Company Overview

Wendler Inc. is Iowa’s leading builder of civil and municipal infrastructure, including water and wastewater treatment plants, flood protection, and high voltage electrical projects. With more than 50 years of experience and a team built from the field up, we deliver high difficulty, high-value projects safely. collaboratively, and on schedule. Whether through traditional bid or CMAR delivery, we work as a trusted partner from day one-and stand by our work long after closeout.

Job Summary

Wendler Inc. is seeking a high-impact Senior Safety Manager to help lead the next evolution of safety across our organization.

This is not a traditional “clipboard and PPE inspection” role.

We are looking for a strategic, forward-thinking safety leader who can quickly assess the current state of our safety culture, identify gaps and opportunities, implement meaningful improvements, and influence employee behavior at every level of the organization. The right individual will bring both field credibility and leadership presence, someone capable of driving accountability, building trust, gaining buy-in from operations, and creating long-term cultural change.

This role will partner closely with Executive Leadership, Project Management, Operations, and field teams to strengthen safety performance across all divisions of the business.

The ideal candidate understands that world-class safety is not built through enforcement alone; it is built through leadership, systems, communication, consistency, and operational alignment.

Key Responsibilities

Evaluate the current state of the company’s safety culture, programs, systems, and operational risks
Develop and implement proactive safety strategies aligned with company growth and operational goals
Drive continuous improvement initiatives that reduce incidents, improve operational consistency, and strengthen employee engagement
Coach and support operational leaders in strengthening safety ownership and field accountability
Hold teams accountable to established company standards while maintaining collaborative working relationships
Partner with leadership to establish measurable safety goals, leading indicators, and performance expectations
Build trust and credibility with field employees, Superintendents, Project Managers, and Executive Leadership
Help eliminate complacency through visible leadership and operational engagement
Lead company-wide safety initiatives across multiple active civil construction projects
Develop and implement practical safety procedures, standards, and field processes
Ensure compliance with OSHA, DOT, FMCSA, environmental, and applicable state/federal regulations
Conduct risk assessments and assist operations teams with high-risk planning activities, including but not limited to: excavation & trenching, confined space entry, heavy equipment operations, crane and lifting activities, electrical and utility work, and traffic control and work zone safety
Lead incident and near-miss investigations utilizing root cause analysis methodologies
Assist in developing field leadership capabilities related to hazard recognition, communication, and employee engagement
Develop and deliver engaging safety training programs that drive behavioral change and field engagement
Lead modernization efforts related to safety systems, documentation, reporting, communication, and operational processes
Assist in the implementation and utilization of technology, tracking systems, and safety analytics
Maintain recordkeeping, documentation, and regulatory reporting requirements
Support onboarding, mentoring, and ongoing employee development initiatives
Identify trends, contributing factors, and systemic gaps
Develop corrective actions focused on prevention, operational improvement, and long-term risk reduction
Monitor and analyze safety data to drive operational decisions and continuous improvement

Requirements

10+ years of progressive construction safety leadership experience within heavy civil, infrastructure, industrial, utility, or related construction environments
Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health & Safety, Construction Management, or related field
Experience implementing safety software, dashboards, analytics, predictive risk management, or operational improvement systems
Experience supporting organizational growth and scaling safety operations within a growing contractor environment
Strong working knowledge of OSHA construction standards and high-risk construction operations
Demonstrated ability to influence culture, gain employee buy-in, and drive measurable safety improvements
Professional safety certifications such as CHST, CSP, OHST, CHSO, OSHA 500, or equivalent are strongly preferred. Equivalent operational heavy civil safety leadership experience will also be considered
Experience with incident investigation, root cause analysis, and safety program development
Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills
Ability to travel between jobsites throughout Iowa and surrounding regions as needed

At Wendler Inc., safety is not just a requirement, it’s a core value that protects our people and strengthens the communities we serve. This role offers the opportunity to lead safety strategies for complex civil construction projects while working alongside a collaborative leadership team committed to doing the job the right way. If you are ready to make a meaningful impact on safety performance and culture, we’d like to hear from you.

Pay: $115,000.00 - $145,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k)
401(k) matching
Dental insurance
Flexible spending account
Health insurance
Health savings account
Life insurance
Referral program
Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Wendler Inc.

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