The Project Safety Manager will receive an estimated annual salary range of $85,000 to $115,000 depending on field experience and certifications. This position is based out of the corporate headquarters in Raleigh, NC.
Job Description: Project Safety Manager
Position Overview
The Project Safety Manager provides field oversight, risk mitigation, and safety compliance enforcement for multi-state utility construction projects. This role serves as the direct link between corporate safety strategy and field execution, focusing heavily on underground utility installation (trenching, directional drilling) and aerial operations (strand placement, bucket truck work).
Because the company utilizes an outsourced labor model, a focus of this position is the daily field auditing, onboarding and safety accountability.
Core Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Office Oversight
- Standardize safety policies, programs, and digital workflows across all regional office footprints.
- Conduct periodic cross-state site visits to perform objective safety audits.
Field Auditing
- Conduct safety orientations and verification checks for new employees as well as newly onboarded subcontractor crews.
- Review Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) to ensure they match the specific risks of the work site.
- Track subcontractor safety infractions, issue formal non-compliance warnings.
- Document field hazards, tool conditions, and PPE compliance.
- Provide immediate corrective feedback to field supervisors and halt any work showcasing immediate danger to life or health (IDLH).
Incident Response & Reporting
- Coordinate with regional directors and project managers to implement corrective action plans that prevent repeat incidents.
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Education: Associate's or Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Construction Management, or equivalent field-level safety experience.
- Experience: 2-4 years of field safety experience specifically within telecommunications, utility routing, or heavy civil construction.
- Subcontractor Management: Experience managing or auditing third-party subcontractor compliance.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency with computer hardware, electronic devices, and peripheral equipment setup, troubleshooting, and maintenance preferred.
Required Industry & OSHA Certifications
The candidate must possess these credentials to demonstrate field-level competence and regulatory authority:
1. Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) Certifications
- Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST): Highly Preferred. Demonstrates specialized competency in construction-site hazard identification, inspection methods, and safety training.
- Associate Safety Professional (ASP): Acceptable alternative, showing a strong trajectory toward corporate safety leadership.
2. OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Credentials
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction Card: Mandatory. Verifies comprehensive training in standard construction hazard recognition and avoidance.
- OSHA 500 (Authorized Outreach Trainer for Construction): Preferred. Allows the manager to directly conduct OSHA-certified training for internal staff and key subcontractors.
3. Specialized Telecom & Utility Competencies (Preferred but not mandatory)
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.268 Training: Foundational understanding of the specific federal regulations governing telecommunications field work.
- Competent Person Certifications: Documented training as a "Competent Person" in:
- Excavation, Trenching, and Shoring (OSHA Subpart P)
- Fall Protection Systems (OSHA Subpart M)
- Confined Spaces (OSHA Subpart AA)
- Traffic Control Supervisor (TCS): Certification via ATSSA or state DOT equivalents, ensuring mastery of work zone traffic setups.
Company Description
At Utility Network Solutions, we keep communities connected seamlessly. As a trusted leader in fiber optic cable installation and network infrastructure, we partner with telecommunications providers and private enterprises to ensure that every network build is secure, high-performing, and built for the future. Our mission is simple but vital: power progress, bridge digital divides, and keep data flowing—whether that’s across a bustling metropolitan center, an underserved rural community, or a critical enterprise facility. Every trench we dig, every conduit we lay, and every fiber we splice is part of a bigger commitment to building a more connected world. We believe in doing the job right, every time. Our crews are known for their technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and ability to adapt to complex field conditions—because in critical infrastructure, every millimeter and millisecond counts. When you join us, you’re not just taking a job—you’re stepping into a role that directly impacts the connectivity, economic growth, and technological resilience of your neighbors and your community. Our Core Values:
Safety First – We never compromise when it comes to protecting our crews and the public.
Teamwork – We look out for each other and collaborate seamlessly on every build.
Integrity – We build honest, reliable infrastructure that stands the test of time.
Excellence – We take pride in delivering precision engineering and high-quality connectivity.
If you’re ready to work in a role where your actions build the literal backbone of tomorrow's technology every single day, we’d love to have you on our team.