Safety Director

About Telex LLC

Telex LLC is a specialized electrical substation engineering and commissioning firm serving utility clients across the United States. Our core work spans relay protection design, substation commissioning, protection & control (P&C), NERC CIP compliance, and a DOL-registered Relay Technician Apprenticeship Program. We operate in high-voltage, high-consequence environments where safety is not a priority; it is the foundation.

Position Summary

The Safety Director is the most critical role in Telex LLC's safety infrastructure. This individual owns the design, implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of Telex's Safety & Health Program, spanning field operations at client substations, internal shop and office environments, and the company's apprenticeship program. The Safety Director operates with broad authority and direct accountability to senior leadership, ensuring that Telex's safety culture, regulatory compliance posture, and client audit readiness are second to none in the electrical utility services sector.

Key Responsibilities

Program Ownership & Administration

• Administer and continuously update Telex LLC's written Safety & Health Program in alignment with OSHA 29 CFR 1910, OSHA 1910.269, NFPA 70E, and IEEE C2 (NESC).
• Prepare and distribute monthly accident and near-miss reports; analyze trends and drive corrective action.
• Maintain OSHA 300/300-A/301 records, privacy case lists, and annual summaries; certify logs at year-end with the President.
• Develop, manage, and track annual safety budgets including training materials, PPE, inspections, and safety committee functions.
• Maintain a 5-year archive of all incident records, training certifications, hazard abatement documentation, and audit materials.
• Conduct, manage, and track Safety meetings and Safety Committee meetings.
• Own company safety performance metrics, including EMR, TRIR, and DART rates; coordinate workers' compensation claims and support insurance renewals and client prequalification reporting.
• Develop and administer the fleet and driver safety program, including motor vehicle record (MVR) reviews, vehicle inspection requirements, and driver safety training.
• Own environmental compliance for field and shop operations, including spill prevention and response, SF6 and oil-filled equipment handling, and hazardous materials management applicable to substation work.

Field Safety & Hazard Management

• Conduct and document periodic site inspections at client utility properties; issue corrective action reports and verify abatement within required timeframes.
• Lead the Monday Morning Walk-Down inspection program; review and track results logged by site leads.
• Perform pre-mobilization hazard assessments for new client sites, including arc flash review, PPE requirements, and OSHA 1910.269 host employer information exchanges.
• Enforce and champion Stop Work Authority (SWA) across all Telex crews and subcontractors; ensure no-retaliation culture is embedded at every level.
• Respond to serious incidents within 48 hours; lead investigations, document findings, and report to OSHA per 29 CFR 1904.39 (fatalities within 8 hours; hospitalizations/amputations/eye loss within 24 hours).
• Support Telex employees with HP and Safety supplies.

Training & Workforce Development

• Design and deliver safety training programs specific to substation commissioning and electrical utility work, including arc flash, LOTO, PPE selection, energized work permits, and OSHA 1910.269 requirements.
• Conduct new hire safety orientation; ensure all employees receive and acknowledge the Employee Safety Handbook.
• Coordinate and document weekly Tailgate Talks across all active field crews; ensure content reaches absent employees.
• Integrate safety curriculum into Telex's DOL-registered Relay Technician Apprenticeship Program in collaboration with the VP of Workforce Development.
• Brief supervisors on changes to OSHA standards and update company policy and procedures accordingly.

Contractor & Client Safety Coordination

• Verify that all subcontractors and trade contractors comply with their own safety programs and document any alleged violations.
• Advise vendors and suppliers of Telex safety and health requirements applicable to client job sites; enforce OSHA Act compliance in all purchase orders.
• Coordinate ISNetworld, RAVS, and other prequalification safety audits; maintain current certificates of compliance.
• Interface directly with client safety personnel on site-specific hazard assessments, permitting, and PPE requirements.

Leadership & Culture

• Report directly to the Vice President of Growth & Workforce Development; provide regular safety performance updates to the President and leadership team.
• Lead the Safety Committee (minimum 4 meetings per year); facilitate equal employee-employer representation and staggered membership terms.
• Champion Telex's core value of Life Over Everything in every program, decision, and conversation.
• Identify and address systemic safety culture gaps; recommend and implement recognition programs for safe behavior.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of progressive safety experience in electrical utility, substation construction, or high-voltage commissioning environments, including at least 2 years in a safety program ownership role.
• Deep working knowledge of OSHA 29 CFR 1910, OSHA 1910.269 (electric power generation, transmission, and distribution), NFPA 70E, and NESC (IEEE C2).
• Demonstrated experience managing safety programs for field crews at multi-site, multi-state operations.
• Experience with OSHA recordkeeping (300/300-A/301), incident investigation, and OSHA 1904.39 reporting.
• Proficiency in arc flash hazard analysis, PPE selection, energized electrical work permitting, and LOTO programs.
• Working knowledge of Human Performance Improvement (HPI) principles, including error precursors, pre-task briefs, and barrier analysis, with experience embedding HP tools in field operations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to present to executive leadership, clients, and field crews with equal effectiveness.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite; comfortable managing digital records, inspection logs, and training tracking systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• One or more of the following active certifications: CSP (Certified Safety Professional), CHST (Construction Health & Safety Technician), CUSP (Certified Utility Safety Professional).
• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety & Health, Environmental Health & Safety, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and field experience.
• Experience with ISNetworld / RAVS prequalification audits and contractor management platforms.
• Familiarity with NERC CIP compliance requirements in the context of field safety operations.
• Background as a journeyman electrician, relay technician, or utility field worker is a significant differentiator.
• OSHA 500/501 Authorized Outreach Trainer and/or First Aid/CPR Instructor certification.
• Experience supporting a DOL-registered apprenticeship program or workforce development function.

Working Conditions

• Frequent travel to active substation and electrical utility job sites across multiple states; up to 50% travel required.
• Field environments include energized electrical equipment, confined spaces, outdoor weather exposure, and elevated structures.
• Must be able to wear and properly use required PPE.
• Ability to perform physical inspections in variable environmental conditions.
• Able to meet client site access requirements, including a valid driver's license, background checks, drug screening, and NERC CIP-004 personnel risk assessment for unescorted substation access.

Telex Core Values

Candidates must be prepared to embody and model Telex's six core values in this role:

• Life Over Everything
• Serve the Field
• The Hard Truth
• Own the Results
• Precision by Design
• Relentless Improvement