Director of Safety

Wheeler Machinery Co•Salt Lake City, UT

22h

About The Position

The Director of Safety is responsible for leading and advancing Wheeler Machinery’s enterprise safety strategy, ensuring the safety of all employees, customers, and partners while embedding safety as a core pillar of the Daily Management System (DMS) and PSQDC framework (People, Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost). This role partners closely with the Continuous Improvement function to integrate safety into all operational processes, drive standard work, and sustain a culture of continuous improvement. The Director will leverage Lean principles to proactively identify hazards, eliminate risk, reduce incidents, and improve overall operational performance. This leader will ensure safety is not a standalone program but a fully integrated, measurable, and continuously improving operational discipline, aligned with business performance and frontline execution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene, or related field (or equivalent experience)
8–12+ years of progressive safety leadership experience in heavy equipment, construction, manufacturing, or similar high-risk environments
Deep knowledge of OSHA, DOT, and relevant regulatory standards
Demonstrated ability to partner with operations leaders to embed standardized safety processes into daily routines
Proven ability to lead cultural transformation and influence at all levels of an organization
Experience implementing safety management systems and data-driven safety programs
Strong leadership, communication, and change management skills

Responsibilities

Develop and lead Wheeler Machinery’s enterprise safety strategy aligned with company goals and operational priorities
Establish safety as a core leadership competency across all levels of the organization
Serve as the senior safety leader, driving accountability across all levels of the organization
Establish clear safety vision, goals, and targets aligned with PSQDC metrics
Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements (OSHA, DOT, environmental, etc.)
Shift the organization toward leading indicators, predictive analytics, and proactive risk mitigation
Partner with leadership to integrate safety into business planning and performance expectations
Manage relationships with regulatory agencies, auditors, and external partners
Partner directly with the Continuous Improvement team to embed safety into Daily management Systems (tiered accountability, daily huddles, visual boards), Standard work and SOP development, and Kaizen events and improvement projects
Apply Lean methodologies (root cause analysis, waste elimination, error-proofing) to reduce incidents and near misses
Identify, evaluate, and implement innovative safety technologies, tools, and methodologies relevant to the high-risk environments associated with a CAT dealership
Leverage data and analytics to anticipate risk, improve decision-making, and prioritize interventions
Benchmark against Caterpillar dealer network, industry leaders, and regulatory trends to continuously elevate standards
Foster a culture of learning, experimentation, and continuous improvement in safety practices
Develop, implement, and sustain standardized safety policies, procedures, and programs across all branches and job sites
Ensure consistency in safety expectations while allowing for operational realities in diverse environments (shops, field service, parts, transportation)
Establish standardized policies, procedures, and audit processes
Lead enterprise-wide safety compliance efforts, ensuring adherence to OSHA, DOT, MSHA (as applicable), and other regulatory requirements
Implement and manage safety systems, tools, and reporting platforms.
Partner with HR (VP of People) on policies, training, and employee relations matters tied to safety.
Own and drive safety performance as the “S” within PSQDC across all business units
Develop and maintain safety dashboards, KPIs, and reporting cadences that drive action and accountability
Establish leading and lagging indicators (e.g., TRIR, near misses, observations, audits)
Standardize visual management and reporting of safety metrics across the organization
Lead regular reviews (daily, weekly, monthly) of safety performance integrated into DMS routines
Embed safety into daily workflows, maintenance practices, and field operations
Lead incident prevention strategies, investigations, and root cause analysis to eliminate recurrence
Design and improve processes that reduce exposure to risk at the source
Lead proactive hazard identification, risk assessments, and job safety analyses
Implement systems to reduce high-risk exposures and serious injury/fatality (SIF) potential
Oversee incident investigations using structured root cause methodologies
Ensure corrective actions are standardized, sustainable, and scalable across locations
Develop and manage the annual safety budget, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and operational needs across all locations
Build business cases for safety investments, including technology, training, and staffing, clearly articulating ROI, risk reduction, and cost avoidance
Track and analyze the financial impact of safety performance, including workers’ compensation, insurance premiums, claims trends, and indirect costs (downtime, turnover, productivity loss)
Drive a culture where safety is a core value reflected in daily behaviors and decision-making
Design and implement comprehensive safety training programs tailored to certain technicians, drivers, warehouse team, and leaders
Promote active reporting of near misses, hazards, and improvement opportunities
Drive engagement through safety observations, accountability routines, and recognition programs
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing safety team
Define clear roles, expectations, and performance standards for safety personnel and leaders
Elevate safety capability across the organization through coaching, training, and leadership development
Ensure sustainability of safety programs through strong talent and succession planning
Work closely with Operations, Service, Sales, Parts, and Facilities teams to embed safety into daily work