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How to hire a corporate safety director

Corporate safety director hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring corporate safety directors in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a corporate safety director is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new corporate safety director to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a corporate safety director, step by step

To hire a corporate safety director, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a corporate safety director:

Here's a step-by-step corporate safety director hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a corporate safety director job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new corporate safety director
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your corporate safety director job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a corporate safety director for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A corporate safety director's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, corporate safety directors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of corporate safety directors.

    Type of Corporate Safety DirectorDescriptionHourly rate
    Corporate Safety DirectorOccupational health and safety specialists analyze many types of work environments and work procedures. Specialists inspect workplaces for adherence to regulations on safety, health, and the environment... Show more$25-54
    Public Health InternshipA public health internship provides students with a great learning opportunity to put into practice those educational principles and skills learned in the classroom. They will gain a better understanding and appreciation for the duties and responsibilities of full-time professionals in public health... Show more$12-26
    Safety ManagerA safety manager is someone who ensures that a company is compliant and adhering to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) guidelines. Safety managers are responsible for planning and implementing OHS policies and programs... Show more$23-55
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • OSHA
    • Safety Procedures
    • Safety Culture
    • CPR
    • Risk Management
    • EHS
    • Fall Protection
    • EPA
    • Site Safety
    • Occupational Safety
    • Corrective Action
    • Safety Audits
    • Safety Performance
    • Loss Prevention
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage HSE programs for a national corporation specializing in concrete product manufacturing.
    • Participate as a business/safety advocate and provide Company/industry expertise in OSHA and MSHA regulatory policy making.
    • Represent company as management during any OSHA inspections.
    • Develop and implement EHS and manufacturing facilities integration plans for new facilities and businesses.
    • Design and implement corporate-wide EHS management system focuse on employee accountability, reduction of environmental/safety risks.
    • Establish regulatory and best practices programs, auditing and performance reporting with concurrent oversight of operations (modele globally).
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your corporate safety director job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A corporate safety director can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, corporate safety directors' average salary in florida is 39% less than in washington.
    • Seniority. Entry-level corporate safety directors 54% less than senior-level corporate safety directors.
    • Certifications. A corporate safety director with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a corporate safety director's salary.

    Average corporate safety director salary

    $77,464yearly

    $37.24 hourly rate

    Entry-level corporate safety director salary
    $52,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 31, 2026
  4. Writing a corporate safety director job description

    A job description for a corporate safety director role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a corporate safety director job description:

    Corporate safety director job description example


    Salary: $130k-$230K (All in compensation package)
    Location: College Station, Texas

    The Corporate Safety Director will be responsible for the continuous development of Safety Policies and Procedures as well as effective implementation of these policies. The Corporate Safety Director is ultimately responsible for having an effective workplace Safety program and culture in place. This position directs the resources and activities of the organization to support the Safety programs and initiatives by providing advice and guidance to company management and senior management. This position has significant influence on the company’s overall performance in the areas of corporate Safety. The primary challenge is to continually maintain an appropriate level of awareness, knowledge, and preparedness across the organization to create a culture that prioritizes effective Safety and balances overall associated costs. Provide overall leadership, professional knowledge and expertise in the administration and support of Safety processes for all aspects of Evers & Sons Inc to include regulatory agency compliance, organizational policies and employee Safety knowledge and awareness. The Corporate Safety Director has a primary responsibility to ensure harmony between operations and safety.

    Qualifications

    To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function mentioned satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Necessary accommodations will be provided in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and state or local law.

    The statements in this job description are intended to describe the essential nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be ALL responsibilities or qualifications of the job.

    Responsibilities

    • Develop and provide technical and administrative direction on all Safety policies and programs which bear critical importance to the organization’s common purpose, vision, values, mission, overall corporate objectives, and the operation of its various business segments.

    • Oversee and enforce compliance with all regulatory and company Safety compliance requirements.

    • Review internal Safety policies and practices to ensure they are current and appropriate; conduct hazard and risk assessments and develop new or, where necessary, make recommendations to the officers to amend Safety policies and procedures.

