The Opportunity

If you know what good field training looks like, understand the realities of working around heavy equipment, and enjoy helping people build confidence and competency, this is an opportunity to make an impact well beyond a single crew or location.

Townsend is seeking a Corporate Safety Training Specialist to help strengthen safety and operational training across our organization. In this highly field-focused role, you will work directly with employees and leaders to deliver practical training, evaluate operator competency, coach employees, and help ensure our teams have the skills and knowledge they need to work safely around heavy equipment.

This is not a role where you will spend your days behind a desk. You will be where the work happens - in the field, around the equipment, and alongside the employees who use it.

What You'll Own

• Deliver classroom, field, and hands-on safety and operational training for employees who operate or work around heavy equipment.
• Conduct practical field evaluations to assess operator knowledge, skills, and competency.
• Coach employees through skill gaps and provide retraining or additional practical instruction when needed.
• Train employees on equipment inspections, safe operation, operating limitations, work-zone setup, shutdown, and emergency procedures.
• Reinforce safe work practices and critical controls associated with high-energy hazards, including struck-by, caught-between, rollover, line-of-fire, overhead electrical, blind-spot, and stored-energy exposures.
• Support training involving equipment such as cranes, Sennebogen material handlers, bulldozers, skid steers, compact track loaders, loaders, excavators, forestry equipment, chippers, grinders, and other specialized equipment.
• Partner with Safety, Operations, Fleet, Training, and field leadership to identify training and competency-development needs.
• Help strengthen and standardize operator qualification and competency-verification practices across operating units.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of training programs, instructor materials, practical exercises, and competency assessments.
• Conduct field observations and provide coaching and technical guidance to equipment operators and supervisors.
• Support the introduction of new equipment, technologies, and operating practices through employee training.
• Incorporate lessons learned from field observations, incidents, near misses, equipment changes, and employee feedback into training activities.
• Support compliance with applicable OSHA requirements, ANSI Z133 standards, manufacturer instructions, company policies, and client requirements.
• Ensure required training and competency evaluations are properly documented.

What We're Looking For

You do not need to have operated every piece of equipment we use.

We are looking for someone who knows how to train, coach, evaluate, and communicate effectively in a field environment. Broad heavy-equipment experience is highly valued, but the ability to turn technical and safety requirements into practical instruction employees can understand and apply is equally important.

• Experience delivering instructor-led, hands-on, or technical training in a workplace environment.
• Strong facilitation, communication, presentation, and coaching skills.
• Ability to evaluate employee performance and provide clear, constructive feedback and corrective instruction.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees with varying levels of experience and technical knowledge.
• Ability to translate technical requirements, procedures, and safety expectations into practical field instruction.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with leaders and teams across the organization.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively and work flexible hours based on operational needs.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of a field-based training position.
• Must be at least 18 years of age and legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Must successfully complete required drug and alcohol screening.

Experience That Will Help You Stand Out

• Five (5) or more years of experience operating, training, supervising, or supporting heavy-equipment operations.
• Experience with cranes, Sennebogen material handlers, bulldozers, skid steers, loaders, excavators, forestry equipment, chippers, grinders, or similar equipment.
• Experience in utility vegetation management, arboriculture, forestry, land clearing, construction, or a related industry.
• Previous experience as a heavy-equipment trainer, evaluator, or qualified operator.
• Working knowledge of equipment inspections, operating limitations, manufacturer requirements, and high-energy hazards.
• Knowledge of OSHA requirements, ANSI Z133 standards, and applicable industry safety requirements.
• OSHA 30-Hour certification.
• Qualified or certified instructor credentials applicable to specific equipment types.
• ISA Certified Arborist, CTSP, or another relevant industry credential.
• Experience with adult-learning principles and competency-based training.

A Role Built for Someone Who Likes to Be in the Field

This is a field-based/remote position requiring approximately 75% travel to operating units and field locations throughout Townsend operations, including overnight travel.

Rather than supporting one location, you will have exposure to different crews, equipment, operating environments, and business units throughout the organization. If you enjoy variety, working directly with employees, and seeing the results of your training firsthand, this role provides that opportunity.

Occasional weekend travel and flexible hours - including early mornings, nights, and weekends - may be required based on operational needs. Storm response and recovery assignments may also require extended hours and out-of-town stays.

What We Offer

• $75,000 - $90,000 annual salary
• Weekly pay
• Paid Time Off & Health Benefits
• 401(k) + 4% match
• Boot allowance on qualifying purchases
• Growth and development opportunities within the company
• The opportunity to influence safety and employee development across a large, multi-state organization

Ready to Make an Impact?
If you are an experienced trainer who enjoys working with people, understands the realities of field operations, and wants the opportunity to help employees become safer and more confident operators, we want to hear from you.

Bring your experience to Townsend and help us build stronger operators, safer crews, and better training across our organization.

Pay Range: $75,000 - $90,000 per year