People & Building Safety Manager

University of Wisconsin–Madison; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is seeking a People & Building Safety Manager to lead comprehensive safety programs, reduce risk, and ensure regulatory compliance across the campus’ diverse environments.

This role provides supervision for safety professionals, develops training, and partners with Facilities, Housing, Athletics, academic units, and unions to identify hazards and implement practical, proactive risk controls.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five (5) years of health and safety organization experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of leadership, supervisory, or management experience within a safety-focused environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for training and presenting technical information to diverse audiences.
• OSHA 30-Hour Certification.
• Ability to foster partnerships with diverse stakeholders to advance safety and compliance.
• Valid driver's license per UW Risk Management.

Responsibilities

• Reviews and creates health and safety policies.
• Respond to in-field assessment requests and develop safe work methods.
• May supervise daily unit staff and guide workflows.
• Oversees unit consultations with customers and stakeholders.
• Develop and implement OSHA-compliant education modules.
• Lead campus safety committees and risk management initiatives.
• Identify operational and safety issues and drive improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

OSHA 30-Hour

Team collaboration

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master of Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH)

Tools

HAZWOPER Certification

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Environmental Health and Safety Manager

Job Summary:

As a key member of the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) leadership team, the People & Building Safety Manager is responsible for developing, administering, and implementing comprehensive safety programs that reduce risk, prevent workplace injuries, and minimize losses associated with employee safety and hazardous building materials management. This role leads strategic campus-wide safety and health initiatives, establishes performance metrics, tracks results, and collaborates with cross-functional partners to ensure alignment with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.

The People & Building Safety Manager provides leadership and supervision for a team of safety professionals, guiding daily operations, performance management, and professional development while fostering a culture of EHS compliance and best practices. The position oversees employee safety training programs to ensure compliance with OSHA standards, manages safety committees and incident review processes, coordinates campus safety initiatives, and partners closely with Facilities, Housing, Athletics, academic units, unions, and other stakeholders to identify hazards, develop practical solutions, and enhance workplace safety across a wide range of operational, academic, and research environments.

Leveraging broad subject matter expertise in occupational safety, the manager serves as a trusted advisor to faculty, staff, and students, delivering training, driving continuous improvement, and promoting proactive risk management throughout the organization.

Join Us:

Join us in creating a safer, healthier campus where every individual can learn, work, and thrive.

Employment Terms:

Ongoing/Renewable

Full-Time: 100% FTE

Occasional nights may be required for this position. Work is performed onsite.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Reviews and creates health and safety policies
• Respond to requests for the in-field assessment of work practices and environments. Develop and deliver technically viable occupational safe work methods per the hierarchy of hazard control
• May supervise the daily operations of unit staff and provide direction and expectations for workflows
• Oversees unit consultations to customers and serves as the main point of contact for internal and external stakeholders
• Develop and implement OSHA compliant education modules with campus partners
• Provide guidance through active participation in campus safety committees engaged in occupational safety change management, design, development, and implementation
• Guides the development and implementation of a health and safety program that aligns with strategic goals
• Identifies operational and safety issues

Department:

Division of Facilities Planning & Management (FP&M), Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)

About the Division of Facilities Planning & Management (FP&M):

The Division of Facilities Planning & Management (FP&M) is a full-spectrum service organization that builds, maintains, and operates the physical environment of UW-Madison in the university's education, research, and outreach activities. We are responsible for everything from the building projects that change the face of campus to the flowers that beautify the grounds.

Find out more about our Division: https://inside.fpm.wisc.edu/about-fpm/

Compensation:

$90,000 annually minimum

The minimum rate for this position is $90,000, but it is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

For a summary of benefits, please see below for more information:

Academic Staff Benefits Summary

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of five (5) years of health and safety organization experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of leadership, supervisory, or management experience within a safety-focused environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to deliver training and present technical information to non-technical audiences.
• OSHA 30-Hour Certification
• Demonstrated ability to foster collaborative partnerships with diverse stakeholders to advance workplace safety, compliance, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Valid driver's license that meets UW Risk Management requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master of Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) or an advanced degree
• Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or comparable professional safety certification.
• Current 40-Hour HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergenc