Safety Manager | Owners Representative

Description

ABOUT US:

We are a nationally ranked, safety-focused, and talent-driven organization focused on delivering project management services through tailored delivery models. Our strength is our ability to match a delivery model to specific project needs, making the construction process feel easy.

Our foundation is built on our people, culture, and values. Our teammates come first. We support each other through successes and failures and respect each other's ideas and opinions. We are a people-first company. We know there is always a way to do it better, so we seek and nurture curious minds with a desire to solve problems and move forward by being creative and curious together. We celebrate each other's successes and acknowledge hard work because we know our people are the backbone of our success. #StrongerTogether!

Leading with safety is our No. 1 priority. We believe it is a fundamental human right to have a safe workplace, so we dedicate ourselves to creating safe environments for our people and everyone we do business with.

In addition to a positive atmosphere, a happy, healthy, and supportive work environment is especially important. Upon joining CSM Group, we will provide you with a robust onboarding program to expose you to broad aspects of the organization by meeting with operations, business leaders, and peers to better understand how we operate.

SUMMARY:

CSM Group is seeking an experienced Safety Manager to serve as the Owner's on-site safety representative for a multi-floor corporate office renovation within an occupied high-rise building in downtown Chicago.

This position will provide independent safety oversight of the General Contractor and its subcontractors throughout demolition, construction, fit-out, commissioning, and project closeout. The Safety Manager will maintain a strong daily field presence and work closely with CSM Group project leadership, the Owner's project team, General Contractor, property management, and other project stakeholders.

This is an Owner's Representative position. The General Contractor remains responsible for construction means and methods, supervision of its workforce and subcontractors, and implementation of its site-specific safety program. The Safety Manager will monitor performance, identify deficiencies, challenge unsafe conditions and behaviors, verify corrective actions, and escalate concerns when contractor performance does not meet project expectations.

The right candidate will be comfortable working in an active high-rise environment where construction activities must be carefully coordinated with building operations, occupants, property management requirements, and other contractors.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the Owner's primary field safety representative and provide day-to-day oversight of the General Contractor's safety performance.
• Maintain a consistent field presence across active construction areas and engage directly with GC supervision, subcontractor foremen, safety personnel, and workers.
• Review the GC's site-specific safety plan, JHAs/JSAs, pre-task plans, lift plans, fall-protection plans, emergency procedures, and documentation associated with high-risk activities.
• Verify that planned safety controls are actually being implemented in the field.
• Conduct routine inspections and safety observations. Document deficiencies, communicate concerns to GC leadership, establish corrective-action expectations, and verify closure.
• Monitor demolition and interior construction activities with particular attention to work at heights, fall protection, floor openings, scaffolds, ladders, aerial lifts, temporary electrical systems, hot work, overhead work, dropped-object prevention, material handling, lifting and rigging, and other high-risk activities.
• Monitor construction logistics that could affect building occupants, other tenants, property management, or the public, including pedestrian separation, temporary barriers, loading and unloading, material deliveries, vertical transportation, debris removal, emergency access, and means of egress.
• Monitor housekeeping, material storage, access routes, temporary protection, and separation between active construction and occupied areas.
• Coordinate with the project team, GC, and property management regarding planned activities that could affect building operations or require additional safety controls.
• Participate in daily coordination meetings, safety meetings, preconstruction meetings, pre-task discussions, and planning sessions for high-risk work.
• Look ahead at upcoming construction activities and identify safety concerns before the work begins rather than relying solely on field observations after work is underway.
• Maintain an Owner-level safety observation and corrective-action log with clear responsibility, due dates, status, and closure documentation.
• Track recurring observations and contractor performance trends. Escalate repeated deficiencies or concerns that indicate a larger breakdown in the GC's safety program.
• Immediately communicate imminent-danger conditions, significant incidents, serious hazards, or repeated noncompliance to CSM and Owner project leadership.
• Exercise Owner-authorized stop-work/escalation authority when an imminent-danger or serious unsafe condition is observed, consistent with project requirements and established authority.
• Participate in incident and near-miss reviews and verify that the GC completes appropriate investigation, root-cause analysis, corrective action, and communication.
• Review contractor safety metrics, observations, incidents, near misses, corrective actions, and leading indicators and provide regular reporting to project leadership.
• Maintain professional, objective documentation of observations, discussions, corrective actions, and unresolved concerns.

OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE ROLE:

This position provides safety oversight on behalf of the Owner and does not replace the General Contractor's safety organization or responsibility for its employees and subcontractors.

The Safety Manager is expected to hold the GC accountable for its safety program while maintaining a productive working relationship with GC leadership.

This requires someone who can recognize a concern, address it directly and professionally, verify that it has been corrected, and escalate the issue when necessary.

The position is not intended to simply document observations. The expectation is to actively influence contractor safety performance through field presence, accountability, follow-through, and early identification of risk.