    • Create a work environment which reflects a commitment to protecting the health, environmental, and Safety of employees.

    • Responsible for developing and providing for the training and certification of staff members of the organization in First Aid, CPR, Blood Bourne Pathogens, the operation of powered industrial trucks, the proper use of and handling of chemicals and hazardous waste, among other Safety training as applicable to their specific job description responsibilities.

    • Communicates with and provides training and direction to organization staff to ensure the effective implementation and maintenance of Safety policies and procedures.

    • Provides support and training materials for location Safety Coaches.

    • Contributes written submissions or otherwise supports Safety communications through newsletters, social media, new employee orientation sessions, and similar.

    • In addition to training, serves as a resource to the organization for Safety support, supplies, and information.

    • Manages the company’s Job Safety Analysis (JSA), Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), and Safety Incentive initiatives.

    • Administers the company’s Worker’s Compensation Program effectively. This includes a focus on accident prevention, cost reduction, effective case management, return-to-work programs, and similar relative to work related illness and injuries.

    • Coordinates effectively with Human Resources on leave administration and the corrective action process relative to work related illnesses and injuries.

    • Works jointly and collaboratively with all business segments and administrative offices to improve operational efficiencies and reduce Health and Safety related risks and costs.

    • Develops and maintains an aggressive accident investigation program. This includes thorough investigation of all accidents, identification of root causes, developing effective programs to prevent recurrence, and company-wide communication and education on same.

    • Conducts (or coordinates) on-site Safety reviews and audits at all locations to ensure compliance with safe working operations as specified and required by OSHA and company policy and procedure.

    • The Corporate Safety Director chairs and guides the activities of the Executive Safety Advisory Committee.

    • Responsible for a thorough analysis of accident trends and for the development and implementation of strategies to effectively resolve actual or perceived Safety issues.

    • Monitors and ensures compliance with regularly scheduled Safety meetings, facility inspections, and emergency drills at all locations.

    • Creates and maintains a culture reflective of a commitment to an illness and injury-free workplace.

    • Provides regular written and/or oral reports to senior leadership on the Safety program’s successes and challenges.

    • Responsible for the Health & Safety and sections of ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 Accreditation.

    • Ensures compliance with all environmental, health, and Safety standards promulgated by local, state, and federal agencies.

    • Maintains OSHA 300 log and other required reports and ensures compliance of required postings.

    • Responsible for overseeing the security program and systems at the company headquarters and remote locations.

    • Stay abreast of current and emerging technical and professional aspects of this position.

    • Accomplishes all tasks as appropriately assigned or requested for successful completion of the companies common purpose.

    • Perform any other related duties as required or assigned.

    Prequalification’s

    A bachelor's degree from four-year college or university in a relevant field and 10-15 years’ experience in risk management, industrial safety and health, safety engineering, and safety management in a relevant industry. Exceptions can be made if college diploma is not present.

    Required Skills/Abilities

    • A keen understanding of health, safety, and environmental management practices and interpretation of OHSA and Workers Compensation regulations

    • Maintains a high degree of credibility, independence, integrity, confidentiality and trust. Strong leadership skills are essential, as are strong verbal and written communication skills.

    • Demonstrates sound business judgment and is supportive of the missions and objectives.

    • Strives to develop partnerships, teamwork, and good working relationships. Maintains an open management style.

    • Understands the complexities of a large organization. Involves others appropriately in consultations and decisions.

    • Possesses strong analytical skills and understands operational processes and related technology.

    • Ability to read, analyze and interpret the most complex documents relating to Safety. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquires or complaints.


  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right corporate safety director for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your corporate safety director job on Zippia to find and recruit corporate safety director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit corporate safety directors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new corporate safety director

    Once you've selected the best corporate safety director candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new corporate safety director first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a corporate safety director?

Hiring a corporate safety director comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting corporate safety directors involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of corporate safety director recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

Corporate safety directors earn a median yearly salary is $77,464 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find corporate safety directors for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $25 and $54.

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