Director, Health & Safety

Description

Role Overview

We are seeking a Director of Health & Safety to lead our organizational safety program and our team of Safety Consultants. Reporting to the VP, People Practices & Consulting, you will be responsible for developing, implementing, and administering our safety management system and continuing to build on our strong culture of safety.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in industry leading safety practices and regulatory compliance, a proven ability to engage and inspire leaders and key stakeholders with a compelling strategic vision, and demonstrated success in implementing and leveraging enterprise-wide health and safety tools and systems.

Responsibilities

• Coaching & Leadership: 

  • Lead, mentor, and develop a multi-disciplinary team of Safety professionals, fostering a collaborative culture built on accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence
  • Lead the development and consistent implementation of Safety strategy, programs, and initiatives across the organization

• Operational Excellence: 

  • Develop and monitor operational metrics and KPIs to measure effectiveness, enhance operational performance, identify trends, and inform priorities 

• Consulting & Governance: 

  • Act as the senior Safety authority in TELUS and primary point of contact for senior leadership, regulators, and external stakeholders
  • Provide subject matter expertise in federal and provincial safety legislation and regulations, and stay current in industry trends, research, and best practices to ensure TELUS remains a leader in workplace safety
  • Manage the Safety department budget, including planning, prioritization, and allocation of financial and material resources

• Technology & Transformation: 

  • Lead the implementation and optimization of digital tools and platforms to drive improved efficiency, compliance, and team member experience

Qualifications

What You Bring

• Operational Excellence: Ability to design, implement, and optimize safety management systems at scale with a focus on culture and compliance

• Subject Matter Expert: Ability to design and lead risk assessments, audits, complex investigations, and regulatory interactions at a senior level

• Technology Leadership: Expertise in EHS technology platforms with ability to drive digital transformation and leverage technology for operational improvement 

• Strategic Vision: Ability to balance day-to-day operational demands with long-term strategic planning

• Analytical Thinking: Advanced analytical and problem-solving abilities with demonstrated competence using data to drive decisions and measure outcomes

• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional ability to collaborate across functions, build relationships, and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels

• Communication Skills: Outstanding communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage effectively with both senior and front-line leaders, union representatives, and regulators

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of experience in health and safety (and/or related EHS field) in a large, complex organization preferably within Telecommunications, Utilities, or Transportation industries

• Minimum 8 years of people leadership experience

• Experience operating within a unionized environment with demonstrated capability in collaborative labour relations considered a strong asset

Education and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health & Safety or a related discipline (Master’s degree preferred)

• Relevant professional certifications in health and safety (e.g. Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP), Certified Health and Safety Consultant (CHSC), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or equivalent) considered a strong asset

Advanced knowledge of English is required because you will most of the time interact in English with external parties (clients, suppliers, candidates, external partners, etc.); interact in English with internal parties (colleagues, internal partners, stakeholders, etc.); and work with IT tools whose interface is only accessible in English as part of this position's main responsibilities given its international scope.