Director, Safety
AES Corporation, Dayton, OH, United States
**Fortune 500 company** that's leading the charge in the global energy revolution. With operations spanning **14 countries**, AES is committed to shaping a future through innovation and collaboration. Our dedication to innovation has earned us recognition as one of the **Top Ten Best Workplaces for Innovators** by Fast Company in 2022. And with our certification as a **Great Place to Work**, you can be confident that you're joining a company that values its people just as much as its groundbreaking ideas.AES is proudly **ranked #1 globally** in renewable energy sales to corporations, and with **$12.7B in revenues in 2023**, we have the resources and expertise to make a significant impact as we provide electricity to **25 million customers worldwide.** As the world moves towards a net-zero future, AES is committed to meeting the Paris Agreement's goals by 2050. Our innovative solutions, such as **24/7 carbon-free energy** for data centers, are setting the pace for rapid, global decarbonization.If you're ready to be part of a company that's not just adapting to change, but driving it, AES is the place for you. We're not just building a cleaner, more sustainable future - we're powering it. Apply now and energize your career with a true leader in the global energy transformation.**Job Title****Director, Safety – AES Indiana & AES Ohio****Location****Indianapolis, IN and/or Dayton, OH** with regular travel to operational sites across Indiana and Ohio. Hybrid/On-site presence expected based on business needs.**Reports To**COO, US Utilities**Position Summary**The Safety Director leads health & safety strategy and execution for AES Indiana and AES Ohio across **Generation, Transmission & Distribution (T&D), operational/field sites, and all Construction - including Growth projects and programmatic capital programs**. This leader is accountable for building and sustaining a strong safety culture, ensuring safety compliance, strengthening serious incident prevention, and improving health & safety performance through standardized systems, disciplined governance, and field-focused leadership.This role partners closely with Operations leaders, T&D, Generation, Program/Project teams, Central Operations, HR, Legal, Supply Chain, Finance, and the enterprise EHS Center of Expertise (CoE) to ensure AES’s safety management system is implemented consistently while enabling local execution excellence and risk reduction across both company and contractor workforces.**Scope*** Two regulated electric utilities with diverse operational risk profiles* Coverage includes:
+ Power generation facilities and associated operational sites
+ T&D field operations (line work, substations, vegetation, construction)
+ Fleet, warehouses, service centers, storm response operations
+ Contractor and vendor workforces supporting O&M and capital delivery* **All safety oversight for Construction across both utilities**, including:
+ **Growth projects** (ongoing and new generation as applicable, interconnections, substations, large load enablement, major reliability upgrades)
+ **Programmatic programs** (Smart Grid,
system hardening, reconductoring, substation upgrades, fleet/facilities projects)
+ **Major contractor mobilizations, EPC/GC-led work, and multi-site execution****Key Outcomes / Success Measures*** Sustained improvement in serious injury and fatality prevention performance (SIP) and critical risk control verification* Strong compliance performance with OSHA and state/local requirements (no significant findings; timely corrective actions)* Improved leading indicators: field observations, hazard reporting, corrective action closure, training completion, contractor compliance* High-quality investigations and learning dissemination with measurable recurrence reduction* Increased consistency of health & safety standards, tools, and routines across both utilities and across capital delivery portfolios**Key Responsibilities****1) Safety Leadership & Culture*** Lead a “safety-first” culture across Generation, T&D, and Construction, reinforcing visible field leadership and consistent expectations.* Coach operational and project leaders on safety leadership behaviors, accountability, and decision-making under risk.* Establish and sustain effective engagement routines: site visits, safety stand-downs, leadership briefings, and field verification of critical controls.**2) Serious Incident Prevention & Critical Risk Management*** Own and drive serious injury/fatality prevention strategy and execution, including critical risk control verification.* Ensure high-risk work is planned and executed with effective controls (energized work and switching, confined space, working at heights, lifting/rigging, excavation, traffic control, contractor work).* Strengthen permit-to-work and work authorization processes where applicable.**3) Safety Management System, Governance & Assurance*** Implement and continuously improve the safety management system locally in alignment with enterprise standards and the EHS CoE.* Lead audit/assessment programs, management reviews, and corrective action governance with strong follow-through and transparency.* Establish data-driven performance management (dashboards, trend analysis, leading/lagging indicator reviews).**4) Incident Reporting, Investigations & Learning*** Ensure timely reporting, classification, investigation, and closeout of incidents and near-misses.* Lead/oversee investigations for serious events using established methodologies; ensure high-quality root cause analysis and actionable corrective actions.* Translate lessons learned into updated procedures, training, and field communications across both utilities and the construction portfolio.**5) Construction Health & Safety Leadership (Growth Projects & Programmatic Programs)*** Own and lead health & safety governance for **all construction and capital delivery work** across AES Indiana and AES Ohio, including growth and programmatic portfolios.* Partner with Program Management, Engineering, T&D Construction, Generation project teams, Supply Chain, and contractors to embed
