Director, Production Safety (UCAN) DE

The Director, Production Safety, who reports to the VP of Production Safety, oversees the safety strategy and operations for The Walt Disney Company's physical productions in the U.S. and Canada (UCAN) across all banners. This role is responsible for managing the Production Safety team across UCAN, ensuring consistent implementation of safety protocols and compliance with international, federal, and local regulations. The Director collaborates with internal stakeholders and external partners to develop and enforce safety policies, manage high-risk assessments, and support the safe execution of theatrical, television, and other content productions.

Responsibilities:

Global Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and develop a high-performing production safety team.

• Foster a culture of safety, mentorship, and continuous improvement.

• Oversee talent development and succession planning.

Strategic Safety Oversight

• Collaborate with the VP of Production Safety to guide safety strategy across all Disney-associated entities.

• Collaborate with the Director of Production Safety (EMEA) for global alignment on safety programs, protocols and initiatives.

• Develop and implement global safety programs and policies for productions and corporate facilities.

• Provide oversight of third-party commissioned productions and event safety.

• Provide safety oversight of the Disney Theatrical Group (DTG).

• Conduct data analysis on injury and incident trends to develop proactive preventative initiatives across productions.

• Organize and lead safety strategy meetings with Studio Stakeholders to develop and improve safety standards, programs and initiatives across all productions.

• Oversee auditing and inspection procedures across programs and productions.

• Strategize for safety advisor support in key filming locations.

Production Support & Risk Management

• Provide oversight of high-hazard risk assessments and lead the development of proactive mitigation strategies to safeguard cast, crew and production operations.

• Conduct high-hazard risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies.

• Liaise with production management and department heads to assess the need for additional training or other support.

• Identify and operationalize risk mitigation measures on all productions.

• Surface relevant issues to enhance team awareness and escalate when required.

• Flag issues, build awareness, and escalate as needed.

Policy Development & Compliance

• Manage internal working groups and include cross-functional partners in the authoring, reviewing, and implementation of safety documentation.

• Monitor compliance with local and national legislation.

• Represent Disney on industry safety committees and organizations, union, and legislative forums.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Interface with production executives on a regular basis to ensure studio expectations, standards and policies are being met.

• Work with department heads and cross-functional partners to identify and address potential hazards.

• Act as a strategic liaison with regulatory agencies, representing production management to ensure regulatory interactions are managed effectively and requirements are met.

Enterprise Risk Integration

• Contribute to enterprise risk management by identifying emerging risks and aligning safety strategies with business objectives.

• Maintain and utilize safety management systems and risk registers.

• Expertise in effectively managing and operationalizing risk on productions and other safety-related activities.

Required Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience working in global safety operations or related field.

• 5+ years of safety management experience in media (TV, film, studio, or theater).

• 5+ years of proven leadership experience managing mid-to-large teams across multiple regions.

• Strong operational and technical expertise in production safety.

• Demonstrated experience with regulatory compliance, risk assessments, and incident investigations.

• Proficiency in safety management systems and data analysis tools.

• Safety certification or equivalent professional development (e.g., CIH, CSP, ARM).

• Knowledge of OSHA and Cal/OSHA, WorkSafe BC and Ministry of Labor Ontario regulations.

• Must be able to travel up to 25% of the time on short notice.

• This role requires onsite work at our Burbank; CA office and candidates must live within a reasonable distance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with international safety regulations and cross-border production logistics.

• Background in environmental compliance, business continuity, and climate risk.

• Experience with safety database development and enterprise risk systems.

• Familiarity with SPFX, stunts, and high-risk production environments.

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in safety, Allied Health, Safety Engineering, Risk Management, or equivalent experience.

Preferred Education:

• Master’s degree in safety or related field.

The hiring range for this position in Burbank, CA is $168,300.00 to $225,800.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.