Construction Site Safety Manager – Pharmaceutical Capital Projects

Location: North Chicago, IL (Onsite)
Contract: 12+ Months with Potential Extensions

Automated Systems, Inc. is seeking an experienced Construction Site Safety Manager to support major capital expansion projects at a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in North Chicago, IL.

This role is ideal for a construction safety professional who thrives in active industrial job sites and has experience overseeing contractor safety on large-scale construction, facility expansion, or industrial capital projects. You will serve as the primary field safety resource, partnering with construction managers, contractors, engineering teams, and EHS to ensure work is performed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with OSHA regulations and site safety requirements.

You'll spend the majority of your day in the field supporting multiple contractors, conducting safety observations, reviewing permits, participating in pre-task planning meetings, investigating safety concerns, and helping keep complex construction projects moving safely.

If you have experience managing safety for industrial construction projects including steel erection, rigging, cranes, excavation, electrical work, confined space entry, hot work, fall protection, and lockout/tagout then this is a great opportunity for you then we'd like to speak with you.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide daily field safety oversight for contractors, subcontractors, and vendors supporting capital construction and facility expansion projects.
• Review planned work activities to identify hazards, ensure appropriate PPE and safety controls, and verify required permits and pre-job planning are completed before work begins.
• Issue and manage safe work permits, including hot work, confined space entry, lockout/tagout, and other high-risk activities.
• Review Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) and verify appropriate controls are implemented for high-risk work, including rigging, crane operations, working at heights, scaffolding, electrical work, and heavy equipment.
• Conduct routine field inspections and safety observations, identify unsafe conditions or behaviors, and stop work when necessary to ensure a safe work environment.
• Partner with construction management, project teams, engineering, EHS, and contractors to resolve safety concerns and promote compliance with OSHA regulations and site safety requirements.
• Participate in safety meetings, toolbox talks, incident investigations, and root cause analyses while supporting corrective and preventive actions.
• Document safety observations, permit reviews, incidents, and corrective actions, and prepare reports to track project safety performance and compliance.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of construction safety experience supporting industrial, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, chemical, refinery, food & beverage, utility, or other large capital construction projects.
• Experience providing hands-on field safety oversight for multiple contractors, subcontractors, and trades on active construction sites.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Construction Standards and the ability to apply OSHA regulations in the field.
• Experience administering permit-to-work programs, conducting Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), and overseeing high-risk work activities, including hot work, confined space entry, lockout/tagout (LOTO), fall protection, crane and rigging operations, excavation, scaffolding, elevated work, and energized electrical work.
• Proven ability to identify hazards, assess risk, implement corrective actions, and promote a proactive safety culture on complex construction projects.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with contractors, project managers, engineers, EHS professionals, and client stakeholders.
• Excellent documentation and organizational skills, including experience with safety inspections, incident reporting, corrective actions, and compliance documentation.
• Current OSHA 30 Construction certification required; First Aid/CPR/AED certification required or willingness to obtain upon hire.
• Ability to work onsite beginning at 6:00 a.m., with occasional overtime and weekend work as project schedules require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotech, API, GMP manufacturing, chemical processing, or other highly regulated industrial facility expansion projects.
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