Position Summary: The Head of Occupational Health & Safety (OHS), Americas leads the Safety-First Strategy across the Americas region, driving a proactive safety culture and ensuring the prevention of workplace injuries, occupational illnesses, vehicle collisions, and serious incidents. This role provides strategic leadership and governance for Occupational Health & Safety through the development and implementation of standardized management systems, innovative risk reduction programs, and continuous improvement initiatives aligned with the DHL Safety First Framework. As the principal safety advisor to Regional Management and Country Leadership Teams, the role is accountable for overall regional OHS performance, for representing the Americas region on global safety forums, and for building a high-performing safety community across multiple countries and operating environments.
Duties and Responsibilities: Safety Strategy & Governance - Develop and implement the Americas OHS Strategy, aligned with DHL Group, Global Safety, and regional business objectives.
- Lead and continuously improve the regional Occupational Health & Safety Management System in line with the DHL Safety First Framework.
- Oversee safety governance, assurance, audits, and performance reporting across the region.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to Regional and Country Leadership Teams on safety strategy, risk management, and compliance.
Risk Management & Incident Prevention - Lead regional Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) prevention initiatives and ensure effective management of critical risks.
- Lead significant incident investigations and ensure organizational learning through effective corrective and preventive actions.
- Monitor safety performance through leading and lagging indicators and drive continuous improvement through data-driven decision making.
- Ensure compliance with applicable occupational health and safety regulations across all countries in the region and monitor regulatory changes for operational impact.
Safety Culture, Training & Wellbeing - Drive a strong Safety-First culture through leadership engagement, communication, coaching, and accountability.
- Develop and maintain regional OHS training, competency, and capability development programs.
• Support occupational health, wellbeing, fitness-for-work, and employee wellness initiatives across the region.
Innovation, Systems & Operational Integration - Driving digitalization and innovation through safety systems, technology, data analytics, and emerging risk management solutions.
- Ensure safety considerations are integrated into operational changes, facility design, equipment procurement, and automation initiatives.
- Maintain consistent safety standards, documentation, and reporting across countries, coordinating with Operations, Aviation, Legal, HR, and external partners.
Stakeholder Engagement & External Representation - Represent the Americas region on the Global Safety Steering Committee and contribute to global safety initiatives.
- Represent DHL Express with customers, regulators, industry bodies, and other external stakeholders on safety matters.
- Balance safety requirements with operational efficiency to support service quality and network performance.
Leadership & Capability Building - Lead, coach, and develop a geographically dispersed team of safety professionals, fostering a high-performing safety community across the Americas.
- Build organizational capability and succession by developing safety leaders and professionals across countries, championing employee wellbeing and professional development.
- Drive change and influence effectively within a matrixed, multi-country organizational structure, partnering with Operations, Aviation, Legal, HR, IT, and external stakeholders.
Minimum Qualifications: Education:
• Bachelor's degree required in Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, Risk Management, Industrial Hygiene, or a related discipline.
Experience:
- 10+ years of progressive Occupational Health & Safety leadership experience, including regional or multi-country responsibility.
- Proven experience leading and developing geographically dispersed teams of safety professionals.
- Experience within logistics, transportation, aviation, supply chain, manufacturing, or similarly complex operational environments.
- Demonstrated success implementing safety management systems and improving safety culture and performance.
- Experience leading serious incident investigations and driving corrective and preventive actions across an organization.
- Professional safety certification such as CSP, CMIOSH, CRSP, or equivalent required.
Skills:
- Safety Strategy & Management Systems (ISO 45001)
- Risk Management & SIF Prevention
- Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis
- Safety Governance, Assurance & Auditing
- Safety Data Analytics & Digital Solutions
- Executive Communication & Stakeholder Management
- Matrix & Cross-Cultural Leadership
Preferred Qualifications: Qualifications listed below, while not necessarily a requirement for this position in each circumstance, provide additional depth and value to the role.
- Master's degree preferred.
- Certified ISO 45001 Lead Auditor or Internal Auditor.
- Experience supporting aviation, air express, or hub and gateway operations.
- Spanish or Portuguese language capability a plus.
- Familiarity with enterprise safety management, reporting, and analytics platforms.
Other important information about this position: - Position is based at a DHL Express Americas location, with accountability spanning all countries in the region.
- Requires regular weekday availability, with responsiveness to serious incidents outside normal business hours in a 24/7 operating environment.
- Travel throughout the Americas and internationally as required (approximately 30-50%).
- Role requires presence in operational environments including facilities, ramp, and vehicle operations, where personal protective equipment may be required.
