Safety Specialist (Constrcution)

Company Overview

Hillwood Construction Services provides general contracting and construction management services in the United States. The company began in December 2000 as an industrial general contractor focusing on industrial warehouse and distribution facilities. Over the years, Hillwood Construction Services has diversified and expanded into many project types, from corporate headquarters to hangars, churches, Class-A office developments, hotels and tenant interiors.

Position Summary

Hillwood Construction Services (HCS) is seeking to hire a Safety Engineer in our Turtle Creek Headquarters located in Dallas, Texas. This individual will help drive our commitment to world-class safety performance across our construction portfolio. This role is ideal for a safety professional who thrives in dynamic environments, values strong partnerships with project teams, and is passionate about elevating safety culture at every level of the organization.

As a key member of our Safety Department, you will support field operations, guide trade partners, and ensure compliance with all applicable safety regulations. You'll play a critical role in shaping safe work practices, developing training, and supporting continuous improvement across our projects.

Responsibilities

Safety Leadership & Program Development

• Assist in developing, implementing, and continuously improving companywide health and safety programs and policies.
• Support the creation and execution of site-specific safety plans, emergency action plans, and project safety logistics plans.
• Promote a proactive safety culture by reinforcing accountability, ownership, and safe work practices across all levels of the organization.
• Serve as a visible safety advocate on jobsites, reinforcing expectations and modeling safe behaviors.
• Research and apply construction safety best practices, emerging standards, and industry innovations to strengthen HCS programs.
• Support talent development initiatives by contributing to safety competency growth across project teams.

Field Operations & Jobsite Oversight

• Conduct and document Jobsite Safety Observations (JSOs), safety audits, and comprehensive safety inspections.
• Participate in pre-mobilization meetings, pre-activity planning sessions, and subcontractor kick-off meetings to identify risks and establish mitigation plans.
• Review and evaluate trade partner Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) to ensure safe execution of work.
• Monitor high-risk activities including crane operations, fall protection systems, confined space entry, excavation, and energized work.
• Collaborate with Superintendents and Project Managers to establish and maintain project-specific safety procedures.
• Serve as the full-time on-site safety professional on designated projects when required.
• Review subcontractor safety programs to ensure alignment with HCS standards and regulatory requirements.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Maintain current knowledge of federal, state, and local safety regulations, including OSHA standards and industry-specific requirements.
• Ensure full regulatory compliance across assigned projects through proactive monitoring and documentation.
• Assist in preparing and maintaining required safety documentation, reports, and logs.
• Support third-party inspections, regulatory audits, and owner-driven safety reviews.
• Identify trends in incident data and recommend corrective actions to reduce risk exposure.

Training, Education & Culture Building

• Develop, coordinate, and deliver engaging safety training programs for field teams and trade partners.
• Prepare and facilitate toolbox talks and safety stand-down initiatives.
• Provide coaching and on-the-job guidance to personnel at all levels, reinforcing expectations and correcting unsafe behaviors.
• Support new hire and subcontractor safety orientations.
• Assist in developing safety communication materials, alerts, and safety bulletins.
• Promote continuous learning through lessons learned and post-incident knowledge sharing.

Incident Response, Investigation & Prevention

• Lead or support investigations of accidents, near misses, and property damage incidents.
• Identify root causes and partner with operations to develop effective corrective and preventive action plans.
• Track incident trends and analyze data to proactively mitigate recurring risks.
• Prepare and communicate clear, professional incident reports and "lessons learned" summaries.
• Support return-to-work and injury management coordination efforts when applicable.

Continuous Improvement & Performance Metrics

• Support the collection and analysis of safety performance metrics, including leading and lagging indicators.
• Assist in developing action plans to achieve annual safety performance goals.
• Participate in internal safety committee meetings and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to benchmarking efforts and safety excellence recognition programs.
• Identify opportunities to enhance systems, tools, and digital safety platforms (e.g., Procore).

Required Skills and Abilities

• Ability to travel to job sites throughout North America (estimated 10%+ unless assigned full-time to a project).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and project management or safety software platforms.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate risks and implement practical, actionable solutions.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and build trust across diverse teams.
• Demonstrated ability to lead safety initiatives, mentor team members, and positively impact safety culture.
• Strong judgment, decision-making, and independent action in fast-paced and dynamic construction environments.
• Self-motivated, organized, and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Physical capability to navigate construction sites safely, including walking on uneven surfaces, climbing ladders, and lifting up to 50 pounds as needed.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Health & Safety, Construction Management, Risk Management, or related field preferred.
• Candidates actively pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Health & Safety or related fields will also be considered.
• 3-6 years of commercial or safety-related construction experience.
• 3-6 years of experience conducting construction jobsite safety inspections, audits, and monitoring high-risk work activities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of crane operations, heavy equipment safety, fall protection, and other high-risk construction activities.
• OSHA certifications (e.g., OSHA 30-hour) required; advanced certifications (e.g., OSHA 500/510, CHST, ASP, CSP) preferred.
• Experience with incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation.
• Familiarity with construction management platforms (e.g., Procore) and Microsoft Office Suite.

EEO Statement

Hillwood is committed to providing Equal Opportunity in Employment, to all applicants and employees regardless of, race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, military status, veteran status, handicap, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.