Senior Safety Specialist

Fortis Fire & Safety•Schaumburg, IL

21h•Onsite

About The Position

Fortis Fire & Safety is seeking a Senior Safety Specialist to join our team onsite in Schaumburg, IL. The Senior Safety Specialist serves as a senior technical resource and subject-matter expert supporting environmental, health, and safety (EHS) programs across Fortis Fire & Safety operations, with emphasis on jobsite safety in the fire protection and life safety and security environment. This role executes EHS programs in the field (remotely, at times), conducts audits and incident investigations, delivers training, and provides hands-on coaching to project teams. The Senior Safety Specialist partners closely with the VP of Operations and branch and field leadership to drive a zero-incident culture, ensure regulatory compliance, and mentor junior safety staff. This is an individual contributor role that requires deep technical expertise, strong jobsite credibility, and the ability to work independently across multiple active projects. This role does not have direct supervisory responsibility. The Senior Safety Specialist provides functional guidance and technical mentorship to Safety Coordinators, junior Safety Specialists, and field leadership. Influence is exercised through expertise, coaching, and credibility rather than through formal authority. Work is performed primarily in active construction/jobsite settings, with time also spent in office environments for reporting and administrative work. The employee is regularly exposed to outdoor weather conditions, moving mechanical parts, elevated work surfaces, fumes or airborne particles, and varying noise levels. The employee may occasionally be exposed to confined spaces, electrical hazards, and hazardous chemicals. Appropriate PPE and safe work practices are required at all times.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related safety discipline. Equivalent combination of education and progressive safety experience will be considered.
Minimum 5–7 years of progressive EHS experience, with at least 2 years in a construction or field services environment.
Working knowledge of OSHA and applicable state/local regulations.
Demonstrated experience conducting incident investigations and root-cause analysis.
Proven ability to deliver safety training to field audiences.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and experience with EHS management software (e.g., Procore, SafetyCulture, Intelex, or similar).
Deep technical knowledge of construction and security safety, with particular strength in hazard recognition, exposure assessment, and incident investigation.
Strong jobsite credibility with trade workers, foremen, and superintendents; able to coach and influence without formal authority.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to produce clear investigation reports, audit findings, and training materials.
Strong analytical skills; able to interpret safety data, recognize trends, and recommend practical solutions.
Self-directed and able to manage multiple projects and priorities independently across geographically distributed sites.
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, field-based environment with frequent changes in priorities and conditions.
Willing and able to develop others.
High personal integrity, sound judgment, and the ability to raise safety concerns constructively at all levels of the organization.
Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, climb stairs and ladders, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
Regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel, and operate tools and equipment.
Must be able to ascend/descend ladders and scaffolds and work at heights with appropriate fall protection.
Must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds occasionally and up to 25 pounds frequently.
Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Must be able to wear required PPE, including hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, high-visibility clothing, steel-toed footwear, gloves, and respiratory protection as required.
Approximately 40–60% travel to project sites, regional offices, and client locations. Frequent day travel with occasional overnight travel.
Ability to meet company driving eligibility requirements, including holding a valid driver’s license and maintaining an acceptable motor vehicle record.

Nice To Haves

CSP (Certified Safety Professional) or CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist) certification.
One of the following professional certifications (or active pursuit of CSP with completed exam within 12 months of hire): ASP (Associate Safety Professional), CHST (Construction Health and Safety Technician), or OHST (Occupational Health and Safety Technician).
OSHA 30-Hour Construction certification preferred.
OSHA 500 Trainer (Construction) authorization.
Experience with NFPA standards (NFPA 13, 25, 70, 70E, 72, 101) and familiarity with fire protection installation and service activities.
First Aid, CPR, AED, and Bloodborne Pathogens instructor certifications (American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or equivalent).
Experience with behavior-based safety (BBS) programs and Human & Organizational Performance (HOP) principles.
Experience conducting industrial hygiene sampling (noise dosimetry, silica, air sampling).
Bilingual English/Spanish.

Responsibilities

Serve as the on-site safety resource for fire sprinkler, fire alarm, special hazards, security, and life safety installation projects.
Conduct jobsite audits, inspections, and safety observations; document findings and drive corrective actions to closure in partnership with project teams.
Review and provide technical input on Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), Site-Specific Safety Plans (SSSPs), and pre-task plans; verify execution in the field.
Provide hands-on technical guidance on high-risk activities including work at heights, scaffolding, aerial/scissor lifts, confined-space entry, hot work, electrical (NFPA 70E), lockout/tagout, rigging, and crane/hoisting operations.
Coach foremen, superintendents, and craft workers on hazard recognition, safe work practices, and effective safety conversations.
Coordinate with general contractor safety teams, clients, and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) to align on site-specific requirements and resolve field-level safety issues.
Lead or support incident investigations and root-cause analysis using structured methodologies (e.g., 5-Why, TapRooT, or similar); develop corrective and preventive actions.
Prepare thorough investigation reports and communicate findings to operations leadership and the Chief People Officer.
Maintain OSHA recordkeeping (300, 300A, 301 logs) and support accurate and timely reporting of recordable injuries, DART cases, and near-misses.
Analyze incident and observation data to identify trends and recommend prevention initiatives.
Deliver OSHA 10/30-Hour Construction training, new-hire safety orientation, toolbox talks, and specialized training on fall protection, silica, respiratory protection, first aid/CPR/AED, bloodborne pathogens, and NFPA 70E.
Maintain training records, verify certifications remain current, and identify gaps in field competency.
Mentor Safety Coordinator; serve as a technical resource for less-experienced staff across the organization.
Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of written EHS programs and procedures.
Apply working knowledge of OSHA, NFPA standards, and applicable state and local regulations to daily field decisions.
Support regulatory inspections, agency responses, and environmental reporting under the direction of the VP of Operations and Branch Leadership.
Coordinate safety committees at the regional and local level; contribute technical expertise and follow through on assigned action items.