Safety Management Systems (SMS) Manager

Woodward; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 108,000 - 173,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match (4.5%)

Annual Woodward stock contribution (5%

Tuition reimbursement

Training/Professional Development

12 paid holidays

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Vacation / Sick Time

Paid parental leave

Adoption Assistance

Employee Assistance Program (mental健康)

Job summary

Woodward is seeking a Safety Management System (SMS) Manager for Fuel Systems & Controls. You will lead deployment, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the SMS across design, development, production, and service activities.

You will partner with business units, sites, engineering, operations, quality, and customer-facing teams to embed product safety principles and promote a proactive safety culture enterprise-wide.

Responsibilities

• Lead the deployment and sustainment of the product Safety Management System (SMS) in alignment with company SMS policy and applicable site-specific SMS manuals.
• Support Business Units and sites in implementing Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion.
• Develop and maintain SMS processes, procedures, tools, governance routines, and records.
• Coordinate periodic reviews of the SMS policy and supporting processes for relevance and effectiveness.

Job description

Woodward is committed to creating a great workplace for all team members. Our company and its members are committed to acting with integrity, being respectful and accountable to one another, and staying humble and driven, while maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards.

We are steadfastly committed to attracting the best talent across our communities creating a rewarding workplace. Together we are fulfilling our purpose to design and deliver energy control solutions our partners count on to power a clean future.

Woodward supports our members' wellbeing and regularly benchmarks with other companies in our industry to offer an extensive Total Reward package for this position. Salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Estimated annual base pay: $108,000 (minimum) - $140,000 (midpoint) - $173,000 (maximum)

All Levels are eligible for the benefits below:

• All members included in annual cash bonus opportunity.
• 401(k) match (4.5%)
• Annual Woodward stock contribution (5%)
• Tuition reimbursement and Training/Professional Development opportunities for all members
• 12 paid holidays
• Industry leading medical, dental, and vision Insurance upon date of hire
• Vacation / Sick Time / Vacation Buy-up / Short Term Disability / Bereavement leave
• Paid parental leave
• Adoption Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program, including mental health benefits
• Member Life & AD&D / Long Term Disability / Member Optional Life
• Member referral bonus
• Spouse / Child Optional Life / Optional AD&D / Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending
• Voluntary benefits, including:
• Home / Auto Insurance discounts
• Whole Life Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance / Legal Assistance / Military Leave

Summary

The Safety Management System (SMS) Manager leads the implementation, maintenance, integration, and continual improvement of the product Safety Management System for Fuel Systems & Controls (FS&C).

This role supports a proactive, enterprise-wide approach to product safety through leadership engagement, hazard identification, risk-based decision making, safety assurance, and safety promotion.

The SMS Manager partners with Business Unit and site leaders, Engineering, Operations, Quality, Product Support, and customer-facing teams to embed product safety principles across design, development, production, fielded product support, and service activities. The role promotes an open reporting environment, supports effective safety governance, and helps ensure that product safety controls are implemented, monitored, and validated.

Key Responsibilities

SMS Governance and Policy Deployment

Lead the deployment and sustainment of the product Safety Management System (SMS) in alignment with company SMS policy and applicable site-specific SMS manuals.

Support Business Units and sites in implementing the four SMS elements: Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion.

Develop and maintain SMS processes, procedures, tools, governance routines, and records.

Coordinate periodic reviews of the SMS policy and supporting processes to ensure continued relevance and effectiveness.

Safety Program Management Team Support

Support Safety Program Management Team (SPMT) governance, meeting preparation, safety concern reviews, decision documentation, and action tracking.

Maintain the safety item worklist, including approved containment actions, permanent corrective actions, closure requirements, monitoring, and validation of effectiveness.

Coordinate cross-functional inputs required for timely, informed, and data-driven safety decisions.

Support collaboration with the end product owner in determining whether a component-level concern represents a customer product safety issue.

Quality Management and Process Improvement

Oversee and direct quality assurance teams to achieve established quality and safety objectives.

Develop, implement, and enforce quality standards and procedures across operational processes.

Identify, analyze, and resolve technical and operational quality issues to maintain operational excellence.

Develop and implement strategies to improve quality control processes and promote continuous improvement.

Conduct performance appraisals, provide feedback, and facilitate training and development for team members.

Proactive Hazard Identification and Reporting

Establish and improve structured, ongoing processes for identifying potential product safety hazards across the product life cycle.

Promote a just and open reporting environment that encourages employees to report hazards and safety concerns without fear of retaliation.

Integrate Human and Organizational Performance (HOP), learning teams, and human factors principles where applicable.

Reinforce STOP culture expectations and the prevention of defect pass-through.

Safety Risk Management

Facilitate the consistent assessment