Safety Director

Sterling Search Partners; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Search Partners is seeking an experienced Safety Manager for a multi-location manufacturing organization. This hands-on leadership role requires walking facilities, identifying hazards, and communicating recommendations to executives to drive accountability.

You will lead safety initiatives across facilities, conduct inspections, risk assessments, and root-cause investigations while building a strong safety culture and ensuring OSHA compliance.

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of progressive, hands-on safety experience.
• Experience in manufacturing, distribution, warehousing, transportation, logistics, or other industrial environments.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations, safety inspections, audits, and incident investigations.
• Fleet/DOT safety experience is highly preferred.
• Strong communication and training skills with the ability to work with frontline employees to senior executives.
• Hands-on in the field and able to travel ~30% including overnight stays.

Responsibilities

• Provide safety leadership across key manufacturing and operational facilities.
• Conduct regular site visits, safety inspections, risk assessments, and audits.
• Partner with employees and leadership to build a strong safety culture.
• Identify hazards and implement corrective actions for material handling, fleets, PPE, and other risks.
• Lead investigations for accidents, incidents, and near-misses, including root cause analysis.
• Develop and deliver practical safety training and toolbox talks.
• Maintain OSHA compliance and safety documentation; support inspections and reporting.
• Track safety metrics, trends and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with HR and location Safety Leads to maintain safety standards across locations.
• Help develop and improve a company-wide safety program.

Skills

Safety leadership

Hazard identification

Incident investigation

Communication

Field leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety or related field

Job description

Our client, a well-established national industrial/manufacturing organization, is seeking an experienced Safety Manager to lead and strengthen safety initiatives across a multi-location operation.

This is a hands-on, field-focused leadership role — not a desk-based corporate compliance position. The ideal candidate is comfortable walking a facility, identifying hazards, working alongside employees and operations leaders, and then stepping into an executive meeting to communicate recommendations and drive accountability.

What You’ll Do:

• Provide safety leadership across key manufacturing and operational facilities, with broader oversight of safety initiatives across the organization.
• Conduct regular site visits, safety inspections, risk assessments, and operational audits.
• Partner with employees, Branch/Operations Managers, and leadership to build a strong safety culture.
• Identify hazards and implement practical corrective actions related to material handling, forklifts, cranes, PPE, fleet operations, loading/unloading, and other industrial risks.
• Lead and support accident, incident, near-miss, and property-damage investigations, including root-cause analysis.
• Develop and deliver practical safety training and toolbox talks.
• Maintain strong OSHA compliance and safety documentation; support OSHA inspections and reporting.
• Track and communicate safety metrics, trends, and corrective actions.
• Work closely with HR, Safety Coordinators, and location-level Safety Leads to maintain consistent safety standards.
• Help develop and continuously improve a company-wide safety program.

What We’re Looking For:

• 5–7+ years of progressive, hands-on safety experience.
• Experience in manufacturing, distribution, warehousing, transportation, logistics, or other industrial environments.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations, safety inspections, audits, and incident investigations.
• Experience with fleet/DOT safety is highly preferred.
• Strong communication and training skills with the ability to work effectively with everyone from frontline employees to senior executives.
• A relationship-driven leadership style — someone who earns trust rather than simply enforcing rules.
• Willingness to be hands-on in the field and get involved when needed.
• Comfortable traveling approximately 30%, including overnight travel to operational facilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.

Why This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of safety within a growing, established organization where safety is viewed as everyone’s responsibility — from the frontline employee to executive leadership. You’ll have the visibility and autonomy to make a meaningful impact on safety culture, operational practices, and employee engagement.