health & safety requirements into **project planning, design reviews, contracting, mobilization, and execution**.* Ensure consistent application of construction health & safety controls (pre-task planning/JHAs, permits, work zones/traffic control, lifting/rigging plans, energized work boundaries, excavation controls, subcontractor management).* Establish field verification routines for large projects/programs (site walks, audits, leading indicator reviews, stop-work reinforcement) and ensure corrective actions are closed with discipline.* Lead serious event readiness for projects: escalation protocols, incident response, investigation standards, and lessons-learned deployment across the portfolio.* Strengthen contractor qualification, onboarding, and performance management, including clear expectations, KPIs, and consequences for non-compliance.**6) Contractor Safety & Operational Risk Controls*** Build and enforce contractor health & safety requirements, including onboarding, qualification, field oversight, and performance management.* Include **construction contractors and project/program vendors** in the contractor governance model, with clear onboarding, field oversight, and performance routines.* Partner with Supply Chain and project leaders to embed health & safety requirements into contracting, mobilization, and project execution.* Drive consistent application of job hazard analysis (JHA), pre-job briefs, stop-work authority, and field verification across O&M and construction.**7) Training, Competency & Workforce Readiness*** Ensure health & safety training, competency frameworks, and qualification processes are in place for employees and contractors.* Partner with Operations, Construction leadership, and HR to strengthen onboarding, refresher #J-18808-Ljbffr
+ Power generation facilities and associated operational sites
+ T&D field operations (line work, substations, vegetation, construction)
+ Fleet, warehouses, service centers, storm response operations
+ Contractor and vendor workforces supporting O&M and capital delivery* **All safety oversight for Construction across both utilities**, including:
+ **Growth projects** (ongoing and new generation as applicable, interconnections, substations, large load enablement, major reliability upgrades)
+ **Programmatic programs** (Smart Grid,
system hardening, reconductoring, substation upgrades, fleet/facilities projects)
+ **Major contractor mobilizations, EPC/GC-led work, and multi-site execution****Key Outcomes / Success Measures*** Sustained improvement in serious injury and fatality prevention performance (SIP) and critical risk control verification* Strong compliance performance with OSHA and state/local requirements (no significant findings; timely corrective actions)* Improved leading indicators: field observations, hazard reporting, corrective action closure, training completion, contractor compliance* High-quality investigations and learning dissemination with measurable recurrence reduction* Increased consistency of health & safety standards, tools, and routines across both utilities and across capital delivery portfolios**Key Responsibilities****1) Safety Leadership & Culture*** Lead a “safety-first” culture across Generation, T&D, and Construction, reinforcing visible field leadership and consistent expectations.* Coach operational and project leaders on safety leadership behaviors, accountability, and decision-making under risk.* Establish and sustain effective engagement routines: site visits, safety stand-downs, leadership briefings, and field verification of critical controls.**2) Serious Incident Prevention & Critical Risk Management*** Own and drive serious injury/fatality prevention strategy and execution, including critical risk control verification.* Ensure high-risk work is planned and executed with effective controls (energized work and switching, confined space, working at heights, lifting/rigging, excavation, traffic control, contractor work).* Strengthen permit-to-work and work authorization processes where applicable.**3) Safety Management System, Governance & Assurance*** Implement and continuously improve the safety management system locally in alignment with enterprise standards and the EHS CoE.* Lead audit/assessment programs, management reviews, and corrective action governance with strong follow-through and transparency.* Establish data-driven performance management (dashboards, trend analysis, leading/lagging indicator reviews).**4) Incident Reporting, Investigations & Learning*** Ensure timely reporting, classification, investigation, and closeout of incidents and near-misses.* Lead/oversee investigations for serious events using established methodologies; ensure high-quality root cause analysis and actionable corrective actions.* Translate lessons learned into updated procedures, training, and field communications across both utilities and the construction portfolio.**5) Construction Health & Safety Leadership (Growth Projects & Programmatic Programs)*** Own and lead health & safety governance for **all construction and capital delivery work** across AES Indiana and AES Ohio, including growth and programmatic portfolios.* Partner with Program Management, Engineering, T&D Construction, Generation project teams, Supply Chain, and contractors to embed
health & safety requirements into **project planning, design reviews, contracting, mobilization, and execution**.* Ensure consistent application of construction health & safety controls (pre-task planning/JHAs, permits, work zones/traffic control, lifting/rigging plans, energized work boundaries, excavation controls, subcontractor management).* Establish field verification routines for large projects/programs (site walks, audits, leading indicator reviews, stop-work reinforcement) and ensure corrective actions are closed with discipline.* Lead serious event readiness for projects: escalation protocols, incident response, investigation standards, and lessons-learned deployment across the portfolio.* Strengthen contractor qualification, onboarding, and performance management, including clear expectations, KPIs, and consequences for non-compliance.**6) Contractor Safety & Operational Risk Controls*** Build and enforce contractor health & safety requirements, including onboarding, qualification, field oversight, and performance management.* Include **construction contractors and project/program vendors** in the contractor governance model, with clear onboarding, field oversight, and performance routines.* Partner with Supply Chain and project leaders to embed health & safety requirements into contracting, mobilization, and project execution.* Drive consistent application of job hazard analysis (JHA), pre-job briefs, stop-work authority, and field verification across O&M and construction.**7) Training, Competency & Workforce Readiness*** Ensure health & safety training, competency frameworks, and qualification processes are in place for employees and contractors.* Partner with Operations, Construction leadership, and HR to strengthen onboarding, refresher #J-18808-Ljbffr