Director of Safety and Training
2 days ago
Rochester
Do You Have What it Takes to Be Benike Built? At Benike Construction, we’re not looking for a star player, we’re looking for a captain and a coach. Someone who leads from the front, earns trust in the field, and raises the level of everyone around them. This role requires a mindset focused on developing people, strengthening teamwork, and doing what’s necessary (even when it’s uncomfortable) for the betterment of the team. The right person will lead by example, build a culture where safety and performance go hand in hand, and help our teammates reach their full potential. You will help define what it means to Be Benike Built. Position Summary The Director of Safety & Training is responsible for leading, managing, and continuously improving Benike Construction’s safety culture and performance while elevating field training and development across the organization. This role combines strategic oversight with hands-on field engagement to protect our people, strengthen how we build, and embed safety into every phase of construction operations. This position is primarily suited for a safety professional with strong field instincts. We are looking for someone who is thinking bigger than compliance, and will influence behavior, build trust, and drive toward a world-class safety culture. Key Responsibilities Safety Leadership & Culture • Lead the development and continuous improvement of company-wide safety programs, policies, and procedures, • Ensure compliance with OSHA and applicable regulations while driving a proactive, prevention-focused approach, • Champion Benike’s safety culture initiatives, including:, • “Benike Bucks” program recognizing positive behaviors and above-and-beyond actions, • Benike Boot Program tied to team-based safety performance, • “Zero Today” mindset across all teams, • Weekly raffle programs reinforcing PPE compliance, • Lead Benike’s Safety Committee to build shared ownership for safety across every team and jobsite, • Establish clear expectations and accountability for safety performance across all job sites, • Treat mental health safety with the same rigor as physical safety by promoting psychological well-being, early support, and a culture where teammates speak up when they need help, • Lead incident investigations with a focus on learning, root cause, and continuous improvement Field Engagement & Coaching • Maintain a consistent and visible presence on job sites (targeting ~60–70% of time based on project demands), • Build trust with superintendents, foremen, and crews through hands-on engagement and coaching, • Work directly with field leaders to plan and implement jobsite-specific safety strategies for high-risk activities, • Reinforce strong pre-task planning, hazard recognition, and safe work execution, • Support and drive adoption of effective pre-task planning practices as a core operational discipline among field teams, • Treat mental health safety with the same rigor as physical safety by promoting psychological well-being, early support, and a culture where teammates speak up when they need help, • Serve as a partner and coach for field teams, supporting productivity while improving safety outcomes, • Participate in project handoff meetings and support teams during planning and execution Training & Workforce Development • Own the organization, tracking, and continuous improvement of all field and safety-related training, • Lead, elevate, and customize weekly toolbox talk program to ensure relevance, engagement, and value (we’re not looking for the photocopied generic toolbox talks from the 90’s), • Deliver safety-specific and job/task-related training as needed on job sites, • Identify training needs and coordinate resources to support field development across roles, • Promote and encourage participation in training programs to strengthen workforce capability Systems, Compliance & Risk Management • Respond to injury situations by going to the jobsite, taking an active leadership role to help the injured teammate get the care they need (e.g., coordinate emergency response, consult telehealth, provide first aid within training, and/or transport to urgent care or the emergency room), • When an injury is work-related, support the teammate during medical discussions as appropriate and ensure the care provider understands Benike’s return-to-work and restricted-duty options to facilitate safe recovery and timely work reintegration, • Maintain OSHA logs, safety metrics, and customer prequalification platforms (ISN, Avetta), • Safety metrics are often sliced-and-diced in creative ways to convey safety statistics to our teammates in ways that resonate (i.e. injuries by day of week, time of day, by craft, tenure, by superintendent, by industry sector, etc.), • Enhance safety documentation, filing systems, and reporting processes while keeping them practical and field-focused, • Utilize Procore and other software systems to enhance safety data availability, sharing, and transparency, • Perform root cause analysis on incidents, near misses, and trends to identify systemic risks, • Leverage data and trends to anticipate where future risks may occur and support the development of predictive safety insights, • Support workers’ compensation processes, return-to-work programs, and insurance coordination, • Ensure all safety practices align with regulatory requirements and company standards, • Enforce Benike’s safety standards consistently, including stopping work and sending teammates home when unsafe behavior persists or immediate risk is present, • Develop a safety culture where peer-to-peer accountability enforces safety standards and compliance is not just driven the Safety Director., • Stay current on industry best practices, regulations, and emerging trends Operational Integration & Leadership • Serve as a key link between field operations and company leadership, • Provide field-driven insights to improve planning, scheduling, and execution, • Influence adoption of best practices through coaching, communication, and consistency, • Participate in operations team meetings to share safety-related updates, and contribute to the company-wide operations and personnel discussions., • Represent Benike Construction in industry groups and community safety initiatives, • Operate as a department leader, with the expectation to support and mentor future team members (e.g., intern or coordinator) as the function grows What Success Looks Like in Year One • Builds strong, trust-based relationships with field teams, superintendents, project managers, and leadership, • Establishes consistent safety expectations and accountability across all job sites, • Improves the quality, consistency, and engagement of toolbox talks and training programs, • Drives consistent adoption and meaningful use of pre-task planning across projects, • Reduces repeat incidents and near misses through improved hazard recognition and proactive intervention, • Identifies trends through root cause analysis and begins developing forward-looking safety insights, • Strengthens safety systems and processes while keeping them practical and aligned with field needs, • Is viewed by the field as a trusted partner who helps teams work safer and smarter without slowing them down Qualifications • 3–7+ years of construction safety experience, with field exposure strongly preferred, • Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations and construction safety practices, • Demonstrated ability to influence behavior and drive safety culture through field engagement, • Experience improving systems, processes, or programs in a construction or operational environment, • Ability to communicate effectively with field personnel, leadership, and external partners, • OSHA 30 required, • Set on a training path to obtain and maintain applicable certifications for:, • Mental Health First Aid / QPR, Fall Protection, Scaffold Competent Person, Excavation/Trenching Competent Person, Confined Space, LOTO, Reasonable Suspicion Training, First Aid/CPR/AED, STI Firestop Certification, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Site Manager, Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA), OSHA500, OSHA510, and HAZOPER40, • Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel to job sites Key Attributes for Success • Leadership mindset with a strong field presence, • High emotional intelligence and ability to build trust quickly, • Coach and mentor who develops others, • Willing to have difficult conversations when needed, • Courage to lead in a crisis, • Organized and disciplined in managing systems and follow-through, • Committed to continuous improvement and professional growth Our Mission: Proudly Serving our customers, communities, and families through quality construction. Our Core Values: Safety, Service, Quality, Integrity, Teamwork Benike Construction is an Equal Opportunity Employer.