Regional Director, Environmental Health & Safety

AWP Safety•Santa Ana, CA

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 while building accountability across teams and functions in a matrix reporting structure. The Business Unit EHS Director provides leadership across West Business Unit locations, partnering with AWP Safety leaders to establish EHS vision and strategy. The director supports programs that promote a safe, healthy, and incident-free work environment; provides technical and compliance expertise for day-to-day business unit operations; and ensures proper reporting of injuries, safety and health concerns, environmental compliance, audit findings, corrective actions, safety matters, and motor vehicle collisions. The role works with company leaders across lines of business and with Corporate VP of Safety, EHS, and Risk teams. The position requires regular travel and a highly visible presence across branch and jobsite locations. Success includes conducting at least six documented field safety observations per week, facilitating monthly Business Unit Safety Management Meetings, maintaining more than 95% compliance in required training and driver qualification requirements, and ensuring timely incident and corrective-action management. The director also develops individual performance goals, business unit EHS action plans, and regional EHS staff development plans, and works with operations leaders to improve safety performance and reduce incidents and claims.

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.

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 throughout the organization.
Lead safety campaigns, stand-downs, and recognition programs, and encourage near-miss reporting and proactive hazard identification.
Support behavioral safety initiatives and peer coaching.
Collaborate with operational and functional leaders within a matrix structure, balancing regional autonomy with corporate EHS standards.
Establish regional safety expectations and performance metrics, monitor compliance, and follow through on corrective actions.
Coach and provide feedback to build ownership of safety outcomes, transparency, and continuous improvement.
Conduct at least six documented field safety observations per week and maintain a strong field presence across branch and jobsite locations.
Drive a proactive reporting culture through approximately five near-miss (Good Catch) 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 in 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.