Director of Safety Central Services

Darling Ingredients Inc.; Cold Spring (KY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Darling Ingredients Inc. is seeking a strategic Safety Director to design and manage comprehensive health and safety programs across plants, docks, and offices. You will lead a team of 5+ safety managers, drive regulatory compliance, and align initiatives with corporate goals.

Responsibilities include developing systems, dashboards, and training curricula; ensuring DOT and OSHA compliance; coordinating audits; and fostering a world-class safety culture with data-driven insights.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health and Safety or related discipline.
• 7+ years leading high-functioning safety teams.
• 5+ years in education, LMS, and learning design.
• Experience implementing safety management systems (e.g., ISO 45001).
• Strong strategic thinker with cross-functional leadership.
• Must be self-motivated with problem-solving skills.
• Limited travel up to 20%.

Responsibilities

• Lead Safety Central Services Team and mentor 5+ safety managers.
• Develop and implement safety programs, policies, and procedures.
• Monitor regulations and coordinate audits (DOT, OSHA).
• Create dashboards, analytics, and metrics for success.
• Develop safety curricula and training tracks.
• Foster a positive safety culture across plants, docks, and offices.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Safety program development

Effective communication

Problem solving

Team mentoring

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health and Safety or related discipline

Tools

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Safety information systems

Job description

This position reports to the VP of Safety Management and will serve as strategic leader responsible for the design, development, implementation, education, and administration of a comprehensive health and safety programs. This leader proactively directs the day-to-day operations of the Safety Central Services Team and provides safety program management to ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations. In addition, this role leads strategic educational initiatives to champion program implementation and success. The position is both strategic and tactical in nature; leading a group of 5+ safety managers to develop, implement, and administer safety programs, policies, systems, and specialized services. As a member of our safety leadership team, this leader will be responsible for supporting and enabling a positive safety culture within our plants, docks, offices, and other areas we operate, and will effectively support our Regional Safety Support Team, Fleet Safety Director, and other operational and corporate stakeholders.

Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Enable a world class safety culture, process oriented, and compliance supporting environment through the exploration, development and implementation of effective and innovative solutions, programs, systems, tools, and educational materials.
• Develop and Manage the Safety Central Services Team, including: 1) Strategic development and mentoring of the Safety Central Services Team; Review of current processes and practices, department structure and skill sets; and driving continuous improvement in performance and services provided.
• Develop and implement safety and compliance management systems, processes, programs, policies, and procedures that align with current business practices.
• Monitor & interpret Federal, State and local regulations (DOT, OSHA, etc.), determine applicability to our operations.
• Manage the company's regulatory reporting function.
• Coordinate resource needs during regulatory audits (DOT, OSHA, etc.).
• Develop employee education, training engagement, and performance management strategies to include:
• Create dashboards, analytics, and metrics for success.
• Develop safety curricula, certifications, training tracks, and/or learning paths to enhance employee competencies and qualifications, including on-boarding and regulatory training.
• Effectively sell the value proposition of safety programs and processes in the field.
• Developing efficient training strategies, leveraging technology (including learning management systems), to increase field engagement and meet regulatory compliance requirements.
• Support operations with standardized material and content development.
• Create communications and engagement strategies and materials.
• Oversee, lead and manage the process leaders and resources needed for the following specialized services:
• Process Safety Management (PSM's) and related plans and evaluations.
• Dust Hazard Analyses (DHA's) and related plans and evaluations.
• Industrial hygiene related services and support.
• Emergency action and response planning, training & coordination.
• Maintenance Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
• Lead and oversee key services, including:
• Data dashboards, scorecards, trend analyses, etc.
• Safety information systems management, and centralized recordkeeping to meet regulatory requirements.
• Communication strategies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience leading high functioning and action oriented teams, and a Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health and Safety or related discipline, OR in lieu of degree, must have a minimum of 7+ years' Occupational Health and Safety specific leadership and people management experience.
• 5+ years' experience in education, adult learning principles, content design, and organizational development. Experience administering and implementing learning management systems (LMS). Familiarity with and leveraging technology to support safety educational initiatives.
• Strong strategic thinker with the ability to drive long-term goals and objectives.
• Experience and expertise developing and implementing safety programs, safety management systems (ex. ISO 45001), safety information systems, RACI models, accountability processes, performance improvement, and standardize best practices.
• Must be self-motivated and capable of analyzing and solving complex problems through innovative thought and experience.
• Effective team member with experience in handling multiple projects/tasks and leading cross-functional teams with minimal guidance in a fast paced environment.
• Proven ability to build positive working relationships through collaboration in a heavily matrixed environment.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, simplifying complex processes and concepts to a variety of audiences.
• Able to advise on courses of action with minimal assistance using both written and verbal methods .
• Limited travel, up to 20%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Safety experience leading in a large multinational; global safety experience preferred.
• Licenses and certifications in Safety Management, Continuous Improvement, Organizational Development.
• Experience in Lean Manufacturing; proficiency in 5s a plus.
• Strong math skills, including statistical analysis.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

• Occasionally exposed to varying temperatures, noise, odors, biohazardous conditions, chemicals, and electrical hazards.
• Occasionally requires travel to offsite locations.
• Frequently requires sitting and walking/moving about the work location.
• Occasionally requires use of office equipment, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, climbing, and balancing.
• Must be able to communicate effectively and use senses to identify potential hazards.
• Occasionally requires lifting and/or moving up to 25lbs.