, compliance, risk management, and organizational safety performance.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Leadership

• Champion a culture of operational partnership by working collaboratively with field and operations leaders to identify solutions that balance safety, compliance, productivity, and customer commitments.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the Company's HSE strategy, goals, initiatives, and performance objectives.
• Serve as the senior HSE leader and trusted advisor to the COO and operations leadership team.
• Serve as a member of the Company's Safety Leadership Committee and provide leadership for enterprise-wide safety initiatives, performance improvement efforts, and strategic HSE objectives.
• Partner with operations leadership to integrate safety, environmental stewardship, and risk management into day-to-day business operations.
• Lead the development and implementation of HSE policies, programs, standards, and best practices across the organization.
• Promote a culture where safety is a core organizational value and operational success is achieved through proactive risk management.

HSE Operations & Compliance

• Provide overall leadership, direction, and governance for all health, safety, and environmental programs.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, DOT, environmental regulations, customer requirements, and company standards.
• Ensure appropriate Health & Safety Plans (HASPs), Site-Specific Safety Plans (SSSPs), Loss Control Plans, and other project-specific HSE documentation are developed, maintained, and implemented in accordance with company, client, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide oversight of the Company's Drug and Alcohol Program and ensure compliance with company policies, client requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.
• Establish and maintain systems to identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor operational risks.
• Maintain oversight of environmental compliance programs and ensure appropriate controls, processes, and accountability measures are in place.
• Monitor regulatory developments and ensure organizational readiness for changing compliance requirements.
• Lead organizational readiness and response planning for emergencies and significant operational events.

Leadership & People Development

• Directly supervise HSE leadership personnel and maintain overall accountability for the HSE organization.
• Lead workforce planning, succession planning, recruitment, retention, and professional development initiatives for HSE personnel.
• Establish staffing strategies and direct the deployment of HSE resources to support project, regional, and operational requirements.
• Develop and oversee the Company's HSE training strategy, competency requirements, leadership development programs, and professional certification initiatives.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability measures for all HSE team members.
• Conduct performance evaluations and oversee compensation recommendations, promotions, disciplinary actions, and staffing decisions for HSE personnel.
• Mentor and develop current and future HSE leaders throughout the organization.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, ownership, continuous learning, and professional growth.

Incident Management & Risk Reduction

• Lead or co-lead investigations involving serious incidents, significant near misses, high-potential events, and regulatory matters.
• Ensure thorough root cause analysis, corrective action development, implementation, and validation.
• Conduct and oversee periodic evaluations of project, regional, and organizational HSE performance and partner with leadership to develop and implement improvement strategies.
• Drive organizational learning by identifying trends and sharing lessons learned across the business.
• Monitor leading and lagging indicators and implement initiatives to reduce injuries, incidents, and operational risk.
• Maintain authority to stop work when unsafe conditions or behaviors present unacceptable risk.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the senior HSE representative for strategic client interactions, audits, assessments, and performance reviews.
• Support operations leadership in interpreting and implementing customer-specific HSE requirements, contractual obligations, and compliance expectations.
• Support operations leadership in maintaining strong customer relationships through consistent HSE performance and partnership.
• Interface with regulatory agencies, consultants, insurance carriers, and other external stakeholders as necessary.
• Provide leadership during significant client, regulatory, or operational escalations.

Technology, Data & Continuous Improvement

• Serve as the functional leader for HSE-related technology, systems, and reporting tools.
• Maintain proficiency in company business systems, reporting platforms, HSE management tools, and Microsoft Office applications and promote their effective use throughout the HSE organization.
• Utilize technology, data, and analytics to improve decision-making, compliance management, operational performance, and workforce engagement.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, performance, and effectiveness through system enhancements and process improvements.
• Establish meaningful performance metrics and dashboards that support accountability and continuous improvement initiatives.

Financial & Administrative Management

• Develop and manage the annual HSE departmental budget.
• Monitor expenditures and ensure effective utilization of resources.
• Evaluate and prioritize investments in training, technology, equipment, and safety initiatives.

Workers' Compensation & Claims Management

• Administer and provide executive oversight of the Company's Workers' Compensation programs, policies, procedures, and claims management processes.
• Partner with Human Resources, operations leadership, insurance carriers, and third-party administrators to ensure effective claims management and return-to-work programs.
• Monitor workers' compensation performance metrics, identify loss trends, and develop strategies to reduce claim frequency, severity, and related costs.
• Ensure timely investigation, reporting, and resolution of workplace injuries and occupational illness claims.

Leadership Competencies

Operational Business Acumen

Understands the operational realities of utility, energy, and construction work. Balances safety, compliance, productivity, and customer commitments while developing practical solutions that support successful project execution.

Collaborative Business Partnership

Builds strong partnerships across operations, corporate functions, clients, and field teams. Develops credibility through communication, coaching, and relationship building while delivering practical, risk-based solutions that support safe and successful project execution.

Talent Development

Develops leaders, builds strong teams, and creates opportunities for employee growth and advancement.

Accountability & Execution

Establishes clear expectations, drives performance, and delivers measurable results.

Change Leadership

Successfully leads organizational change initiatives and promotes continuous improvement.

Communication & Influence

Communicates effectively with executives, clients, managers, field personnel, and external stakeholders.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• OSHA 500 certification.
• Valid U.S. Driver's License.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive HSE experience within construction, utility, energy, industrial, or related industries.
• Minimum of five (5) years of leadership experience managing HSE professionals, programs, and multi-site operations.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations, construction safety practices, incident investigation methods, and risk management principles.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, influence organizational performance, and drive accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to build credibility and effectively partner with operations leaders to develop practical, risk-based solutions that support safe and successful project execution.
• Strong technology aptitude with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively utilize business systems, reporting tools, dashboards, and technology platforms to support decision-making and operational performance.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• Utility, transmission, distribution, renewable energy, pipeline, or heavy civil construction experience.
• CSP, CUSP, or other recognized safety professional certification preferred.
• Multiple professional safety certifications strongly preferred.
• Bilingual (Spanish) preferred.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

This position operates in both office and field environments. The role requires regular travel to project sites and customer locations. Work may involve exposure to construction environments, varying weather conditions, and active utility, energy, and infrastructure projects.

The physical demands described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Activities may include standing, walking, climbing, bending, kneeling, lifting, carrying, driving, and working on active project sites. Occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds may be required.

All applicants must be able to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.

Cinterra provides equal employment opportunities 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.