Job Overview
We are seeking a dynamic and proactive Safety & Environmental Health Manager to lead our organization’s efforts in maintaining a safe, compliant, and environmentally responsible workplace. In this vital role, you will develop, implement, and oversee comprehensive safety and environmental programs that promote employee well-being, ensure regulatory compliance, and foster a culture of safety excellence. Your expertise will drive continuous improvement initiatives, manage regulatory requirements, and support operational excellence across all manufacturing processes. This position offers an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact by safeguarding our people and environment while supporting sustainable business growth.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Regulatory Compliance & Program Management
Develop, implement, and maintain safety policies, procedures, and programs in compliance with OSHA, EPA, DNR, DOT, FDA, applicable state regulations, local safety ordinances, fire codes, and hazardous materials regulations.
Ensure compliance with standards including, but not limited to:
- Hazard Communication (HazCom)
- Process Safety Management (PSM), where applicable
- Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
- Confined Space
- Respiratory Protection
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Machine Guarding
- Emergency Action Plans
Coordinate and maintain working relationships with local fire departments, police departments, and emergency management agencies to support compliance with fire codes, life safety requirements, and hazardous materials regulations.
Facilitate and participate in facility walkthroughs, inspections, and pre-incident planning with local authorities, including review of hazardous material storage, handling, labeling, quantity limits, fire protection systems, and emergency access.
Ensure hazardous materials inventories, chemical storage practices, and emergency response information are accurate, documented, and provided to appropriate local agencies as required.
Maintain required safety documentation, records, permits, logs, and certifications.
Serve as the primary contact for regulatory inspections, audits, and corrective action follow-up.
Safety Training
Build up, implement, and maintain safety training programs for employees, contractors, and temporary workers.
Provide training related to:
- Safe operation, assembly/disassembly, and sanitation of equipment and machinery
- Chemical handling, storage, labeling, and process safety
- Job-specific hazards and emergency response procedures
Ensure training content meets regulatory requirements and is updated as processes, equipment, or regulations change.
Track training completion, certifications, and refresher requirements.
Hazard Identification & Risk Management
Conduct routine safety inspections, audits, and job hazard analyses (JHAs).
Identify hazards related to equipment operation, chemical processes, and workplace conditions.
Recommend and implement corrective actions, engineering controls, and safe work practices.
Participate in process changes, equipment installations, and facility modifications to assess safety risks.
Incident Management, Workers’ Compensation & Reporting
Lead investigations of workplace injuries, near misses, spills, property damage, and safety incidents.
Determine root causes and implement corrective and preventive actions.
Manage and coordinate workers’ compensation claims, including initial injury reporting, documentation, return-to-work coordination, and communication with insurers and third-party administrators.
Ensure timely completion of OSHA logs (300/301), workers’ compensation forms, and internal incident reports.
Analyze incident and claims trends to develop injury reduction strategies.
Emergency Preparedness & Response
Develop, implement, and maintain emergency response and evacuation plans.
Coordinate and evaluate emergency drills and exercises.
Serve as a key safety contact during emergency situations, including chemical releases or serious injuries.
Ensure emergency equipment and supplies are properly maintained and inspected
Leadership, Communication & Safety Culture
Promote a proactive, company-wide safety culture.
Serve as the facility subject-matter expert on safety regulations, equipment hazards, and chemical processes.
Advise leadership on safety risks, compliance status, and performance metrics.
Lead safety committees and safety meetings.
Support disciplinary processes related to safety violations in accordance with company policy.
Qualifications
Associate’s degree in Occupational Safety & Health, Environmental Science, Safety Engineering, or a related field preferred.
Equivalent experience may be considered; 3+ years in manufacturing & production safety with adequate process management and certifications.
Experience
1-2 years of safety management experience in a manufacturing or production environment.
Experience with equipment safety, chemical handling, safety training, and regulatory compliance.
Experience managing workers’ compensation claims preferred.
Must have high computer literacy
Certifications (Preferred)
Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST)
OSHA 30-hour certification
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Strong knowledge of OSHA and safety regulations.
Understanding of chemical processes and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
Strong investigation, documentation, and analytical skills.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to train employees at all organizational levels.
Physical Demands
Ability to walk, stand, and move throughout manufacturing, warehouse, and laboratory areas for extended periods of time.
Occasionally required to climb stairs, ladders, or platforms to access equipment, tanks, or elevated work areas.
May be required to bend, kneel, crouch, reach, or stoop during safety inspections, audits, and investigations.
Ability to lift and carry materials, safety equipment, or monitoring tools weighing up to 25–50 pounds, with reasonable accommodations as required by law.
Manual dexterity and visual acuity required to inspect equipment, read gauges, labels, and safety documentation.
Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators, safety glasses, face shields, gloves, hearing protection, and protective clothing.
Work Environment
Works primarily in an industrial manufacturing environment involving chemical processing and food‑grade production operations.
Frequent exposure to production machinery, moving equipment, conveyors, and forklifts.
Possible exposure to airborne food allergens.
Exposure to chemicals, cleaning agents, food ingredients, dusts, vapors, heat, cold, noise, and odors consistent with chemical and food manufacturing operations.
Work areas may include wet, humid, hot, or cold conditions depending on production processes.
Required to comply with strict safety, hygiene, food safety, and regulatory standards (OSHA, EPA, FDA, USDA, GMP, HACCP).
Regular interaction with production employees, maintenance teams, contractors, and regulatory inspectors.
Office work required for reporting, training development, data analysis, and regulatory documentation, including extended computer use.
May require extended hours, shift flexibility, on‑call availability, or occasional weekend work to support operations, audits, or incident response.
Occasional travel between facilities, vendors, or training sites may be required.
Join us as our Safety & Environmental Health Manager to champion a culture where safety is at the core of everything we do! Your leadership will help create a safer workplace while ensuring we meet all environmental responsibilities—empowering our team members every day!
Pay: From $70,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Would you describe yourself as ambitious, self-motivated, and focused on preventative problem-solving?
Experience:
- Safety Management: 1 year (Required)
License/Certification:
- Occupational Health or OSHA Certifications (Required)
Work Location: In person
