Senior Construction Safety Specialist (Field Based)

ERM is hiring a Senior Construction Safety Specialist (Electrical Safety) to provide on-site support for our key pharmaceutical client in Lebanon, IN. In this critical role, you will serve as the owner's representative for electrical safety, temporary power, commissioning, startup, energization, and related construction activities, ensuring health and safety compliance with applicable regulations, electrical safety requirements, and company standards. You will work closely with contractors and subcontractors to identify and mitigate electrical hazards, verify implementation of safe work practices, and support safe execution of construction and commissioning activities involving energized systems.

This position functions as an owner's advisor and does not direct contractor means and methods. The role provides independent observation, verification, coaching, and communication regarding electrical safety performance and risk management on behalf of the client.

This is a full-time (40 - 72 hours/week), limited-term role for a duration of 12 months, renewable.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Engage with general contractors and subcontractors on behalf of the owner, as the owner's representative.
• Promote client's safety culture across contractor and subcontractor groups.
• Proactively identify uncontrolled hazards and influence safe work practices of general contractors and subcontractors on behalf of the owner.
• On-site observation of construction activities from an EHS perspective, with primary focus on electrical safety, temporary power systems, equipment energization, testing activities, and commissioning operations.
• Documentation of activities with respect to required EHS performance.
• Train on-site workers on EHS oversight program requirements.
• Train on-site subcontractors on EHS oversight program requirements.
• Help administer project directives given by the Client's Environmental, Health, and Safety (EH&S) personnel throughout the project.
• Report on whether project staff and trade contractors are complying with the Client's safety procedures and are working in accordance with the approved project-specific safety plan.
• Maintain required safety-related documentation on the project site, including, but not limited to, safety orientation training, Job Hazard Analyses (JHA), SDSs, pre-task assessments, and toolbox talk summaries.
• Participate in daily pre-shift coordination meetings to include review of the day's activities and associated hazards.
• Review and comment on the General Contractor's JHAs with project trades and obtain signatures prior to commencement of work.
• Conduct daily site inspections, focusing on work site orderliness and compliance with safety procedures and protocols. Proposed corrections of safety deviations will be discussed with the General Contractor's Safety Manager, and support will be provided for implementing corrective actions.
• Issue daily site observation reports for each site inspection.
• Review electrical work packages, switching procedures, lockout/tagout plans, commissioning procedures, and energized work planning documents.
• Observe electrical installation, testing, startup, commissioning, and energization activities, providing independent owner oversight of hazard controls and safe work practices.
• Review contractor compliance with electrical safety requirements, including arc flash protection, shock protection boundaries, grounding practices, temporary power management, and lockout/tagout programs.
• Participate in pre-task planning meetings and risk assessments for electrical work, commissioning activities, and system energizations.
• Support verification of electrical isolation boundaries and energy control processes during construction, commissioning, and startup activities. Provide subject matter expertise on electrical safety requirements and industry best practices, including OSHA, NFPA 70E, and client-specific standards.
• Support investigation and documentation of electrical incidents, near misses, and significant safety observations.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in construction management, safety, electrical engineering technology, occupational health and safety, or a related degree preferred.
• 10+ years of field experience supporting electrical construction, commissioning, startup, electrical safety programs, or industrial/manufacturing construction projects.
• Certification in the field: CHST, ASP, and/or CSP are preferred.
• Pharmaceutical or high-tech project experience is highly desired.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA General Industry and construction standards.
• Strong commitment to safety, including implementing strict Health and Safety protocols.
• Completed training and certifications for OSHA 30-hour construction, confined space entry training, and fall protection/prevention training preferred.
• Experience with Microsoft Office suite of software (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams). Ability to multitask, maintain flexibility, travel, and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to provide excellent project delivery and client service, quality on project deliverables, and organizational skills.
• Ability to organize and coordinate field personnel, subcontractors, and vendors.
• Demonstrated experience with electrical hazard recognition, lockout/tagout, arc flash risk mitigation, temporary power systems, electrical commissioning, and startup activities.
• Strong working knowledge of NFPA 70E, OSHA 29 CFR 1910 and 1926 electrical requirements, electrical safe work practices, and energy isolation programs.
• Experience supporting medium- and low-voltage electrical systems, switchgear, substations, motor control centers (MCCs), UPS systems, backup power systems, or similar infrastructure.
• Experience serving as an owner's representative, commissioning safety advisor, electrical safety professional, or equivalent role on large capital projects.
• Relevant certifications such as NFPA 70E training, CESCP, CHST, CSP, Electrical Safety Compliance Professional (ESCP), licensed electrician, or equivalent credentials are highly desirable.
• Experience supporting construction-to-commissioning transitions, startup activities, and energization planning is strongly preferred.