The posting
About the opportunity
We are seeking an experienced and highly-resilient Construction Site Safety Officer [HR Title: Senior Environmental Inspector] to oversee, for our large-scale, linear utility construction and right-of-way (ROW) site restoration project, all health, safety, and environmental compliance. Operating in a remote, arid environment across vast expanses of land, this role requires an expert capable of managing safety for dynamic, moving work zones—spanning open trenching and pipeline/cable installation to final civil grading, environmental stabilization, and native landscaping teams.
The successful candidate will serve as the primary on-site champion for our Zero-Incident culture, ensuring all personnel are trained, equipped, and physically monitored to withstand rigorous outdoor desert conditions while safely executing mobile heavy construction and manual labor operations.
Desert Utility & Restoration Context
This position is highly mobile, requiring active field coverage across miles of active right-of-way corridors. Environmental challenges include ambient temperatures regularly exceeding 104°F (40°C), severe UV exposure, localized dust storms/haboobs, and potential encounters with regional venomous wildlife. Safety supervision must seamlessly adapt between high-risk mechanical utility installation and heavily manual, outdoor site restoration and landscaping phases. This is a temporary, hourly position. Note that this individual may also complete traditional senior environmental inspector duties when not performing safety tasks.
Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.
What you will accomplish
- Linear Dynamic Work Zone Safety: Monitor and audit safety protocols across a 100+ mile long right-of-way (ROW) footprint.
- Restoration & Landscaping Crew Oversight: Conduct daily safety evaluations of biological monitors and native planting crews. Mitigate risks associated with highly repetitive manual labor, hand tool usage, and agricultural/landscaping machinery operated in open sun exposure.
- Thermal Stress & Heat Illness Prevention: Implement, audit, and enforce a rigorous, proactive Heat Illness Prevention Plan tailored for extended geographic zones. Set up and verify mobile shaded rest stations, manage shifting hydration supplies, monitor Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), and coordinate localized "buddy systems".
- Project Health and Safety Plan (HASP): Work with project staff to work within and, if needed, adapt the project HASP throughout the life of the project.
- Daily Tailgate Briefings: Lead localized Pre-Task Safety Briefings focusing on changing terrain, heavy machinery interaction, environmental acclimatization, and rapid symptom checks for early-stage heat exhaustion/heat stroke.
- Incident Investigation: Assist with root-cause analyses for all near-misses, vehicle incidents, tool-handling injuries, or heat-related illnesses. Draft detailed reports and implement immediate corrective actions across all active crews.
- Completion of daily inspection reports documenting activities observed and compliance with project permit requirements.
- Ensure compliance with environmental regulations for linear construction activities.
- Project work will include Federal land management and transmission development.
- Supervise installation and maintenance of BMPs, erosion control devices (ECDs), and environmental exclusion areas during construction.
- Use topographic maps, GPS units, aerial photographs, and other maps and tools in the field.
- Take responsibility for team safety, develop safety plans (when applicable), and anticipate potential safety hazards.
Experience and qualifications for success
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of dedicated field safety experience, with a strict requirement for a prior background in linear construction projects (e.g., pipelines, electrical transmission, fiber optics, water mains) and/or heavy civil right-of-way site restoration and landscaping. Proven field experience in arid or desert conditions is mandatory.
- At least 10 years of experience in environmental consulting inspection of linear construction projects required.
- Certifications: OSHA 30-Hour Construction certification required. CHST (Construction Health and Safety Technician), CSP (Certified Safety Professional), or equivalent safety credential highly preferred.
- Medical Preparedness: Current First Aid/CPR/AED certification required. Advanced Wilderness First Responder (WFR) or EMT-Basic certification is highly advantageous due to the remote, linear site layout.
- Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of OSHA excavation and trenching standards, heavy machinery operations, dust suppression requirements, and guidelines for managing thermal stress.
- Physical Stamina: Demonstrated ability to travel and walk miles of unpaved, rough desert terrain alongside moving construction and restoration crews in ambient temperatures exceeding 100°F while wearing full standard PPE.
- Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to confidently command authority over multiple sub-contractors and diverse multicultural work crews. Bi-lingual capability (English/Spanish) is a major asset.
- Able to work in remote areas, use ATVs or other four-wheel drive type vehicles.
- Must have valid driver's license and able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements and pass a background check.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Able to inspect right-of-way and associated facilities.
- Familiar with soil erosion control and BMP installation and maintenance.
- Familiar with agricultural mitigation plans/drain tile repair.
