Director of Health, Safety & Environmental
Sanders Brothers Construction Company | Charleston, South Carolina

About Sanders Brothers Construction

For over 60 years, Sanders Brothers Construction has been building a foundation of trust for our clients, communities, and employees. Our work spans the Lowcountry — from leading growth in the rapidly expanding Summerville corridor to preserving the character of historic downtown Charleston. With approximately 350 employees across multiple departments including sitework, asphalt, utilities, and soil stabilization, we are a full-service heavy civil contractor delivering on our promises from start to finish.

Integrity. Accountability. Commitment. Teamwork. Safety. Quality.
Every person on our team plays a vital role in building projects that leave a lasting mark on our community.

Position Overview
Sanders Brothers Construction is seeking a Director of Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) to lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of our safety and environmental programs across all departments. This is a critical leadership role within our Safety department— built for a credible, experienced safety professional who understands the demands of heavy civil construction and is committed to protecting our people every single day.
This role carries company-wide accountability for OSHA compliance, environmental regulatory adherence, safety training, audit programs, and a culture that treats safety as a core value — not a checkbox. The Director of HSE reports directly to the Vice President of Safety and Support Services and serves as the functional safety authority for the entire organization.

Core Purpose
To protect the lives and wellbeing of every Sanders Brothers employee by leading a safety and environmental program that sets the standard in heavy civil construction — one that is rigorous, practical, and deeply embedded in how we work every day.

Key Responsibilities

Safety Program Leadership

• Own the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the company's Health, Safety & Environmental programs, policies, and procedures
• Ensure every employee — field and office — understands their safety responsibilities and is fully equipped to meet them
• Translate complex regulatory requirements (OSHA, DHEC/EPA, DOT, DOL, DSE, waste management, industrial hygiene) into clear, practical guidance for our workforce
• Stay current on evolving safety legislation, regulatory standards, and best practices in heavy civil and asphalt manufacturing — and communicate changes proactively across the organization
• Develop and enforce a corporate safety training policy tailored to the full scope of Sanders Brothers' construction and manufacturing operations

Compliance & Regulatory Management

• Serve as the primary point of expertise for all federal, state, and local safety and environmental regulatory requirements
• Ensure company-wide compliance with OSHA, DHEC/EPA, DOT, DOL, and all applicable standards — maintaining accurate records, certifications, and documentation
• Monitor the regulatory landscape for new or amended standards that affect our operations; lead the company's response and implementation
• Coordinate with operational leadership to ensure field practices align with compliance requirements at all times
• Partner with Human Resources to manage workers’ compensation claims and monitor them through resolution
• Coordinate with Human Resources and our Field Supervisors to manage our return-to-work program

Audits, Inspections & Risk Management

• Plan and execute regular HSE audits across all job sites, plants, and facilities — ensuring frequency, quality, and follow-through on corrective actions
• Monitor, survey, and document major and minor HSE findings; ensure risk assessments are completed to standard and corrective actions are tracked to resolution
• Lead incident investigation processes — root cause analysis, corrective actions, and lessons learned — for all significant safety events
• Conduct subcontractor safety audits; submit written reports and hold subcontractors accountable to the same standards expected of Sanders Brothers crews

Training & Workforce Development

• Develop and deliver safety training programs for field crews, supervisors, and office staff — including OSHA-required training, new hire orientation, and role-specific instruction
• Serve as an OSHA 500-certified instructor, leading construction safety training internally and building internal instructor capacity over time
• Partner with the VP of Organizational Strategy & Development to integrate safety training into broader workforce development programs
• Track training completion and effectiveness across the organization; identify gaps and address them proactively

Culture & Field Leadership Integration

• Embed a culture of safety accountability at every level — from crew to executive — through consistent communication, visible leadership, and genuine engagement in the field
• Build strong working relationships with department leaders, superintendents, and foremen to ensure safety is integrated into daily operations — not imposed from the outside
• Serve as a trusted resource and subject matter expert for operational leaders navigating safety challenges in the field
• Champion a culture where employees are empowered to stop unsafe work and speak up without hesitation

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain accurate HSE metrics; provide regular reporting to the VP of Safety and Support Services and executive leadership
• Benchmark Sanders Brothers' safety performance against industry standards and identify areas for improvement
• Lead the company's efforts to maintain and improve safety certifications, prequalification, and client-required safety programs

Leadership Expectations

• Be present in the field — safety culture is built on the job site, not behind a desk
• Lead with credibility and conviction — people follow safety leaders who know the work and care about the people doing it
• Hold the standard firmly and fairly — without creating an adversarial dynamic
• Build relationships across every level of the organization; your effectiveness depends on trust
• Communicate clearly — in writing, in training rooms, and in the field

Department: Safety and Support Services

Reports To: Vice President of Safety and Support Services — Al Trevino

Qualifications

• Master's degree with emphasis in occupational safety, health, or environmental management and 5+ years of construction safety experience; OR Bachelor's degree in a related field and 8+ years of progressive construction safety experience
• OSHA 500 Construction Safety Training Instructor Certification — required
• CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist) or CSP (Certified Safety Professional) — strongly preferred
• Minimum 3 years of safety management or supervisory experience
• Deep, working knowledge of OSHA construction standards, DHEC/EPA environmental regulations, DOT, and related compliance frameworks
• Professional society involvement (ASSP, ACSA, or equivalent) — required
• Proven track record managing safety programs across multiple active job sites simultaneously
• Strong written and verbal communication skills — able to write clear reports, deliver effective training, and speak credibly with crews, clients, and regulators
• Heavy civil or asphalt construction experience strongly preferred
• Familiarity with Vista by Viewpoint or similar construction ERP a plus

Why This Role Matters
At Sanders Brothers, safety is not a compliance function — it is a core value and a leadership commitment. Every one of our 350 employees deserves to go home safe, every single day. As our operations continue to grow and our workforce expands, the complexity of keeping our people safe grows with it. The Director of Health, Safety & Environmental provides the expertise, structure, and relentless follow-through that our safety programs require — and the field presence and relationships that make those programs work in practice.
This is a role that protects lives. The person in this seat carries that responsibility seriously — and earns the trust of every crew member who relies on them to do so.

Sanders Brothers Construction, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. “EEO is the Law” www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm




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