Our story began 75 years ago when the Herschend family discovered wonder deep in an Ozark Mountain cave—and chose to share it with the world. Today, Herschend is the largest family-held themed attractions company, with over 40 leading attractions and immersive experiences that reach audiences worldwide.
While each brand offers something unique, all are united by a shared purpose: Bringing Families Closer Together by Creating Memories Worth Repeating® . Our passionate hosts make this purpose possible through everyday acts of love and service—what we call Heartspitality®—the intersection of heart and hospitality.
As an equal-opportunity employer, we strive to provide environments where every host, guest, and partner feel welcome, valued, and loved. We firmly believe that words and actions matter, which is why all individuals are to be treated equally and with respect.
The Director of Safety is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of comprehensive health, safety, environmental, and risk management programs for Kennywood Park and Sandcastle Waterpark. This role ensures compliance with Herschend safety standards, OSHA regulations, environmental requirements, and all applicable federal, state, and local laws.
The Director serves as the primary safety leader for both properties, fostering a proactive safety culture that protects guests, hosts, contractors, and assets while supporting operational excellence and regulatory compliance.
We are currently looking for a:
Kennywood - Director of Safety
Roles & Responsibilities:
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Lead and maintain the Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) Management System for Kennywood Park and Sandcastle Waterpark .
- Ensure compliance with Herschend standards and all applicable OSHA, environmental, federal, state, and local regulations.
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve safety policies, procedures, training programs, and emergency response plans.
- Partner with property leadership to identify risks, conduct assessments, and implement corrective actions to prevent injuries, incidents, and property damage.
- Serve as the primary subject matter expert on safety, environmental compliance, risk management, and regulatory requirements.
- Conduct audits, inspections, and compliance reviews; track findings and ensure timely resolution of corrective actions.
- Lead incident investigations, root cause analyses, reporting, and trend reviews to improve safety performance.
- Oversee safety compliance for attractions, rides, maintenance equipment, contractors, and vendors in accordance with applicable regulations and industry standards.
- Deliver safety training and promote a strong safety culture among hosts, leadership, contractors, and business partners.
- Manage safety metrics, compliance reporting, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) data, and related documentation.
- Coordinate environmental sustainability initiatives, including waste reduction, recycling, and energy and water conservation efforts.
- Support corporate and property-wide safety initiatives, including participation in cross-property audits and safety programs.
- Participate in the Manager on Duty program
Experience
- Minimum of 5 years of progressive health, safety, and environmental leadership experience. Preferably within the amusement, attractions, hospitality, leisure , and entertainment industry .
- Degree in Safety Management, Occupational Health and Safety, or a related technical field preferred . Equivalent experience demonstrating progressive responsibility and success in safety management or related fields may be considered .
- Proven experience developing and managing safety management systems, conducting investigations, and driving regulatory compliance.
Technical Skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
- Experience with safety management systems, incident reporting platforms, and compliance management tools preferred.
- Working knowledge of OSHA standards, environmental regulations, risk assessment methodologies, and industry best practices.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong leadership and relationship-building skills .
- Ability to frequently work hours that extend beyond 9 AM to 5 PM during the operating season , including holidays and weekends.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and facilitation abilities.
- Exceptional analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
- Ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
- Detail-oriented with a commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement.
- Ability to communicate complex concepts to audiences of varying skill and knowledge levels
- Ability to effectively engage and collaborate with all internal and external stakeholders
Team member benefits:
Do not miss the chance to spark your career now!
