JOB INFORMATION:
Job Title: Director of Corporate Safety
Department(s): 5050 - Safety
Location(s): Garden City Terminal
FLSA Status: Exempt
JOB OVERVIEW:
Safety is the first value of Georgia Ports, and the company strives to ensure Port employees and customers have a safe and efficient environment to work in. To that end, the Director of Corporate Safety, under the supervision of the President, is responsible for the development, implementation, and management of GPA's safety standards, policies, programs and culture.
Upholds the values of the GPA to promote Safety, Integrity, Respect, Community, Creativity and Opportunity. Promotes a safe work environment by participating in safety initiatives and reporting unsafe conditions and behaviors.
JOB DUTIES:
- Provides strategic leadership and executive direction for Georgia Ports Authority's Safety Non-Stop Program, establishing the vision, priorities, and organizational and training framework necessary to advance a proactive, enterprise-wide culture of safety.
- Develops and executes a multi-year enterprise safety strategy and roadmap, establishing measurable objectives, priorities, initiatives, and resource requirements to continuously improve safety performance port-wide.
- Provides senior leadership during significant safety events, emergencies, and operational disruptions, coordinating with senior leadership and internal and external response organizations to protect employees, visitors, contractors, assets, infrastructure, and business operations.
- Leads enterprise safety risk management efforts, establishing systems and processes to identify, assess, prioritize, mitigate, and monitor occupational and operational risks across GPA facilities and activities.
- Provides strategic oversight of emergency preparedness and response planning, collaborating with GPA Police, Port Security, operational leadership, governmental agencies, and external partners to ensure organizational readiness and protection of people and assets.
- Provides strategic leadership for the Safety organization, including workforce planning, talent development, succession planning, performance management, resource allocation, and organizational structure necessary to achieve GPA's safety objectives.
- Maintains executive-level knowledge of applicable federal, state, and industry safety requirements and ensures organizational compliance with regulatory agencies and standards governing marine terminal and port operations.
- Directs the collection, analysis, and interpretation of safety performance data, including accidents, incidents, near misses, exposures, and other risk indicators, to identify trends, inform executive decision-making, and measure corrective-action effectiveness.
- Directs safety investigations and corrective-action processes, including significant incidents, root-cause analyses, risk assessments, and near-miss investigations, ensuring systemic corrective actions are implemented and monitored for effectiveness.
- Provides senior leadership for safety training and organizational development programs, ensuring training strategies address regulatory requirements, operational risks, leadership expectations, and workforce competency.
- Oversees the development and continuous improvement of safety policies, manuals, standards, and procedures, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, operational requirements, and regulatory standards.
- Represents Georgia Ports Authority in industry, regulatory, governmental, and community forums related to occupational and operational safety, cultivating strategic partnerships and advancing GPA's position as a leader in port and maritime safety.
- Performs other duties as assigned
- Complies with all policies and standards
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Extensive knowledge of marine terminal operations, freight transportation, and applicable safety regulatory requirements and regulatory bodies.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate safety programs and performance, using data and industry best practices to make strategic recommendations regarding resources, priorities, technology, training, and risk controls.
- Ability to anticipate emerging safety, regulatory, operational, and environmental risks and develop proactive strategies to mitigate organizational exposure.
- Demonstrated ability to develop strategic partnerships and leverage industry benchmarking, emerging technologies, and leading practices to advance organizational safety performance.
- Ability to lead and coordinate complex, enterprise-wide projects and initiatives, effectively managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, highly regulated, 24/7 operational environment.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently with a high degree of accountability, exercise sound judgment, and appropriately identify matters requiring executive-level consultation or escalation.
- Ability to foster a culture of accountability, employee engagement, continuous improvement, and shared ownership of safety across all levels of the organization.
- Demonstrated ability to represent Georgia Ports Authority professionally and effectively in industry forums, regulatory meetings, public settings, and community engagements, including the development and delivery of executive-level recommendations and presentations.
- Excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal, leadership, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with employees, leaders, regulators, customers, and external stakeholders.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access, and the ability to effectively utilize technology and data systems to support safety management and organizational decision-making.
Experience
- 7-9 years of related work experience Preferred
- 7-9 years Prior management experience Preferred
Education
- Required Four-year college degree in Safety Engineering, Environmental Health and Safety, or related field
- Preferred Certified Safety Professional, Associate Safety Professional credentials are highly preferred
Licenses & Certifications
- TWIC - Transportation Worker Identification Credential Required
- Driver's License - Valid state driver's license Required
Note: This job description is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, job requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. Management reserves the right to revise the job or to require the performance of different or additional tasks. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, an without direct threat to the health or safety of others.
Revised: 8/13/2026
Mission: To empower entrepreneurs, strengthen industries, sustain communities, and fortify families by relentlessly striving to accelerate global commerce.
