Working at Walker
At Walker, your contribution matters. Join a team you can count on, where your health and safety are our priority.
Our team of more than 1,200 people work in environmental waste management and recovery, renewable energy, paving and construction, aggregates, and emulsions chemistries.
We are a fifth-generation, family-owned company founded in 1887, operating from our base in the Niagara Region with facilities across Canada and the United States.
We care about the environment, each other, and our neighbours, and give back to our communities.
Join us on our journey to build a sustainable future, together.
About the Role
Lead safety. Influence operations. Make a lasting impact.
This is an opportunity for an experienced health and safety leader to step into a highly visible role supporting Construction and Aggregates operations across Grey Bruce, Hanover and Simcoe.
Reporting directly to the VP, Health and Safety, the Health and Safety Manager will provide strategic and hands-on leadership across a diverse operational environment where safety leadership, risk management and operational excellence go hand in hand.
You’ll translate corporate health and safety strategy into practical initiatives that work in the field—building strong relationships with operational leaders, developing a high-performing health and safety team, reducing critical risks and strengthening a culture where everyone takes ownership of safety.
This role doesn’t sit behind a desk. You’ll be in the field, in the conversations that matter and close to the operations you’re helping lead.
With responsibility for 2-4 direct reports, you’ll have the opportunity to influence both people and performance while partnering with directors, general managers, operations managers, supervisors, employees, contractors and Joint Health and Safety committees.
The position can be based in Barrie or Owen Sound and requires regular travel throughout both regions.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of divisional health and safety programs, aligned with corporate strategy, the Safety Management System (SMS), and applicable legislation.
- Provide visible, field-based health and safety leadership across Construction and Aggregates operations, and build trusted relationships with operational leaders, supervisors, employees, contractors, and Joint Health and Safety committees.
- Lead, mentor, coach, and develop health and safety coordinators and senior health and safety coordinators, including work planning, performance management, professional development, and succession planning.
- Partner with directors, general managers and operations managers to identify risk, solve complex safety challenges and embed health and safety into operational decision-making.
- Review incident and near-miss investigations and lead or support complex and serious incident investigations, focusing on systemic causes and sustainable corrective actions.
- Drive critical risk-management initiatives, including SIF prevention, Life Saving Rules, hazard identification, risk assessments, field-level risk assessments, occupational hygiene, designated substances, respiratory protection, and safety communications.
- Lead divisional audits, inspections, and assurance activities, translating findings into meaningful improvements and verifying that corrective actions are sustained.
- Use data and leading indicators to identify trends, emerging risks, and opportunities, and translate insights into clear recommendations for operational and corporate leadership.
- Champion a proactive safety culture through visible leadership, coaching, communication, and meaningful employee engagement.
- Support divisional health and safety budget planning, resource allocation, and expense oversight, ensuring that investments align with operational risk and business priorities.
- Build effective relationships with regulatory agencies, including WSIB and MLITSD, and support inspections, orders, reporting, and regulatory requirements.
- Play a key health and safety role in acquisitions, integrations, and business transitions, helping new or evolving operations adopt corporate standards and the SMS.
- Support the training strategy and delivery, including supervisor coaching, facilitation, and verification of training effectiveness.
- Bring sound judgment and decisive leadership to urgent incidents, complex risk situations, and evolving operational priorities.
What You Need
- 8 to 10 years of progressive health and safety experience, ideally within construction, aggregates, mining, industrial or another high-risk operational environment.
- A university degree in Occupational Health and Safety or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- A valid driver’s licence in good standing and the flexibility to travel regularly throughout the assigned region.
- Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) and/or National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO) designation considered an asset.
- Proven experience implementing, auditing, and continuously improving divisional Safety Management Systems (SMS).
- Previous supervisory or people-leadership experience, with a demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and hold safety professionals accountable for performance.
- Advanced knowledge of Ontario occupational health and safety legislation, construction and industrial safety requirements, COR/audit principles and health and safety management systems.
- Strong practical knowledge of Construction and Aggregates operations, including mobile equipment, contractor and traffic management, working at heights, confined spaces, energy isolation, field-level risk assessments, and other high-risk activities.
- Advanced investigation, problem-solving, and risk-management skills, with the ability to identify systemic causes and implement practical, sustainable controls.
- Strong leadership, interpersonal, influencing and communication skills, with the ability to effectively build credibility and engage executives, operational leaders, supervisors, frontline employees, regulators and external partners.
- Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, field demands, and urgent incident response.
- Experience with health and safety budget planning, expense oversight and resource allocation.
- Proficiency with safety management systems such as eCompliance, as well as with data analysis, reporting, and presentation tools.
- Adult Train-the-Trainer certification and demonstrated ability to facilitate training and communicate technical information clearly, practically, and engagingly.
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and make timely decisions in complex or high-pressure situations.
- Professionalism, tact, diplomacy and discretion when handling sensitive employee, incident and business information.
Salary: $95,000 to $105,000 based on experience and qualifications
Why Join Walker
- You become part of a team you can count on
- A comprehensive total rewards package and benefits to support your wellbeing
- Leaders who support your growth and success
- Flexible work policies and strong work-life balance
- Give back to our communities with two paid volunteer days annually and opportunities to become involved in events
Equal Opportunity Employer
At Walker, your contribution matters.
If you share our commitment to giving back to your community and caring about the environment, we’d love to hear from you.
Our workplaces strive to reflect the diversity of the communities in which we operate.
We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all ethnicities, races, religions, gender identities and expressions, Indigenous communities, and persons with disabilities.
Should you require any accommodation in applying for this role, or throughout the interview process, please let us know when you are contacted, and we will work with you to meet your needs.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted
How to Apply
To express interest in this exciting opportunity, email your cover letter and resume to:
Marty Greenaway
Search Consultant
mgreenaway@feldmandaxon.com
This job posting is for an existing position with Walker Industries.
We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to screen, assess, or select applicants at any stage of the hiring process.
All applications will be reviewed and evaluated by the Feldman Daxon team.