The Director of Health & Safety is a forward‑looking, innovative, and agile leader responsible for shaping and advancing the organization’s long‑term safety vision. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Safety, this role drives safety excellence by steering strategic initiatives, maturing the Kenco Safety Management System (KSMS) and championing enterprise Centers of Excellence. This role is pivotal in tracking, interpreting, and advancing emerging safety principles and trends, including Human & Organizational Performance (HOP), serious injury and fatality (SIF) prevention, and evolving industry standards—positioning the organization as a leader in modern safety excellence. With strong strategic insight and a commitment to learning, the Director fosters a culture that promotes active engagement, operational learning, and system-driven risk reduction.

This role can be based from Dallas, TX or Chattanooga, TN.

· Provide strategic oversight of OSHA and other applicable federal, state, and local regulatory compliance programs to ensure consistent, enterprise-wide adherence.

· Partner with Legal, HR, Operations, and Risk Management to align regulatory compliance efforts with labor relations, claims management, and business objectives.

· Assist Vice President of Safety with regulatory investigation management (OSHA, EPA, FMCSA, State/Local Regulators) and direct timely response, corrective actions, and abatement plans resulting from regulatory findings, citations, or enforcement actions.

· Oversee regulatory inspections, audits, and investigations, serving as the backup corporate liaison with OSHA and other regulatory agencies as needed.

· Develop and lead the annual enterprise health and safety strategy aligned with organizational goals, priorities, and performance indicators.

· Partner with the Vice President of Safety to translate the annual safety strategy into multi‑year roadmaps, integrating safety strategy into corporate planning, capital planning, and operational decision-making.

· Assemble and direct cross-functional teams to drive annual safety objectives, ensuring alignment across Kenco’s COE, pillar partners, corporate departments, and internal and external stakeholders.

· Establish and govern enterprise safety key performance indicators (KPIs) and quantitative measurement tools to track performance, identify trends, evaluate effectiveness, and inform timely adjustments to safety strategy.

· Assist Vice President of Safety by supporting the development of the annual safety budget and financial reporting

· Lead new business inquiries and bids to include designing, estimating, funding, and installing safety systems to include staffing models, infrastructure, resources, and financial plans.

· Direct the Safety Centers of Excellence (CoEs) Safety Pillar to drive operational excellence through the standardization of best practices, methodologies, and enabling tools across the enterprise.

· Lead the development, deployment, and maintenance of OSHA-compliant safety management systems, including recordkeeping, reporting, and documentation processes.

· Interpret and translate regulatory requirements into clear policies, standards, and implementation guidance that support effective execution at the site and operational levels.

· Monitor enterprise SMS performance and maturity using audits, assessments, and data analytics within Kenco’s safety management software and integrated digital platforms.

· Bachelor’s degree in health, safety or related field preferred.

· Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or other relevant or comparable certifications.

· 10+ years of experience including 5+ years of experience in leadership roles (multisite environment preferred).

· Experience managing and comprehensive knowledge of OSHA and other regulatory agency regulation, including but not limited to 29 CFR 1910/1926, 49 CFR FMCSA Regulations

· Demonstrated experience in creating, developing, and implementing safety management systems. Knowledge of ISO-45001, ANSI Z:10 Occupational health and safety management systems

· Demonstrated knowledge of safety and health (EHS), and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices with an ability to provide guidance to leaders and employees through a consultative approach.

Competencies

· Strategic Agility - Gains perspective and balances the pressure between daily tasks and strategic actions that impact the long-term viability of the organization.

· Collaborative Leadership - Knows how to get things done through formal channels and the informal network while instilling a sense of purpose in others; sees connection to larger purposes.

· Communicate for Impact - Devoting the time and resources necessary to communicate the strategic vision, direction, priorities, and progress of the team for which you are responsible.

· Customer Relationship Building - Having an intimate knowledge of the customer's changing needs and the ability to produce rapid results in all areas.

· Financial Acumen - Maintains and applies a broad understanding of financial management principles to ensure decisions are fiscally sound, responsible, and are strategically aligned.

· Leading Change - Ability to develop and implement an organizational strategy and to incorporate it into the organization’s long-term goals. Foster a work environment that encourages creative thinking and the ability to maintain focus, intensity and persistence, even under adversity.

· Leading People - Ability to develop and implement strategies to maximize employee performance and foster employee engagement in meeting the organization's strategy.

· This position is expected to travel approximately 25% or less.

· A passport is not required but recommended.

Benefits offered:

• Medical insurance including HSA, HRA and FSA accounts

• Supplemental insurance including critical illness, hospital indemnity, accidental injury

• Dental Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Basic Life and Supplemental Life

• Short Term and Long Term Disability

• Paid Parental Leave

• 401(k)

• Paid Time Off approximately 2  weeks (accrual begins on Day 1 of employment)

• Employer Paid Holidays- 10 days

Kenco strives to provide a supportive, professional environment for all employees. As a part of Kenco, we expect our team to uphold our three key pillars: be honest, serve, and get better. Each should strive for operational excellence, pursue innovation, and want to grow with our company.