Program specialist Jobs in Ottawa, ON

Role Summary
The Health and Safety (HSE) Specialist supports and strengthens a preventative safety culture within Modern Niagara’s Construction business. The role works to reduce and eliminate risks of injury and illness by providing expert guidance, site engagement, inspections, training, incident support, and documentation management. Success is achieved through proactive hazard identification, strong partnerships with field and operational teams, and consistent application of Modern Niagara’s safety standards.

Why This Role Matters to Modern Niagara
A strong and proactive safety culture is essential to protecting people, maintaining customer trust, and ensuring operational excellence. The HSE Specialist directly supports this by advising leaders, coaching workers, identifying risks, and elevating Modern Niagara’s safety performance. This role is integral to delivering safe, compliant, and successful projects while reducing incidents, claims, and operational disruption.

Key Impact / Purpose

• Strengthen and maintain Modern Niagara’s preventative safety culture across Construction projects.
• Support field teams and leaders through proactive engagement, inspections, and coaching.
• Reduce incidents and claims through data analysis, recommendations, and continuous improvement of safe work procedures.
• Provide reliable guidance on training needs, hazard mitigation, and site‑specific safety planning.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Facilitate and support safety‑related education and training.
• Engage workers onsite to reinforce HSE requirements and influence safe behavior.
• Support and lead HSE initiatives for operational projects using industry knowledge and expertise.
• Partner with operations to develop and communicate HSE messaging.
• Analyze safety data to evaluate preventative programs and recommend improvements.
• Collaborate with field leaders during site inspections.
• Attend all applicable HSE meetings.
• Support operations and Senior Leadership in risk management by: Analyzing and interpreting data to identify improvement opportunities. Enhancing safe work procedures using lessons learned. Assessing HSE training needs and recommending competency‑building programs. Consulting on new project site‑specific safety plans. Advising on HSE topics. Supporting incident and claim management.

Must Haves:

• 3+ years of experience in the construction industry.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to build productive relationships at all levels.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Well‑organized, able to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Resourceful, energetic, and able to work independently when needed.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle for site travel.
• Strong interest in long‑term career growth within the construction industry.

Nice to Haves:

• Post‑secondary education in a related field.
• Relevant safety credentials or certifications.
• Experience with training delivery, incident management, or program development.

This is a new position. Expected annual compensation; $70,000 - $80,000.

Modern Niagara offers a competitive total compensation package including:

• Performance based bonus opportunities
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with a generous employer contribution
• Flexible Health and Dental benefits with tiered options to meet the needs of you and your family
• An annual health spending account to support your overall wellness
• 24/7 confidential support through our Employee and Family Assistance Program with access to comprehensive resources and professional services
• A competitive vacation package with additional vacation granted throughout your tenure with the organization.
• Employer Paid Parental Leave Top Up
• Annual Community Day dedicated to volunteering and giving back to the communities where we live and work
• Corporate Discounts through various vendors across Canada for programs such as fitness, mobile phones, travel, home and auto insurance and many others

Here at Modern Niagara, because we know our people are the best in the industry, we pride ourselves on providing a total compensation package that rewards employees for their hard work and supports employees and their families in their overall wellbeing.

About Modern Niagara

Who We Are

Modern Niagara helps building owners, managers, and general contractors meet the mechanical and electrical needs of their buildings across Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Southwestern Ontario, and Ottawa. We are committed to having a positive and meaningful impact on Canada’s infrastructure — and on the communities where we live, learn, work, and heal. We build for life.

Our Culture & Values

We value passion, initiative, determination, professionalism, and teamwork. Health and safety are embedded in everything we do, and our award-winning safety culture consistently performs well above industry standards.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Modern Niagara

We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization where everyone has access to opportunity, feels a sense of belonging, and can thrive. We actively work to remove barriers faced by members of equity-seeking groups (including women, Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, people with disabilities, and newcomers to Canada) in the construction industry. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and lived experiences and are committed to a barrier-free hiring process.

If you require accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us at so we can make appropriate arrangements.

We appreciate every applicant’s interest in joining Modern Niagara. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.