PROJECT ENVIRONMENT:

The project involves the renovation of multiple floors within an occupied high-rise environment. Candidates should be comfortable working around:

• Selective demolition and interior build-out
• Multiple subcontractors working simultaneously
• Work at heights and fall exposures
• Floor and wall openings
• Scaffolds, ladders, and aerial lifts
• Overhead work and dropped-object exposure
• Hot work and temporary electrical systems
• Material movement through an active high-rise
• Elevators and vertical transportation
• Loading and unloading activities
• Debris handling and removal
• Temporary partitions and construction barriers
• Occupied-building interfaces
• Emergency access and means of egress
• Property management requirements
• Work occurring outside normal business hours when required

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• 5-10 years of construction safety experience.
• Previous experience with high-rise construction, commercial interiors, occupied-building renovation, or other complex construction environments strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing General Contractors and subcontractors from an Owner, Construction Manager, or Owner's Representative perspective preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA construction standards and accepted construction safety practices.
• OSHA 30 required.
• STSC, CHST, CSP, or equivalent safety certification preferred.
• Current CPR, AED, and First Aid certification.
• Strong knowledge of fall protection, scaffolding, aerial lifts, hot work, temporary electrical, demolition, material handling, and other high-risk construction activities.
• Ability to review construction drawings, logistics plans, project schedules, safety plans, and JHAs/JSAs.
• Procore or comparable construction management software experience preferred.
• Strong written documentation and reporting skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with craft workers, subcontractor supervision, GC leadership, property management, Owner representatives, and project leadership.
• Must be comfortable addressing unsafe conditions and contractor noncompliance directly and professionally.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining close communication with project leadership.
• Ability to support occasional off-hours or weekend work based on construction activities.

Spanish-speaking ability is preferred but not required.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

This role requires more than someone who can perform inspections and complete safety reports.

We need a Safety Manager who is comfortable being in the field, understands how construction is actually performed, anticipates risk, and knows when to challenge a contractor.

The successful candidate should be able to build a productive relationship with the GC while maintaining the independence necessary to represent the Owner's interests. They must be willing to address difficult issues, follow corrective actions through completion, recognize patterns in contractor performance, and escalate concerns when necessary.

The goal is straightforward: provide the Owner with an experienced set of eyes in the field and drive consistent safety performance throughout the project without assuming the General Contractor's responsibility for construction means, methods, supervision, or execution of its safety program.

Client and specific project location will be disclosed to qualified candidates at the appropriate stage of the interview process.

COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS:

• Action Oriented 
• • You readily take action on challenges without unnecessary planning.
  • You identify and seize new opportunities.
  • You display a can-do attitude in good and bad times.
  • You step up to handle tough issues.
• Collaborates 
• • You work cooperatively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives.
  • You represent your own interests while being fair to others and their areas.
  • You credit others for their contributions and accomplishments.
  • You partner with others to get work done.
  • You gain trust and support of others.
• Communicates Effectively 
• • You are effective in avariety of communication settings: 1:1, small and large groups, or among diverse styles and position levels.
  • You attentively listen to others.
    You adjust to fit the audience and the message.
  • You provide timely and helpful information to others across the project team and organization.
  • You encourage the open expression of diverse ideas and opinions.
• Interpersonal Savvy 
• • You relate comfortably with people across levels, functions, and cultures.
  • You act with diplomacy and tact.
  • You build rapport in an open, friendly, and accepting way.
  • You build constructive relationships with people both similar to and different than you.
  • You pick up on interpersonal and group dynamics.
  • You can diffuse even high-tension situations comfortably.
• Situational Adaptability 
• • You pick up on situational cues and adjustin the moment.
  • You readily adapt personal, interpersonal, and leadership behavior.
  • You understand that different situations may call for different approaches.
  • You can act differently depending on the circumstances.

BENEFITS FOR THIS POSITION INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:  

• Medical, Dental & Vision Package
• • Eligibility begins on the date of hire
  • Telemedicine included in benefit package at no additional charge to employee
  • Company provided annual HSA contributions
  • Dependent care FSA, Medical FSA, Limited care FSA
• Paid Time Off
• • 15 days' pay a year
  • Regularly scheduled, full-time employees begin accruing PTO from their start date of hire, with increases occurring after designated years of service. Employees can accrue a maximum of 1.5 times the annual accrual amount.
• Holiday Pay
  • Employees hired on or after July 1 will receive 1 Floating holiday that year.
• • 6 Paid U.S. Holidays
  • 2 Paid Floating Holidays
• Retirement Savings Plan 401(k)
• Employees have the option to contribute to Traditional and/or Roth 401(k) plans.
• Company 401(k) Matching Contributions
• Individual & group learning sessions on portfolio planning
• 100% vesting after 3 years of service
• Bi-weekly cell phone stipend
• Employer Paid Enhanced Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
•  Including but not limited to: Emotional well-being, family and relationships, legal and financial matters, healthy lifestyles, work and life transitions
• Access to EAP professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• 3 face-to-face sessions with a counselor (per area of support per household per calendar year)
• Service includes eligible dependents
• Personal, competency-based development program to assist in future career growth
• Wellness Program
• Paid Parental Leave Policy: Maternal, Paternal & Adoption
• Company Paid Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Optional Term Life and AD&D Insurance
• Annual apparel allotment
• Corporate and Community Events

Physical Demands & Work Environment – Jobsite 

The physical demands & work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Please reach out to People Operations should you require such accommodation(s).While performing this job, the employee may be regularly required to drive to and from the jobsites/assigned locations, sit, walk, stand, talk, hear, and smell. A major portion of the employees’ tasks require extensive walking around the jobsite, including active construction areas. The employee is required to traverse uneven terrain and work from ladders, scaffolds, and other structures, as well as work at variable heights. The employee is frequently required to use hands to handle tools, controls, and for fine motor coordination like computer work. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl. The employee must also occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.For Field positions, while performing this job, the employee must frequently inspect the project site and may be exposed to ongoing construction activities, vibrations, noise, and various outside weather conditions (in all seasons). Work environment involves moderate risks which may require safety precautions. The noise level in the work environment may range from quiet to loud.  The proper use of Personnel Protective Equipment (including but not limited to safety boots, hardhat, and protective eyewear) is required on the jobsite. This Position Description reflects the position’s essential functions and does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.CSM Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). We celebrate diversity and invite all qualified applicants to apply without fear of judgement and pledge to not discriminate against individuals because of their race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender or gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, veteran status, age, or any other status protected under applicable laws.