Assistant Safety Director

Novak Construction Company•Chicago, IL

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Safety Director will help lead and oversee Novak Construction Company’s nationwide safety program, ensuring consistent compliance, proactive risk management, and a strong culture of safety across projects. The role provides strategic leadership, manages regional safety staff, develops company-wide safety policies, and partners with operations teams to identify hazards and implement corrective actions. Responsibilities include directing incident investigations, conducting jobsite audits, overseeing training programs, ensuring OSHA and DOT compliance, and managing safety performance metrics. The position is based in the Chicago office and requires regular national travel to project sites and client meetings, typically 3–5 days per week, with onsite presence in the Chicago office as needed. Employees may need to operate a personal or rental vehicle to reach jobsites and client locations when reasonable alternative transportation is unavailable; a valid driver’s license and ability to drive are required.

Requirements

Minimum 15 years of progressive safety experience in commercial construction, including senior-level leadership.
Ability and willingness to travel nationally, typically 3–5 days per week, to jobsites and client meetings.
Proven ability to manage multi-state safety operations.
Strong leadership and communication skills, including the ability to influence and build a culture of safety across large teams.
Skill in incident investigation, documentation, and root cause analysis.
Deep knowledge of OSHA regulations, hazard prevention strategies, and construction safety systems.
OSHA 30 certification required.
Valid driver’s license and ability to drive.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee Novak’s national safety program across all projects.
Establish and enforce company-wide safety policies in compliance with OSHA and regulatory standards.
Mentor and manage the Safety Team.
Conduct audits, inspections, and risk assessments to ensure proactive hazard control.
Oversee safety training, incident investigations, and corrective actions.
Partner with operations and leadership to integrate safety into all project phases.
Manage regulatory compliance, including OSHA, DOT, and environmental requirements, and serve as an agency liaison.
Track and report safety performance metrics and drive continuous improvement.
Lead emergency response planning and crisis management.