Vice President - Safety

GreenWaste Recovery LLC•San Jose, CA

7h•Onsite

About The Position

GreenWaste is seeking to fill the position of Vice President, Safety to provide strategic support across multiple facilities. This role is responsible for leading and implementing a comprehensive safety program that ensures regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement. This position is expected to work out of our office at 2560 N. 1st St in San Jose and limited job-related travel will be required. A key focus of this position is fostering a culture of psychological safety, where employees feel empowered to speak up, report concerns, and engage in open dialogue. Responsibilities include the development and implementation of safety policies, procedures, and guidelines; ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations; monitoring and managing safety risks; overseeing risk controls; promoting safety principles and lifesaving rules throughout the organization; leading investigations and audits; and analyzing data to drive accident reduction and prevention.

Requirements

Ability to foster and maintain a culture of care that places safety as a top priority for all team members of the Company.
Ability to influence organizational culture and behavior. Ability to encourage and promote participation and buy in into safety protocols, policies, and best practices.
Ability to work well with other employees in a team environment and communicate effectively with different groups. Proven track record working with key stakeholders.
Understand and acknowledge operational needs, employee needs, and safety requirements.
Proven ability to research, handle and resolve complex assignments with good judgment, initiative and efficiency.
Ability to exercise judgment and discretion while coping with challenging situations and deadlines.
Proven track record meeting actionable requirements.
Understanding of change management, internal audit and risk management concepts.
Ability to synthesize complex information quickly.
Extensive knowledge of current company safety policies and applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and Cal-OSHA.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with specific ability to translate complex information systems and technology information into an organized and presentable manner.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Strong supervisory and leadership skills.
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
Proven skill in balancing critical safety issues with operational concerns.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Safety, Engineering, or related field.
Experience: A minimum of 8 years in Safety leadership within a production and distribution environment.
Transportation: Reliable transportation, current driver’s license, minimum liability insurance as required by state of vehicle registration.
Travel: Must be willing and able to travel regionally up to 60% of the time, including overnight travel as needed.
Location: This position is based at the corporate headquarters in San Jose, California. Candidates residing out of state must be willing to relocate.
Language Skill: Proficient in English (both verbally and in writing) is required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s preferred
Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Associate Safety Professional (ASP) is preferred.
Familiarity with Spanish is considered highly favorable.

Responsibilities

Lead Company-wide strategies for a comprehensive safety program focused on risk management and mitigation effectiveness.
Serve as a role model for empathetic leadership and inclusive communication, reinforcing safety as a shared responsibility across all levels.
Develop and implement safety audits and assessments; oversee tracking and analysis of safety data.
Establish and monitor safety-related metrics and key performance indicators. Establish guidelines and procedures governing collection and maintenance of employee training records, safety manuals, incident/accident reports and other documentation.
Provide leadership and support for training, consultants, contractors and personnel involved in safety compliance and accident prevention.
Identify high-priority job hazards and safety gaps; implement and monitor mitigation strategies.
Collaborate with senior management to develop, prepare and maintain safety policies and procedures.
Drive initiatives to reduce workplace injuries, accidents and health risks.
Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local safety and environmental regulations (e.g. OSHA, Cal-OSHA, EPA).
Oversee incident reporting procedures across all sites; ensure thorough documentation and investigations.
Prepare and present safety data reports; recommend corrective actions and performance improvement plans.
Conducts field reviews, audits, and provides recommendations for a safety-first approach.
Analyze accident and incident reports; implement changes to improve safety outcomes.
Review high risk indicators while identifying trends to aid in developing corrective programs.
Present findings, summaries, and suggestions to Board of Directors on a quarterly basis.
Responsible for embedding a proactive safety mindset across the organization, with a strong emphasis on psychological safety, employee trust, and inclusive practices. This role partners with senior leadership to ensure that safety is not only a compliance requirement but a core cultural value.
Regularly review safety practices and adapt based on feedback and data.
Stay informed on emerging trends (e.g., AI, work risks).
Build and lead a high-performing safety team committed to collaboration and continuous improvement.
Performs other related duties as assigned by executive leadership.