Sr. Safety Manager, EPC

Copia Power • Phoenix, AZ

32d

About The Position

Copia is seeking a EPC Sr. Safety Manager to provide key support and execute on a multi-gigawatt pipeline of projects under pre-construction planning or in construction. This role requires experience in the Energy Industry, with a plus for focus on utility-scale photovoltaic, battery energy storage systems, or gas generators.

The EPC Sr. Safety Manager will report directly to the Director, Project Management, working closely with Copia’s asset management, energy markets, legal, and finance teams in an individual contributor capacity.

Requirements

• Safety culture, leadership, and expectation-setting
• EPC governance and assurance
• Influencing and partnering without authority
• Executive and field-level communication
• Risk anticipation and systemic thinking
• Learning-focused incident review
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written correspondence.
• Highly driven with problem-solving abilities, integrity, and strong work ethic.
• Proactive mindset with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to work effectively within a rapidly changing organization.
• Demonstrated collaborative partnerships with peers, management, and vendors.
• Resourcefulness and polite persistence.
• 10+ years professional experience specifically in safety. Preferably in the renewable energy industry
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• CSP, CHST, ASP, or similar professional certification.
• Experience with lithium-ion battery energy storage systems.
• Prior owner’s representative or developer experience.
• Familiarity with ISO 45001, contractor assurance models, or safety culture maturity frameworks.
• Proven experience with Microsoft Office, including advanced proficiency in PowerPoint & Excel
• Experience with project management software
• Ability to work on-site in Phoenix, Arizona, and travel to other sites as needed.
• Ability to travel up to 25%
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Director of Project Management, overall responsibility to support EPC team with EPC contract negotiations, execution and compliance relating to safety scope of work ensuring broad collaborative communication is consistent to all necessary stakeholders.
• Define and champion the Owner’s safety vision, values, and cultural expectations across all EPC-managed projects.
• Act as a visible, credible safety leader who engages project teams, EPC leadership, and field personnel to reinforce positive safety behaviors.
• Promote psychological safety and “stop work authority” across all sites, ensuring concerns are raised and addressed without fear of retaliation.
• Set expectations for safety leadership behaviors from project managers, superintendents, and EPC leadership teams.
• Establish owner safety requirements, standards, and expectations for EPCs and subcontractors.
• Review, approve, and verify EPC safety programs, site-specific safety plans, and high-risk work plans.
• Conduct site visits, audits, and leadership walkdowns to assess: o Cultural alignment and engagement o Effectiveness of EPC safety leadership o Quality of hazard identification and control
• Provide clear feedback and expectations to EPCs, escalating concerns when necessary.
• Provide safety oversight during construction, commissioning, and transition to operations.
• Participate in key planning milestones, including constructability reviews, energization readiness, and commissioning planning.
• Oversee safety considerations related to: o Medium- and high-voltage electrical systems o Energization and commissioning activities o BESS installation, testing, and emergency response preparedness o Crane operations and critical lifts
• Ensure effective handover of safety documentation and risk controls from EPCs to operations teams.
• Use Procore to be available to respond to Contractual RFIs.
• Support EPC selection and prequalification by evaluating safety culture, leadership capability, and performance history.
• Define and track owner-level safety KPIs, including leading indicators such as engagement, observations, and near-miss reporting.
• Review EPC incident investigations to ensure root causes are identified and systemic improvements are implemented.
• Lead or support serious incident reviews as the owner’s representative.
• Verify EPC compliance with OSHA, NFPA (70E, 855), NEC, EPA, and applicable state and local regulations.
• Interface with regulators, utilities, insurers, and AHJs as the owner’s safety representative when required.
• Identify cross-project trends and systemic risks, driving corrective actions at the portfolio level.
• Support insurance, legal, and risk management functions as needed.
• Develop owner-led safety orientations and leadership expectations for EPC partners.
• Facilitate safety leadership workshops, lessons-learned sessions, and cross-project learning.
• Coach internal project managers and asset teams on effective safety leadership and contractor engagement.
• Recognize and reinforce positive safety behaviors demonstrated by EPC partners.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage with no premiums
• Company contribution to 401(k) plans
• Annual bonus eligibility
• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid company holidays
• Wellness and cell phone credits
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) for community and support
• Opportunities for professional development to grow and thrive within the company

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees