W.E. O'Neil Construction

National construction contractor with ESOP ownership

National Director of Safety

Environmental Health & SafetyUpdated on Nov 13

Full-timeEl Segundo, CA, USA$175k - $210k /yr

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field is preferred.
At least 10 years of progressive construction safety leadership experience, including multi-site or multi-region oversight.
Strong knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, construction safety standards, and risk management practices.
Experience leading safety strategy within a commercial construction or general contracting environment is preferred.
Ability to influence executive leadership, operations teams, and field personnel.
Ability to travel nationally on a frequent basis.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a unified national safety strategy aligned with company goals and operational priorities.
Foster a culture where safety is viewed as a core value and condition of employment.
Partner with regional presidents, operations leadership, and project teams to strengthen accountability and consistency nationwide.
Represent the company during client pursuits, industry engagements, and high-profile initiatives as the company’s safety leader.
Establish and maintain standardized safety policies, procedures, and best practices.
Ensure compliance with OSHA, state-specific regulations, and client safety requirements.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing incidents, claims, and high-risk exposures.
Support incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation.
Develop and oversee national safety training and education programs.
Promote leadership engagement and field participation in safety initiatives.
Facilitate communication of lessons learned, case studies, and emerging trends across the organization.
Conduct regular site visits and safety walks to reinforce visibility, trust, and accountability.
Monitor and analyze safety key performance indicators, including total recordable incident rate (TRIR), experience modification rate (EMR), days away, restricted, or transferred (DART), near misses, and other leading indicators.
Provide regular reporting and strategic recommendations to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.
Collaborate with operations, human resources, and Risk Management teams to strengthen safety performance and claims management.
Support subcontractor prequalification, compliance, and performance improvement initiatives.
Provide functional leadership, mentorship, and support to regional and project safety professionals.
Build strong partnerships with operations leadership to align safety and operational excellence.
Help strengthen a One Team approach to safety across all operating companies and regions.

Desired Qualifications

Experience leading safety strategy within a commercial construction or general contracting environment.

At W.E. O’Neil Construction, we believe we build great relationships, we are lifelong learners, we are forthright, we own it, and we are One Team. Safety is foundational to how we operate, lead, and build.

We are seeking a strategic and relationship-driven National Director of Safety to lead and elevate our national safety program across multiple regions and operating companies. This executive leadership role is responsible for strengthening a proactive, people-first safety culture while ensuring consistency, accountability, compliance, and operational excellence throughout the organization.

The National Director of Safety will partner closely with executive leadership, operations teams, and field personnel to embed safety into every aspect of our business and reinforce our commitment to ensuring every employee goes home safely every day.

Position Summary

The National Director of Safety provides enterprise-wide leadership for all health, safety, and risk prevention initiatives across W.E. O’Neil Construction. This role develops and implements national safety strategies, standardizes policies and procedures, supports regional safety leadership, and drives continuous improvement through training, field engagement, data analysis, and operational partnership.

This leader will serve as both a strategic advisor and visible field presence, helping cultivate a “Build Right, Built Safe” culture across all regions and business units. #LI-RP1

The primary duties and responsibilities and of the National Director of Safety typically include, but are not limited to:

Strategic Leadership

Develop and execute a unified national safety strategy aligned with company goals and operational priorities.
Foster a culture where safety is viewed as a core value and condition of employment.
Partner with regional presidents, operations leadership, and project teams to strengthen accountability and consistency nationwide.
Represent W.E. O’Neil during client pursuits, industry engagements, and high-profile initiatives as the company’s safety leader.

Safety Program Development & Compliance

Establish and maintain standardized safety policies, procedures, and best practices.
Ensure compliance with OSHA, state-specific regulations, and client safety requirements.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing incidents, claims, and high-risk exposures.
Support incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation.

Training & Culture

Develop and oversee national safety training and education programs.
Promote leadership engagement and field participation in safety initiatives.
Facilitate communication of lessons learned, case studies, and emerging trends across the organization.
Conduct regular site visits and safety walks to reinforce visibility, trust, and accountability.

Performance & Risk Management

Monitor and analyze safety KPIs including TRIR, EMR, DART, near misses, and other leading indicators.
Provide regular reporting and strategic recommendations to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.
Collaborate with operations, HR, and Risk Management teams to strengthen safety performance and claims management.
Support subcontractor prequalification, compliance, and performance improvement initiatives.

Leadership & Partnership

Provide functional leadership, mentorship, and support to regional and project safety professionals.
Build strong partnerships with operations leadership to align safety and operational excellence.
Help strengthen a One Team approach to safety across all operating companies and regions.

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Construction Management, Engineering, or related field preferred.
10+ years of progressive construction safety leadership experience, including multi-site or multi-region oversight.
Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations, construction safety standards, and risk management practices.
Experience leading safety strategy within a commercial construction or general contracting environment preferred.
Demonstrated ability to influence executive leadership, operations teams, and field personnel.
Strong communication, relationship-building, and leadership skills.
Ability to travel nationally on a frequent basis.

What Sets You Apart

You lead through influence, visibility, and partnership.
You balance strategic thinking with operational execution.
You are passionate about building a culture where safety is integrated into daily decision-making.
You thrive in collaborative environments and value accountability, consistency, and continuous improvement.

About the Company

W.E. O'Neil Construction

National construction contractor with ESOP ownership

W.E. O'Neil Construction is a national contractor with 100% employee ownership that operates across several states. It manages commercial construction projects by guiding the full process from design through completion using delivery methods like design-build, design assist, construction management at risk, and lump-sum bidding. The company stands out by combining the financial strength of a large firm with the speed and focus of a smaller operation, backed by an ESOP culture that prioritizes relationships, integrity, and customer satisfaction. Its goal is to deliver high-quality projects on time and on budget while expanding its national footprint and maintaining strong client partnerships.

Company size: 501-1,000
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Chicago, IL
Founded: 1925

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