Senior Safety Manager

Description

Job Title: Senior Safety Manager  

Location: Sanford - Multi-Site Travel Required               

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Position Summary:

The Senior Safety Manager leads Sunvena's OSHA compliance program and safety department, partnering with HR and Legal for guidance and support throughout. This role manages 1-2 direct reports, drives incident and near-miss investigation with corrective training, leverages workers' comp knowledge to guide case decisions, and partners with senior and HR leadership company-wide to build SOPs, policies, and a proactive safety culture.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage, maintain, and lead all OSHA compliance activities company-wide, partnering with HR and Legal for guidance and support.
• Oversee the safety department and manage 1-2 direct reports (Safety Coordinators); partner with senior and HR leadership on safety strategy and workforce issues.
• Lead serious incident investigations to root cause and drive corrective actions to closure; manage OSHA 300/300A recordkeeping.
• Report near-miss incidents and develop and deliver corrective training to prevent recurrence.
• Leverage workers' comp knowledge to guide and support decision-making on cases, in partnership with HR, Legal, and carriers.
• Create and maintain SOPs, written policies, and safety programs company-wide.
• Lead monthly safety reporting and KPI reviews; generate monthly safety meetings for foremen, directors, and support staff.
• Set training and competency standards with the Training & Onboarding Coordinator; approve curriculum and verify effectiveness.
• Establish a jobsite inspection and audit cadence and analyze findings for systemic trends, not one-off corrections.
• Own the company's approach to the hazards that actually injure solar workers — falls, electrical and arc flash exposure, heat illness, struck-by, lifting, and driving.

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of progressive EHS experience in construction, solar, or heavy industry, including 3+ years leading a safety function or team.
• Deep working knowledge of OSHA 1926 standards, fall protection, and electrical safety practices.
• Experience partnering with HR and Legal on compliance, near-miss, and workers' compensation matters.
• Proven track record leading root cause investigations and measurably reducing incident rates; experience managing direct reports.
• Able to influence senior and HR leadership and earn respect from crews in the field.
• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety & Health, Engineering, or Construction Management — or equivalent experience.
• OSHA 30-Hour Construction; valid driver's license and clean driving record; willingness to travel to job sites, including occasional overnights.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Professional certification: CSP, CHST, ASP, or SMS; OSHA 500 Authorized Outreach Trainer for Construction.
• Direct solar EPC experience (residential, C&I, or utility-scale); NFPA 70E qualified-person training and battery energy storage (BESS) safety experience.
• Multi-state operations experience; bilingual (English/Spanish); First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor; competent person for fall protection.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Regular travel to active construction sites, including occasional overnights; access to rooftops, ladders, scaffolding, and elevated work areas to conduct inspections.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs and to stand, walk, bend, kneel, and climb for extended periods; exposure to heat, cold, sun, dust, noise, and uneven terrain.
• Consistent use of required PPE including hard hat, safety glasses, gloves, high-visibility apparel, and fall protection; availability for after-hours response to serious incidents.

As part of our hiring process, we require all potential employees to undergo a drug test. We take the safety and well-being of our employees and customers very seriously, and believe that maintaining a drug-free workplace is essential. Therefore, we require all candidates to pass a drug screening before we can consider them for employment.

SunVena is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.