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Site Safety Representative New US

Nscale Ltd., Charleston, WV, United States


About the Role
The EHS Site Representative (SSR) serves as the on-site client representative for EHS compliance on active data center construction projects. Embedded within the project team and reporting to the Assistant Director of Field Safety, the SSR is the primary safety authority on site — acting as the owner's representative to ensure that all construction activities are executed in strict conformance with applicable federal, state, and local safety regulations, project-specific EHS requirements, and the client's safety standards.

This is a highly visible, field-intensive role requiring sound technical judgment, strong communication skills, and the credibility to influence contractor and subcontractor behavior at all levels. The SSR is expected to build a safety-first culture on site, proactively identify and eliminate hazards before incidents occur, and serve as a trusted advisor to the project team on all EHS matters specific to the unique risks of hyperscale and enterprise data center construction. The candidate must be able to operate effectively in a dynamic, high-intensity environment while supporting the project team in achieving delivery milestones safely.

What You’ll Be Doing (Responsibilities)
Scope & Accountability

Serve as the primary on-site EHS client representative, maintaining continuous daily field presence throughout all active construction phases

Support the safe execution of high-risk construction activities through proactive hazard identification, risk mitigation, and field engagement

Promote a visible safety culture through coaching, accountability, and leadership by example at every level of the site workforce

Construction Safety Strategy

Support integration of the EHS D&C strategy across the assigned project site

Identify continuous improvement opportunities and communicate findings to the Assistant Director of Field Safety

Partner with the internal EHS team and project stakeholders to ensure strategy is communicated effectively at the site level

Collect site-level safety metrics and contribute to overall strategic reporting and development

Contractor & GC Oversight

Provide day-to-day oversight of General Contractor (GC) and subcontractor EHS performance to ensure compliance with company safety standards and contractual requirements

Verify that the GC maintains an effective site-specific safety management program including proper staffing, supervision, and hazard controls

Review and evaluate contractor safety plans, Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), Activity Hazard Analyses (AHAs), risk assessments, and pre-task plans

Ensure subcontractors adhere to established safety expectations and that the GC maintains appropriate accountability across all tiers of contractors

Conduct joint safety walks, program audits, and performance reviews with GC leadership on a routine basis

Issue written safety observations, notices of violation (NOVs), and corrective action requests (CARs) as required; track and verify resolution to closure

Escalate unacceptable risk or contractor performance that exceeds company tolerance to the Assistant Director of Field Safety without delay

Partner with the GC to ensure robust safety controls are in place for high-risk construction work specific to data center environments, including:
Energized electrical work — medium and high-voltage installation, testing, and commissioning

Arc flash risk and NFPA 70E compliance

Work at height and fall protection systems

Crane and rigging operations, lifting plans, and heavy equipment

Confined space entry

Critical environment contamination control in white space and raised floor areas

Generator and UPS installation — fuel handling and commissioning safety

Fire suppression system installation and pressurized system commissioning

Temporary power systems and construction electrical distribution

Assurance, Audits & Compliance

Conduct daily site safety inspections and document findings using the company's EHS inspection tools and forms

Ensure consistent application of OSHA 29 CFR 1926 and applicable Texas and West Virginia state regulatory requirements across all site activities

Execute data-driven corrective action plans; develop focused improvement plans for identified gaps and track to verified closure

Build and maintain a consistent field audit process; identify systemic gaps and escalate findings to the Assistant Director of Field Safety

Verify that all required permits are in place and properly executed prior to work commencement — including energized electrical, confined space entry, hot work, excavation, elevated work, and crane/rigging permits

Incident & Crisis Management

Respond immediately to all on-site incidents, injuries, near-misses, and property damage events — preserve the scene and collect evidence, photographs, and witness statements

Lead or support initial incident investigations; complete and submit reports to the Assistant Director of Field Safety within required timeframes — same day for serious incidents, 24 hours for all others

Ensure compliance with OSHA injury and illness recording and reporting requirements (29 CFR Part 1904), including fatality and severe injury notifications

Share lessons learned across the project team and contractor organizations to prevent recurrence

Participate in construction emergency response coordination and crisis management from a workforce safety perspective

Training & Culture

Coordinate or conduct site-specific EHS orientations for all new workers and visitors prior to first site entry

Deliver or facilitate toolbox talks, safety stand-downs, and topic-specific training as required by project conditions or following incidents

Champion a culture of accountability, learning, and risk awareness across all construction partners on site

Identify training gaps among contractor workforces and escalate recommendations to the Assistant Director of Field Safety

Decision Rights

Exercise full stop-work authority (SWA) for any construction activity presenting imminent danger or serious safety violation — must be exercised without hesitation and reported immediately

Influence construction sequencing, resourcing, and schedule decisions based on identified safety risk

About You (Skills / Qualifications)
Required Qualifications
We offer two qualification pathways — both are equally valued:

Pathway A — Degree Track

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field

3–5 years of field EHS experience in construction safety, with demonstrated experience on commercial, industrial, or data center construction projects

Pathway B — Military / Trade Experience Track

No degree required — candidates with a qualifying military or skilled trades background are strongly encouraged to apply

5–7 years combining military service (Safety NCO, Combat Engineer, or equivalent MOS), skilled trade background (Electrician, Ironworker, Pipefitter, etc.), and field safety responsibilities

Technical Expertise

Critical, working knowledge of EHS regulations and practices in data center construction — including electrical safety, contamination control, and high-density M&E system installation

OSHA construction regulations (29 CFR 1926) and enforcement practices; applicable Texas and West Virginia state safety requirements

NFPA 70E, arc flash, and high-voltage electrical construction safety

Construction risk assessments, JHAs, AHAs, site audits, and assurance programs

Contractor safety and performance management — reviewing plans, issuing NOVs/CARs, tracking corrective actions

Working knowledge of construction means and methods across multiple trades — civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and low-voltage

Leadership Profile

Strong critical thinking and solution-based mindset in a fast-paced, high-consequence environment

Pragmatic, risk-based approach geared toward maintaining effective partnerships while holding contractors accountable

High judgment in high-consequence scenarios — ability to exercise stop-work authority confidently and constructively

Ability to influence construction outcomes without direct line authority

Strong interpersonal and communication skills — able to engage effectively with craft workers, superintendents, project managers, and senior leadership

Preferred Qualifications

OSHA 30-Hour Construction certification (required within 90 days of hire if not already held)

CHST (Construction Health and Safety Technician) or ASP/CSP credential, or active pursuit of same

Experience on hyperscale, colocation, or enterprise data center construction projects

Familiarity with client-side owner's representative EHS functions and the GC/subcontractor management model

Experience with Procore, Autodesk Construction Cloud, or similar construction management platforms

NFPA 70E electrical safety awareness training

Bilingual English/Spanish a plus

At NScale, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace. We believe that a variety of perspectives enriches our work environment, and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

If there’s anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know.

The responsibilities outlined in this job description are not exhaustive and are intended to provide a general overview of the position. The employee may be required to perform additional duties, tasks, and responsibilities as assigned by management, consistent with the skills and qualifications required for the role.

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