Regional Director, Environmental Health & Safety

AWP Safety•Santa Ana, CA

4d•$165,000 - $185,000

About The Position

The Regional Director, Environmental Health & Safety manages regional and national EHS programs, policies, and procedures for traffic control operations. The role translates strategic goals into operational plans, ensures regulatory compliance, mitigates risk, and fosters a proactive safety culture within a matrix reporting structure. The Business Unit EHS Director provides leadership across West Business Unit locations and partners with AWP Safety leaders to set EHS vision and strategy. The role supports the planning and implementation of programs to create a safe, healthy, and incident-free work environment; provides technical and compliance expertise for day-to-day operations; and ensures proper reporting of injuries, health and safety concerns, environmental compliance, audit and inspection corrective actions, safety matters, and motor vehicle collisions. The director works with company leaders across lines of business and with corporate Safety, EHS, and Risk teams. The position requires regular travel and a highly visible field presence across branch and jobsite locations. Success is measured through field safety observations, near-miss investigations, safety management meetings, training and driver-qualification compliance, timely incident and corrective-action management, driver safety performance, and improvements in safety culture and operational results.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Science, or a related field.
At least 10 years of progressive EHS experience, including leadership roles in corporate or multi-site environments.
Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local EHS regulations.
Ability to communicate clearly across all levels, from executives to frontline employees.
Ability to build a culture of transparency and continuous improvement.
Ability to navigate complex reporting structures with diplomacy and clarity.
Ability to understand and respond to the needs and pressures of field and corporate teams.
Ability to manage conflict and resistance with empathy and professionalism.
Ability to respond effectively to changing regulations, operational demands, and field conditions.
Ability to travel regularly and maintain a visible presence across branch and jobsite locations.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Experience in multi-state or field-based operations, such as linear construction.

Responsibilities

Ensure compliance with OSHA, DOT, EPA, and state-specific traffic control regulations.
Lead regional audits and inspections and ensure findings are resolved on time.
Maintain accurate EHS documentation and reporting systems.
Provide guidance and training on regulatory changes and requirements.
Conduct risk assessments focused on traffic control hazards, including vehicle movement, flagger exposure, and public interaction.
Implement risk mitigation strategies and monitor their effectiveness.
Lead serious incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective actions.
Use data analytics to identify trends and prevent future incidents.
Promote safety ownership and accountability at all levels.
Lead safety campaigns, stand-downs, and recognition programs.
Encourage near-miss reporting and proactive hazard identification, and support behavioral safety initiatives and peer coaching.
Collaborate with operational and functional leaders within a matrix structure, balancing regional autonomy with corporate EHS standards and communicating across reporting lines.
Establish regional safety expectations and performance metrics, monitor compliance, and follow through on corrective actions.
Coach teams, provide feedback, and foster transparency and continuous improvement through regular reporting and reviews.
Conduct at least six documented field safety observations per week to coach employees, identify risks, and strengthen field engagement.
Drive a proactive reporting culture through approximately five near-miss investigations per month.
Lead monthly Business Unit Safety Management Meetings.
Develop and execute individual performance goals, Business Unit EHS action plans, and regional EHS staff development plans.
Maintain greater than 95% compliance in required safety, health, and regulatory training programs and driver qualification requirements.
Ensure timely closure of incidents, investigations, root cause analyses, corrective actions, and Intelex case management activities.
Improve driver safety through coaching, leading indicators, and Samsara scorecard management.
Partner with operations leaders to identify risks, implement practical solutions, and drive sustainable safety improvements.
Reduce workplace incidents and claims through proactive risk management, targeting 10% year-over-year improvement in key lagging indicators.
Build safety culture through leadership visibility, relationship building, employee engagement, and continuous improvement initiatives.