Risk and Safety Manager - job description

Larry J. Bakker launched Landscape Design Services in 1968 at the same location where it remains today between Holland and Grand Haven. At the time, Larry was working out of his home with just one employee and a truck. Since then, the business has grown to become the largest full-service landscape company in West Michigan, with 190 professionals delivering landscape architecture, construction, and maintenance services at an exceptional level.

We are seeking an experienced Safety and Risk Manager to lead our safety, DOT/fleet compliance, workers' compensation, and workforce risk programs across our field and fleet operations. This is a hands-on role for someone who is comfortable spending the majority of their time on job sites and in the field, has the credibility and presence to enforce safety standards with crews, and can also own the detailed compliance recordkeeping that keeps us audit-ready.

What You'll Do

● Lead the Safety & Risk Management Committee and drive OSHA compliance, incident investigations, PPE programs, and toolbox talks across all crews and locations.

● Conduct regular field observations and safety walks, with the authority to pause unsafe work and issue corrective action on-site.

● Own DOT/FMCSA compliance: driver qualification files, drug and alcohol testing (DOT and Non-DOT random pools), CDL compliance, medical card tracking, MVR monitoring, and continuity of DOT Clearinghouse queries.

● Coordinate workers' compensation from injury reporting through claims, return-to-work, modified duty, and carrier communication.

● Manage fleet compliance, including insurance, vehicle registration, and licensing documentation.

● Design and build structured training programs, including a redesigned new-hire onboarding experience, ongoing safety certification refreshers, and skills-based training (equipment operation, planting and mowing standards) in partnership with crew coordinators.

● Track and proactively schedule continuing education (CE) credits for license holders, consolidating training opportunities to reduce lost field time and cost from reactive scheduling.

● Maintain all safety, training, licensing, and compliance records and logs; independent, meticulous recordkeeping is essential.

● Partner closely with the HR and Operations leadership to balance office-based compliance work with in-field presence, shifting emphasis seasonally.

More details and apply at:  https://www.indeed.com/job/safety-and-risk-manager-e22a5012c7e96bf1

Questions, contact:

careers@LandscapeDS.com

Alicia Collier, HR Manager, 616-399-1734