Manager, Safety & Security

Sappi; Cloquet (MN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Sappi Cloquet is seeking a strategic and influential Manager, Safety & Security to lead health, safety, emergency response, and security programs for a large manufacturing operation with 700+ personnel.

Reporting to the Managing Director, the role drives safety excellence, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and organizational performance while developing people and shaping culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Industrial Safety, Environmental Health & Safety, Engineering, or a related field.
• 7–10 years of progressive health and safety experience in manufacturing or similar complex environments.
• Proven success leading safety programs, culture transformation, and continuous improvement.
• Experience managing direct reports and influencing cross-functional teams.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local safety and health regulations, including OSHA.
• Experience with ISO 45001, OHSAS, or similar management systems.
• Excellent communication, presentation, facilitation, and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the site's senior advisor on health, safety, emergency response, and security matters.
• Develop and execute the site's Health, Safety & Security roadmap aligned with corporate objectives.
• Champion a proactive safety culture with accountability and continuous improvement.
• Lead safety initiatives to reduce risk, improve performance, and resilience.

Skills

Leadership & people mgmt

Regulatory knowledge (OSHA, ISO 45001)

Strategic safety culture

Stakeholder collaboration

Communication & influence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Industrial Safety, EHS, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Sappi North America
Sappi Cloquet, established in 1898, produces high-quality graphic papers used in premium magazines, catalogs, books, direct mail and high-end print advertising for the fashion, automotive and travel industries, as well as speciality papers. Cloquet manufactures Verve, a dissolving pulp used for the textile and home goods markets. Energy saving and clean water initiatives at Cloquet have won environmental recognition, aligning with the mill's commitment to sustainability.

Lead Safety Excellence. Protect People. Shape Culture.

At Sappi Cloquet, safety is more than a priority. It is a core value that drives every decision we make. We are seeking a strategic and influential Manager, Safety & Security to lead the development, execution, and continuous improvement of health, safety, emergency response, and security programs across a large, complex manufacturing operation employing more than 700 people.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, this role serves as the senior site leader responsible for creating and sustaining a world-class safety culture while protecting our employees, contractors, visitors, assets, and operations. The successful candidate will lead a team of safety and security professionals, including a Health & Safety Supervisor, and partner closely with operational leaders to drive safety excellence, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and organizational performance.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a passionate leader who thrives on influencing culture, developing people, and delivering measurable business results through safety leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Safety Culture

• Serve as the site's senior advisor and subject matter expert on health, safety, emergency response, and security matters.
• Develop and execute the site's strategic Health, Safety & Security roadmap, aligning initiatives with corporate objectives and operational priorities.
• Champion a proactive safety culture that promotes accountability, employee engagement, ownership, and continuous improvement at all levels of the organization.
• Lead transformational safety initiatives that reduce risk, improve performance, and strengthen organizational resilience.

Operational Excellence & Risk Management

• Direct the implementation, effectiveness, and continuous improvement of site-wide safety management systems, programs, and processes.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, local, and corporate health, safety, environmental, and security requirements.
• Monitor leading and lagging indicators, analyze trends, and leverage data-driven insights to identify opportunities and drive sustainable improvements.
• Lead significant incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action processes to prevent recurrence.
• Oversee risk assessments and ensure appropriate controls are implemented across operations, maintenance, projects, and contractor activities.

Team Leadership & Organizational Influence

• Provide leadership, coaching, development, and performance management for the Health & Safety Supervisor and broader safety and security personnel.
• Build strong partnerships with operations, maintenance, engineering, human resources, labor representatives, and corporate stakeholders to strengthen safety ownership throughout the organization.
• Influence leaders and employees at all levels to drive behavioral change and embed safety into daily decision-making.
• Foster an environment of trust, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.

Emergency Preparedness & Security

• Lead the site's emergency response, crisis management, fire protection, and business continuity preparedness efforts.
• Oversee site security programs and ensure contracted security personnel effectively execute their responsibilities to safeguard employees, facilities, visitors, and assets.
• Ensure emergency response plans, training programs, drills, and security protocols remain current, effective, and aligned with best practices.

Capital Projects & Regulatory Stewardship

• Provide safety leadership and oversight for capital projects, new equipment installations, facility modifications, and operational changes.
• Ensure safety principles are incorporated into the design, selection, and implementation of equipment, processes, and facilities.
• Maintain strong relationships with regulatory agencies and serve as the primary site contact for OSHA and other applicable authorities.
• Lead site audits, inspections, and compliance activities while driving timely and effective corrective actions.

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Industrial Safety, Environmental Health & Safety, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive health and safety experience in manufacturing, industrial operations, energy or a similarly complex environment.
• Demonstrated success leading safety programs, culture transformation initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Experience managing direct reports and influencing cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local safety and health regulations, including OSHA requirements.
• Experience working within ISO 45001, OHSAS, or similar management systems.
• Excellent communication, presentation, facilitation, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional safety certification such as CSP, ASP, CIH, or equivalent.
• Experience in pulp and paper, heavy manufacturing, chemical processing, mining, energy, or other high-hazard industries.
• Experience partnering with unionized workforces.
• Demonstrated expertise in incident investigation methodologies, risk management systems, and behavioral safety programs.

We're looking for a leader who demonstrates:

• Strategic thinking and business acumen
• Courageous and influential leadership
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving capabilities
• Ability to build trust and credibility across the organization
• A passion for developing people and strengthening organizational capability
• A relentless commitment to protecting people and driving operational excellence

Why This Role Matters

This position plays a critical leadership role in shaping the future of safety, security, and operational excellence at Sappi Cloquet. As a member of the site leadership team reporting directly to the Managing Director, you will influence strategic decisions, lead high-impact initiatives, and help ensure every employee returns home safely every day.

Salary is determined by a number of factors including the value of the job to the organization, market forces, internal equity and skills brought to the job.

Sappi provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Sappi complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

ABOUT SAPPI

Sappi isa leading global provider of everyday materials made from woodfibre-based renewable resources. As a diversified, innovative and trusted leader focused on sustainable processes and products, we are building a more circular economy by making what we should, not just what we can.