at Actalent in Minooka, Illinois, United States
Job Description
Job Title: Construction Safety Specialist – Data Center Projects
Job Description
This role provides on-site environmental, health, and safety (EHS) leadership for a large data center construction project in Itasca, IL. You will serve as a designated safety specialist, ensuring full compliance with project, site-specific, and client safety requirements while spending most of your time in the field with crews. You will lead safety audits, documentation, incident response, and trade partner engagement, helping to foster a proactive, safety-first culture on a high-profile construction project.
Responsibilities
+ Implement and uphold the project’s safety guidelines, site-specific safety plan, and all client-specific safety requirements.
+ Coordinate with the regional safety lead to ensure appropriate safety signage and personal protective equipment (PPE) are available and properly used.
+ Confirm that all personnel scheduled to work on-site have completed the required safety orientation training before beginning work.
+ Gather and organize safety documentation from subcontractors and trade partners, including Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), Safety Data Sheets (SDS), High-Risk Activity Plans, Heat Illness Prevention Plans (when applicable), and training certifications such as site-specific safety training and equipment operator cards.
+ Conduct at least one safety audit per day using the designated digital platform, including annotated photos and clear, actionable findings.
+ Share audit findings and recommended corrective actions with the project team to ensure visibility, accountability, and timely resolution of safety issues.
+ Submit a minimum of two Safety Observation Reports (SORs) per week to document observations, positive behaviors, and opportunities for improvement.
+ Spend approximately 60-70% of your time in the field engaging with crews, observing work practices, and monitoring compliance with safety standards.
+ Attend and actively contribute to daily huddles, coordination meetings, foremen’s meetings, and preconstruction meetings to integrate safety into planning and execution.
+ Lead or support weekly all-hands safety meetings, including preparing materials, delivering presentations, and tracking attendance.
+ Spot-check safety documentation during site visits to verify accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
+ Review and track Daily Action Plans (DAPs), High-Risk Activity Plans, hot work permits and checklists, safety orientation records, and project-specific safety documentation such as SDS and confined space plans.
+ Immediately notify the project team and regional safety lead of any incidents, injuries, or near-miss events.
+ Assist in incident investigations, contribute to root cause analysis, and review incident reports prior to submission to ensure clarity and accuracy.
+ Ensure a clear and practical “Lessons Learned” summary is created for each incident or near miss and communicated to relevant stakeholders.
+ Conduct site-specific safety orientations for all trade partners and ensure they understand project expectations and procedures.
+ Maintain regular communication with subcontractor safety representatives to align on expectations, address concerns, and support continuous improvement.
+ Participate in or lead planning meetings for high-risk activities such as crane operations, confined space entry, and work at height requiring fall protection.
+ Work collaboratively alongside another safety professional as part of the project’s EHS team.
+ Maintain clear, frequent, and professional communication with the project team, safety leadership, and trade partners.
+ Respond promptly to field inquiries and proactively address safety concerns as they arise.
+ Ask questions when clarification is needed and share observations, recommendations, and improvement ideas openly and constructively.
+ Align your schedule with jobsite hours, typically starting at 5:00 or 6:00 AM, and remain on-site during all active construction hours.
+ Stay flexible to accommodate extended hours when project needs require additional on-site support.
+ Support accurate headcount and EHS staffing alignment by collaborating with the general contractor and subcontractors to ensure adequate EHS coverage based on workforce size and project risk.
Essential Skills
+ 2-5 years of experience in construction safety, with a strong focus on field-based EHS support.
+ Minimum of 2 years of experience specifically in the construction industry while serving as a designated EHS representative.
+ Demonstrated experience acting as a safety specialist on data center or commercial building construction projects, with data center experience highly preferred.
+ Current 30-hour OSHA certification or higher.
+ Professional safety certification such as CSP, CHST, GSP, ASP, CHT or similar, with at least 2 years of construction safety experience.
+ Must hold CSP or CHST certification.
+ Minimum of 5 years of overall experience, with data center construction experience strongly preferred.
+ Safety engineering degree or equivalent qualification in safety, EHS, or a closely related discipline.
+ Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations, construction safety practices, and EHS best practices.
+ Proven ability to conduct safety audits, inspections, and safety observations using digital tools and platforms.
+ Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present safety topics clearly to all levels of project personnel.
+ Reliable, punctual, and able to align with early start times and project-driven schedules.
+ Ability to remain on-site for the duration of active construction hours and adapt to changing site conditions.
+ Ability to pass a background check and drug/alcohol screening.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
+ Prior experience supporting data center construction projects is strongly preferred; experience in commercial building construction will be considered.
+ Experience working in environments requiring non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) is a plus.
+ Experience collaborating with general contractors and multiple subcontractors on large, complex projects.
+ Demonstrated ability to build rapport with field crews and trade partners and to influence safe behaviors through coaching and engagement.
+ Strong presentation skills for leading safety orientations, toolbox talks, and all-hands safety meetings.
+ Proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to anticipate safety issues and recommend practical controls.
+ Comfort using digital platforms and tools for audits, reporting, and documentation management.
+ Ability to interpret and manage technical safety documentation, including JHAs, SDS, and High-Risk Activity Plans.
+ Strong organizational skills to manage multiple documentation streams, permits, and training records simultaneously.
Work Environment
This role is fully on-site in Itasca, IL, at a large data center construction project. You will be on-site every day, with approximately 70% of your time spent in the field and 30% in an on-site office environment. Typical workdays align with jobsite hours, generally starting at 5:00 or 6:00 AM, and you are expected to remain on-site during all active construction hours. You can expect to work approximately 40-50 hours per week, with flexibility required when project needs extend beyond standard hours. The environment is a dynamic, large-scale construction site with multiple trade partners, heavy equipment, and high-risk activities such as crane operations, confined space work, and work at height. You will work closely with at least one EHS manager and one field EHS professional, within a culture that strongly emphasizes safety, innovation, collaboration, and proactive problem-solving. The project team values clear communication, responsiveness, and a v
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