Position Summary
The Director of Safety Governance is a senior enterprise safety leader responsible for governing, advancing, and scaling corporate safety programs across assigned regions. This role ensures consistent application of corporate safety strategy while enabling regional teams to execute effectively at the project level.
Acting as an extension of Corporate EHS, this leader provides oversight, assurance, and strategic partnership, not day-to-day site management, by driving learning from incidents, strengthening leading indicators, integrating safety into operational and design decisions, and developing the next generation of safety leadership. The role serves as a critical connector between corporate standards and regional execution, ensuring safety remains a core business discipline.
Position Details
Enterprise Incident Learning & Risk Management
Provide corporate oversight for serious incidents and high-potential events, ensuring systemic root-cause analysis and enterprise-level learning.
Validate corrective actions for quality, sustainability, and alignment with corporate standards-not just closure.
Lead learning teams and post-incident reviews focused on organizational learning, human factors, and risk system improvements, rather than individual fault.
Identifytrends and emerging risks that require escalation, policy refinement, or enterprise intervention.
Proactive Field Presence & Assurance
Conduct regular field engagements alongside regional and project leadership to assess program effectiveness, leadership behaviors, and leading indicators.
Provide field-based coaching to operations and safety leaders, reinforcing expectations for planning quality, hazard anticipation, and accountability.
Participate selectively in toolbox talks and site engagements to reinforce enterprise priorities, validate messaging, and maintain visibility as a corporate safety leader.
Program Governance, Training & Capability Building
Translate corporate initiatives into clear, field-relevant messaging that supports adoption while maintaining fidelity to enterprise intent.
Identify capability gaps across regions and recommend enterprise training or development solutions.
Cross-Functional & Enterprise Leadership
Ensure regional alignment with corporate safety standards, policies, and governance expectations.
Partner with engineering and design teams to integrate safety into constructability reviews, preconstruction planning, and early project decisions.
Collaborate with Operations, HR, and Talent teams to support safety leadership pipelines, college outreach, and succession planning.
Actively support the VP of EHS with enterprise initiatives, strategic analysis, and business case development for program improvements.
Culture, Engagement & External Influence
Champion enterprise-wide safety culture initiatives, including recognition programs such as Live It, ensuring consistency and impact across regions.
Serve as a visible corporate safety ambassador with regional clients, trade partners, and industry organizations, strengthening trust and credibility.
Promote engagement through transparent communication, positive reinforcement, and consistent presence with leaders at all organizational levels.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Construction Management, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
10+ years of progressive safety experience within construction, mechanical, or industrial environments.
Demonstrated success leading multi-site or regional safety programs with enterprise oversight responsibility.
Strong analytical, communication, and influencing skills; ability to lead through partnership rather than direct authority.
Proficiency with safety data and analytics platforms (e.g., Samsara, Power BI, Procore Safety, or similar).
CSP, CHST, or SMS required.
OSHA 500 Construction and other relevant certifications preferred.
80-90% travel across multiple U.S. regions, including driving and air travel.
Ability to traverse active construction sites, including ladders and scaffolding.
Must maintain an acceptable driving record.
Benefits
As a 100% employee-owned company, we offer a comprehensive benefits package for you and your family:
401(k) plan with 50% company match (no cap) and immediate 100% vesting
Medical, dental, and vision insurance (100% paid for employee)
Annual bonus program based upon performance, achievement, and company profitability
Term life, AD&D insurance, and voluntary life insurance
Disability income protection insurance
Pre-tax flexible spending plans (health and dependent care)
Paid parental leave
Paid holidays, vacation, and personal time
Training/professional development opportunities and company-paid memberships for professional associations and licenses
Wellness benefits
About Southland Industries
As one of the nation's largest MEP companies, Southland Industries is built on the foundation of great people. Since 1949, we have put our people first, enabling growth, professional achievement, and innovation. If you want to join a fast-paced environment where you're engaged, challenged, and valued, apply now to join our dynamic team.
To learn more about careers at Southland, explore our career opportunities (https://southlandind.foleon.com/experienced-professionals/brochure/) , follow us on social media (https://www.linkedin.com/company/22132/?trk=tyah) , and check out our website (https://southlandind.com/) .
Southland Industries and all its subsidiaries are an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing our employees with a safe work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Southland Industries are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, marital status, family care or medical leave status, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Southland Industries will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.
Contingent Employment: All employment offers are contingent upon successful drug tests, background checks, and professional reference checks. Roles that include driving as an essential job duty will be required to have a successful Motor Vehicle Record check (MVR). We are not able to offer sponsorship of employment at this time.
External Agency Announcement : Its Southland Industries' policy not to accept candidate submissions from recruiting agencies without an active and authorized work order. Candidate ownership can only be established after a bona fide work order is issued by a member of the Southland Industries Talent Acquisition team and the candidate is appropriately submitted through our Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
Required Skills
Required Experience
