The Director of HSE - Services provides strategic leadership and oversight for all health, safety, and environmental programs supporting Vortex Services field operations across multiple locations. This role is responsible for developing and advancing a proactive safety culture, ensuring regulatory compliance, reducing operational risk, and driving continuous improvement across the organization. The Director will partner closely with Operations, Project Management, Human Resources, Fleet, and other business leaders to integrate safety into all phases of project planning and execution.
Key Responsibilities- Provide leadership for all Vortex Services health, safety, and environmental programs supporting field operations across multiple locations.
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve company-wide HSE policies, procedures, standards, and best practices to ensure regulatory compliance and operational excellence.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, DOT, state, and local regulations, as well as applicable industry standards related to trench safety, confined space entry, traffic control, hazardous materials, and other operational risks.
- Lead and strengthen the Company's safety culture by promoting proactive hazard recognition, employee engagement, accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
- Oversee risk assessments, job hazard analyses (JHAs), pre-task planning, and other safety planning activities for complex and high-risk projects.
- Lead incident investigations, root cause analyses, corrective actions, and the communication of lessons learned to prevent recurrence.
- Monitor leading and lagging safety performance metrics and provide reports, insights, and recommendations to executive and operational leadership.
- Direct field safety audits, inspections, and compliance assessments across regional operations.
- Manage, mentor, and develop regional safety managers and field safety professionals while establishing consistent safety expectations and accountability company wide.
- Partner with Operations, Project Management, Human Resources, and Fleet teams to integrate safety into project planning, execution, employee practices, and operational decision-making.
- Support emergency response planning, crisis management, and business continuity initiatives.
- Develop and oversee safety training programs, including OSHA compliance, confined space entry, lockout/tagout, respiratory protection, fall protection, trenching and excavation, traffic control, hazardous materials, and other operational hazards.
- Manage contractor and subcontractor safety qualification, onboarding, monitoring, and performance evaluations.
- Oversee safety equipment procurement and capital investments that support employee protection and operational safety.
- Develop strategic initiatives that improve safety performance while supporting operational efficiency, project execution, and profitability.
- Stay current with emerging regulations, technologies, and industry best practices affecting underground utility rehabilitation, trenchless construction, and related field operations.
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health, Engineering, Industrial Hygiene, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive health, safety, and environmental experience, including experience supporting multi-site or geographically dispersed field operations.
- Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience managing and developing safety or HSE professionals.
- Experience supporting construction, industrial services, utility, infrastructure, transportation, or other high-risk field operations strongly preferred.
- Must possess a valid passport and a current/active Transportation Worker Identification Creditial (TWIC)
- Relevant professional certifications such as CSP, CIH, CHST, ASP, OHST, or equivalent are preferred.
- Ability and willingness to travel regularly to Vortex Services locations and project sites. Approximately 50% travel.
Skills & Competencies- Strong knowledge of OSHA, EPA, DOT, and applicable federal, state, and local HSE regulations.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and implement scalable safety and environmental programs across multiple locations and operations.
- Strong understanding of hazard recognition, risk assessment, incident investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective action methodologies.
- Proven ability to influence and build strong partnerships with frontline employees, operational leaders, and executive leadership.
- Strong leadership, coaching, and talent development capabilities.
- Ability to use safety data and performance metrics to identify trends, assess risk, and drive continuous improvement.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Strong business and operational acumen with the ability to balance employee safety, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and business objectives.
