Director of Safety

United Petroleum Transports

Job Description

Title: Director of Safety Date: May 21, 2026

Department: Safety Location: OKC Corporate Office

Reports To: VP, Safety and Compliance FLSA: Exempt

Purpose

Embrace, promote, and achieve the Vision, Values, and Mission of United Petroleum Transports (UPT). UPT is committed to the Guiding Principles of the Responsible Care initiative and maintaining the highest standards of safety, regulatory compliance, environmental stewardship, and operational excellence.

The Director of Safety is responsible for developing, implementing, and leading enterprise-wide safety strategies, policies, programs, and initiatives that support the safe transportation of petroleum products, chemicals, and dry bulk commodities. This position provides leadership and oversight for all safety-related activities across the organization, ensuring compliance with federal, state, local, and customer-specific regulations while fostering a proactive safety culture focused on accident prevention, risk reduction, and continuous improvement.

Essential Job Functions

Safety Leadership & Strategy

• Develop and execute the companys strategic safety vision, goals, and initiatives across all operating locations.
• Lead the organizations safety culture by promoting employee engagement, accountability, and continuous safety improvement.
• Establish annual safety objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), and performance measurement systems.
• Partner with executive leadership to align safety initiatives with overall business objectives.
• Provide regular safety performance updates and recommendations to executive leadership.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations including:

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR)

• Department of Transportation (DOT)

• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

• Responsible Care requirements

• State and local transportation regulations

• Monitor regulatory changes and implement operational modifications as required.

• Maintain company safety policies, procedures, and manuals to ensure regulatory compliance.

Accident Prevention & Risk Management

• Direct all accident investigation processes involving vehicle accidents, workplace injuries, spills, releases, cargo incidents, and near misses.
• Conduct root cause analyses and implement corrective action plans.
• Analyze safety trends, claims activity, CSA scores, violations, and incident data to identify risk areas and develop preventive measures.
• Lead enterprise-wide risk assessment programs and mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with insurance carriers, third-party administrators, and legal counsel regarding claims management and loss prevention initiatives.

Driver & Employee Safety Programs

• Oversee driver safety initiatives for fuel, chemical, and dry bulk transportation operations.

• Ensure effective implementation of:

• Defensive driving programs

• Smith System and safe driving principles

• Hazardous materials handling procedures

• Cargo securement programs

• Fatigue management initiatives

• Behavioral-based safety programs

• Develop recognition programs that reward safe performance and reinforce desired safety behaviors.

• Support recruiting and onboarding initiatives to ensure safety expectations are established from day one.

Training & Development

• Lead the development and delivery of company-wide safety training programs.
• Ensure all employees receive required regulatory, operational, and customer-specific training.
• Oversee Certified Driver Trainers (CDTs), safety trainers, and field safety personnel.
• Evaluate training effectiveness and continuously improve curriculum and delivery methods.
• Develop leadership safety training programs for supervisors, managers, and terminal leadership teams.

Field Operations Support

• Conduct regular terminal audits, facility inspections, ride-alongs, and field observations.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Driver Recruiting, Human Resources, and Terminal Management to address safety concerns and improve operational performance.
• Support new customer implementations, acquisitions, and expansion initiatives by evaluating safety risks and compliance requirements.
• Assist terminal leadership with safety-related employee coaching, counseling, and disciplinary actions.

Environmental & Emergency Response

• Oversee environmental compliance programs related to fuel, chemical, and dry bulk operations.
• Maintain spill prevention and response procedures.
• Coordinate emergency response planning and incident management activities.
• Serve as a member of the companys emergency response and crisis management team.
• Ensure appropriate reporting and documentation of environmental incidents.

Auditing & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and maintain comprehensive safety audit programs.
• Conduct internal audits and coordinate external regulatory audits.
• Ensure corrective actions are completed and verified.
• Utilize safety analytics and performance metrics to drive operational improvements.
• Benchmark industry best practices and implement innovative safety initiatives.

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide leadership, coaching, and development for safety personnel across the organization.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability standards.
• Foster collaboration between safety, operations, maintenance, and support departments.
• Develop succession planning and career development opportunities within the safety organization.

Supervisory Responsibilities

May directly supervise:

• Regional Safety Managers
• Safety Managers
• Safety Specialists
• Safety Coordinators
• Certified Driver Trainers (CDTs)
• Environmental, Health & Safety personnel
• Other safety and compliance staff as assigned

Responsible for hiring, training, coaching, performance management, and development of assigned team members.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Occupational Safety, Transportation, Business Administration, Environmental Science, Industrial Safety, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive safety leadership experience.
• Minimum of 5 years managing safety programs within the transportation, trucking, logistics, fuel, chemical, or hazardous materials industries.
• Strong knowledge of DOT, FMCSA, PHMSA, OSHA, EPA, and hazardous materials regulations.
• Experience managing multi-state operations and geographically dispersed workforces.
• Demonstrated success reducing accidents, injuries, claims, and regulatory violations.
• Experience leading safety investigations and root cause analysis initiatives.
• Proficient with safety management systems, ELD platforms, telematics, and transportation technologies.
• Strong analytical, communication, presentation, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
• Certified Director of Safety (CDS)
• Associate Safety Professional (ASP)
• Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)
• Certified Transportation Professional (CTP)
• Experience within petroleum transportation, chemical transportation, tank truck operations, or dry bulk transportation environments.
• Familiarity with Responsible Care principles and chemical industry safety programs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding of tanker transportation operations and associated safety risks.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex regulatory requirements.
• Exceptional leadership and influence skills.
• Strong conflict resolution and employee coaching abilities.
• Advanced analytical and reporting capabilities.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to lead organizational change and cultural transformation initiatives.
• Effective project management and prioritization skills.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time.
• Ability to visit terminals, maintenance facilities, customer locations, and accident scenes.
• Ability to climb ladders, access tanker trailers, and perform facility inspections.
• Ability to work in various outdoor weather conditions.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• DOT Preventable Accident Frequency Rate (PAFR)
• Vehicle accident severity and frequency
• OSHA Recordable Incident Rate
• CSA BASIC scores
• Driver injury frequency and severity
• Spill and environmental incident rates
• Regulatory audit results
• Training completion compliance
• Near-miss reporting participation
• Workers compensation claim frequency and cost
• Insurance claim trends and loss ratios
• Safety observation and audit completion rates

UPT Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

United Petroleum Transports is an Equal Opportunity Employer. UPT is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.