Manager, Construction Safety

Rivian•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract. As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations. We are seeking a Construction Safety Manager to serve as the senior authority for safety governance at our large-scale vertical construction sites. This is a strategic leadership position designed to protect Rivian’s interests as the "Owner" and "Controlling Employer." You will be responsible for defining and evolving how safety is managed across a multi-employer ecosystem, ensuring that all partners and contractors adhere to the highest standards while maintaining a collaborative relationship with federal regulators. Why This Role Matters Design the Safety Operating System: You will define how core construction safety is structured and executed, ensuring that Rivian can scale its physical footprint without losing clarity or personnel safety quality. Unlock Capacity through Systemic Safety: By thoughtfully applying Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) principles, you will move the team from manual, reactive monitoring to proactive, systemic defense. Drive Change at a Pivotal Moment: As Rivian grows, this role will be central to how we standardize global safety practices and build the infrastructure that supports long-term operational excellence.

Requirements

12+ years of experience in Construction Safety, or related fields within complex, scaling industrial environments.
Demonstrated experience leading process redesign, work transitions, shared-services enablement, or high-level safety operating model changes.
Strong working knowledge of technology ecosystems, including ServiceNow and Workday, and familiarity with integrated safety/compliance platforms.
Familiarity with AI and automation concepts (e.g., workflow automation, knowledge management, agent assist) and their application within site operations.
Proven "systems thinker" who can connect strategy, operations, and technology into coherent, actionable roadmaps.
Experience partnering closely with IT and digital teams to define requirements, evaluate solution options, and prioritize work across platforms.
Excellent communication, facilitation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to synthesize complex technical inputs for executive leadership.
Proven ability to set direction, delegate effectively, and manage capacity across a team during periods of high-intensity growth.
Track record of building inclusive, high-trust team cultures that balance performance, growth, and well-being.
Bachelor’s degree required in Occupational Health, Safety Management, or a related technical field; advanced degree preferred.
Advanced professional certification (ASP, CSP, or equivalent) is required or currently in progress.
Deep understanding of the "Controlling Employer" doctrine and experience managing OSHA Strategic Partnerships (OSP).

Nice To Haves

Experience in high-growth technology, EV, manufacturing, or similarly complex industrial environments.
Background in Lean, Six Sigma, design thinking, or service design applied to operational or safety processes.
Prior responsibility for global safety operations, shared services, or large-scale multi-employer service delivery models.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a small team responsible for work mapping, process redesign, and new ways of working across the onsite construction safety organization.
Set clear goals, operating rhythms, and standards for the safety team, including diagnostics, pilots, and scaled implementation of site-wide protocols.
Coach and performance-manage team members, creating opportunities for growth, stretch assignments, and cross-functional exposure.
Manage the "Controlling Employer" liability by overseeing agency agreements with core contractors and ensuring independent safety staffing is optimized.
Own end-to-end process redesign for priority journeys, including contractor onboarding, site access competency verification, and high-risk task reviews.
Establish common standards for process documentation and handoffs to reduce variability and enable smoother execution across separate contractor entities.
Identify friction points, inefficiencies, and avoidable demand, and lead simplification efforts with measurable impact on site safety throughput.
Identify high-value opportunities to apply AI, workflow automation, and knowledge management to safety processes to improve data accuracy and personnel capacity.
Translate safety goals into clear requirements and priorities for digital platforms like ServiceNow and safety tracking systems to automate manual coordination.
Partner closely with IT and Data teams to ensure safety dashboards are designed around real work-flows, with strong measurement and feedback loops to identify Serious Injury or Fatality (SIF) precursors.
Lead change management and adoption strategies for new safety systems, process redesigns, and digital capabilities.
Build strong partnerships with COEs, IT, and external partners to align priorities, sequencing, and messaging for regulatory milestones.
Coach and influence site leaders through periods of transition, helping them navigate trade-offs, clarify roles, and embed systemic safety as a core value.