Director of Safety and Compliance

Company Summary

Priority, headquartered in Clinton Township, MI, is a pioneering technology company transforming the logistics industry with our innovative solutions & commitment to exceptional customer service. We are seeking Team Players who excel in a collaborative environment, embrace change, & understand the impact their quality of work has on others. Our company has experienced rapid growth since its founding in 2018. This growth has allowed us to continually expand our workforce. Priority operates out of several facilities across 3 states. Priority maintains a diversified business model providing service to both municipal solid-waste, construction & demolition customers. Our biggest priority is providing outstanding customer service & revolutionizing the industry through the use of the latest technology.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Develop, implement, and maintain company-wide safety policies, procedures, programs, and best practices.
• Lead the company’s safety culture by promoting accountability, prevention, field engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, DOT, FMCSA, EPA, and applicable state and local safety, transportation, and environmental regulations.
• Oversee fleet and transportation safety programs, including driver qualification compliance, DOT logs/ELDs, pre-trip and post-trip inspection compliance, vehicle condition reports, route observations, backing prevention, preventable accident review, roadside inspection follow-up, and driver safety performance.
• Lead preparation for and response to OSHA, DOT, FMCSA, EPA, state, and local regulatory inspections, audits, citations, inquiries, and corrective action requirements.
• Lead incident, injury, accident, property damage, and near-miss investigations, including root cause analysis and corrective action plans.
• Conduct regular safety audits, site inspections, route observations, facility assessments, and risk evaluations across company operations.
• Develop and manage field observation, coaching, and behavior-based safety programs to identify unsafe conditions, correct unsafe behaviors, and reinforce safe work practices.
• Analyze safety performance metrics, including TRIR, DART, lost-time injuries, OSHA recordables, preventable vehicle accidents, near misses, training completion, inspection findings, claims trends, and corrective action completion.
• Use telematics, onboard camera systems, ELD data, driver scorecards, inspection results, and claims data to identify trends and implement targeted safety improvements.
• Develop and implement strategies to reduce injuries, vehicle accidents, claims, citations, regulatory exposure, and operational risk.
• Design, coordinate, and deliver safety training programs for drivers, helpers, equipment operators, mechanics, supervisors, and managers.
• Oversee new-hire safety orientation, CDL driver safety training, recurrent safety training, supervisor safety training, mentor/driver-trainer programs, and documentation of all required training.
• Partner with operational leadership to identify workplace hazards, correct unsafe conditions, and implement practical safety solutions.
• Partner with risk management, insurance carriers, brokers, and claims administrators on workers’ compensation, auto liability, general liability, loss control, claim trends, and corrective actions.
• Manage workers’ compensation, return-to-work programs, injury prevention initiatives, and claims-related safety follow-up.
• Maintain OSHA logs, DOT records, driver qualification files, safety training documentation, incident files, corrective action records, and other required compliance documentation.
• Support maintenance shop safety programs, including lockout/tagout, machine guarding, hot work, PPE, hazardous energy control, shop inspections, container/equipment repair safety, and safe maintenance practices.
• Develop safety controls for transfer stations, recycling facilities, landfills, maintenance shops, and collection routes, including mobile equipment interaction, tipping floor safety, working face safety, lockout/tagout, confined space, fire prevention, hazardous/unacceptable waste identification, PPE, traffic control, and pedestrian safety.
• Support emergency response planning, crisis management, spill response, severe weather response, fire prevention, and operational contingency planning.
• Monitor regulatory changes, industry best practices, and emerging risks affecting waste, transportation, environmental, and heavy industrial operations.
• Prepare and present safety reports, performance summaries, compliance updates, and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Lead safety meetings, committee meetings, toolbox talks, and other employee engagement initiatives.
• Support acquisition integration, new site onboarding, and standardization of safety practices across multiple operating locations.

Candidate Profile

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health & Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Business, Operations Management, or a related field; equivalent safety leadership experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive safety leadership experience.
• Experience in waste management, transportation, logistics, construction, heavy industrial, environmental services, or similar field-based operations.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA, DOT, FMCSA, and environmental compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated success reducing injuries, vehicle accidents, claims, citations, and overall safety risk.
• Experience leading incident investigations, root cause analysis, corrective action plans, safety audits, and regulatory compliance programs.
• Experience managing DOT/FMCSA compliance programs for CDL fleet operations.
• Strong leadership, communication, coaching, and training skills.
• Ability to influence employees and leaders at all levels of the organization.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple locations, priorities, and compliance deadlines.
• Ability to travel regularly to company yards, facilities, job sites, and operating locations.

Preferred

• CSP, ASP, CHST, OHST, CDS, OSHA 30, OSHA 501/511, HAZWOPER, or related safety credential.
• Experience managing safety programs across multi-site operations.
• Experience with OSHA inspections, DOT audits, FMCSA compliance reviews, and regulatory agency interactions.
• Experience with behavior-based safety programs, safety management systems, field observation programs, and employee coaching programs.
• Experience using telematics, onboard camera systems, ELDs, driver scorecards, safety management software, or claims management systems.
• Knowledge of transfer station, recycling facility, landfill, maintenance shop, and collection route safety hazards.
• Experience developing driver safety programs, mentor programs, supervisor safety training, and recurrent safety training.
• Familiarity with lockout/tagout, confined space, hazard communication, PPE, machine guarding, mobile equipment safety, traffic control, spill response, and emergency response programs.
• Experience managing workers’ compensation, return-to-work programs, loss control, auto liability claims, and insurance carrier relationships.
• Experience supporting acquisition integration, new site onboarding, or safety program standardization across multiple locations.

Core Competencies

• Safety leadership and accountability
• Regulatory compliance
• Fleet and transportation safety
• Incident investigation and root cause analysis
• Training and employee development
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Data analysis and performance improvement
• Field presence and operational partnership
• Communication and change management
• Multi-site program management
• Claims, loss control, and corrective action management