Vice President, Safety

Barry-Wehmiller•St. Louis, MO

About The Position

BW Design Group is a fully integrated architecture, engineering, construction, system integration, and consulting firm committed to helping our clients realize their most critical goals from Strategy to Commercialization. As the only firm born from a manufacturing technology company to become an independent and fully integrated firm, we combine deep domain expertise in the manufacturing environment with an approach that is built to serve the dynamic needs of our clients. Rooted in our distinct culture of Truly Human Leadership, we cultivate the leaders who will define tomorrow and partner with our clients in the food & beverage, life sciences, industrial, and advanced technology industries to build the future of manufacturing and technology. Barry-Wehmiller is a diversified global supplier of engineering consulting and manufacturing technology for the packaging, corrugating, sheeting and paper-converting industries. By blending people-centric leadership with disciplined operational strategies and purpose-driven growth, Barry-Wehmiller has become a $3 billion organization with nearly 12,000 team members united by a common belief: to use the power of business to build a better world. You will join one of our US offices, be part of a committed team of over 1500 professionals, and work in teams and directly with our clients doing work that is shaping the world around us. You will be welcomed into a rapidly growing business and team and empowered to make an impact. You will be valued, cared for, and challenged on your path to becoming a world-class professional consultant and surrounded by leaders who are committed to creating an environment that enables you to realize your own success and fulfillment. When you join Design Group as Vice President, Safety, you are joining a team that will challenge you and position you for growth. In this role, you will work with a team of industry experts to help the world's leading companies solve their most difficult problems. You will join our Construction Practice and partner with seasoned leaders, technical specialists, and subject matter experts to deliver the highest quality solutions to our clients with consistency and accuracy. The Vice President, Safety is a senior corporate leader responsible for establishing, leading, and continuously improving the safety and risk management program across the firm's national construction practice. This role provides strategic direction and hands-on leadership in the development, implementation, and advancement of safety programs, policies, and culture across all construction operations. The Vice President, Safety reports directly to the National Practice Leader of Construction and oversees a team of Regional Safety Managers.

Requirements

A minimum of 15 years of progressive safety leadership experience in construction or the EPC industry, with demonstrated experience overseeing safety programs across multiple regions and project locations
Positive and professional attitude, and strong customer service skills
Strong communication, teamwork orientation, initiative, problem-solving, and leadership skills
Proven ability to influence culture and lead teams across multiple locations and business units
A strategic thinker with the ability to build, scale, and continuously improve a national safety program within a growing organization
Comprehensive knowledge of OSHA, ANSI, NFPA, EPA, and other relevant safety and environmental regulations
Strong understanding of workers' compensation and claims management processes
Proficiency in safety management systems and technologies including Procore and ISNetworld (ISN)
A willingness to travel 50% for work
Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety & Health, Safety Management, Construction Management, or a related field

Nice To Haves

Experience managing trade partner/subcontractor safety programs and prequalification processes
Experience with industrial and manufacturing construction environments preferred
A strong background in developing and delivering safety training programs
Experience facilitating meetings and training events
Professional certifications such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), or Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) preferred

Responsibilities

Safety Culture & Leadership Lead the development, communication, and implementation of the firm's construction safety vision, objectives, strategies, policies, and procedures to achieve best-in-class safety performance
Champion a culture of safety ownership rooted in Truly Human Leadership, where every team member — from the field to the home office — understands and embraces their personal responsibility for safety
Provide proactive, visible leadership by maintaining a consistent field presence across active project sites to observe conditions, engage with teams, coach behaviors, and reinforce the firm's safety values
Mentor, train, and empower Regional Safety Managers, field teams, and project leadership to promote ownership of safety performance at all levels
Serve as a trusted advisor and partner to Regional Managing Partners, Construction Directors, Project Managers, and Superintendents in maintaining and improving safe operations
Inspire commitment to safety through communication, recognition, and hands-on mentorship across a growing national practice of construction professionals
Strategic Direction & Program Management Develop and execute a comprehensive, multi-year safety strategy aligned with the firm's mission, values, and growth objectives
Oversee all construction safety programs, training, and compliance efforts to meet or exceed OSHA, client, and construction industry standards
Direct the development and maintenance of safety plans to ensure each project maintains a compliant and effective safety plan
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce incidents, enhance leading indicator performance, and strengthen the firm's safety record as the practice scales
Coordinate with Human Resources and firm leadership to align training, claims management, and workers' compensation processes
Manage and support the firm's risk management and workers' compensation processes, including monitoring injury and insurance claims, coordinating with insurance carriers and brokers, and serving as an advocate for injured team members
Trade Partner & Client Relations Evaluate and prequalify trade partner safety programs, ensuring alignment with firm and client safety expectations
Manage trade partner safety compliance through established platforms including ISNetworld (ISN) and Procore
Collaborate with Project Managers and Regional Safety Managers to verify trade partner compliance and performance throughout project execution
Build and maintain positive relationships with clients, trade partners, and regulatory inspectors, promoting transparency and partnership in achieving safety goals
Serve as the primary liaison for all external safety and risk management agencies, including OSHA and other federal, state, and local authorities
Incident Prevention & Investigation Oversee incident investigations and ensure thorough root cause analysis and corrective action follow-up
Conduct and/or supervise hazard assessments, safety inspections, and data analysis to identify trends and develop preventive measures
Drive the use of leading safety indicators including safety observations, near-miss reporting, and proactive hazard identification to prevent incidents before they occur
Provide regular reports and recommendations to the National Practice Leader of Construction and senior leadership regarding safety performance, trends, and improvement opportunities
Track and report safety performance metrics, KPIs, and benchmarking data including TRIR, DART, and EMR
Training & Development Develop and deliver comprehensive safety training programs addressing all aspects of construction safety, including new hire orientations, OSHA compliance, hazard recognition, and emergency response
Ensure all construction team members and trade partner personnel receive appropriate and effective safety training
Maintain and update all training records and documentation per federal and state requirements
Recruit, develop, and retain Regional Safety Managers and safety professionals to support the growing national practice
Field Operations Support Integrate safety into preconstruction planning, logistics, and daily field execution across all project types
Support and empower field safety professionals with tools, training, and consistent guidance
Conduct regular field audits, jobsite visits, and safety program assessments across projects and regions
Lead and support Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) processes and ensure effective hazard identification and mitigation on all active projects
Collaboration & Communication Work collaboratively with business unit marketing teams to showcase the firm's safety culture, performance, and differentiators in pursuit and client-facing activities
Actively participate in business unit planning, pursuit opportunities, and preconstruction meetings
Partner with the Construction Leadership Council to align safety initiatives with broader practice strategy and governance
Manage communication with governmental, industry, and public entities on safety and health-related matters
Represent the firm professionally with clients, general contractors, regulators, and industry organizations, reinforcing the firm's reputation as a safety leader