Safety Manager - Food & Meat Processing
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Safety Manager to lead and continuously improve health, safety and regulatory compliance programs at our food manufacturing and meat processing facilities. The Safety Manager will develop and implement safety policies, ensure OSHA and industry-standard compliance, deliver training, conduct risk assessments and incident investigations, and partner with operations to create a workplace culture that minimizes injuries, protects employees and supports product safety.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive safety management system aligned with OSHA requirements and industry best practices (GMP, HACCP, FSMA, BRC/SQF where applicable).
- Conduct regular site safety inspections, hazard assessments and job safety analyses (JSAs); identify corrective actions and follow up to completion.
- Lead incident and near-miss investigations, determine root causes, document findings and implement corrective and preventive actions to prevent recurrence.
- Design and deliver safety training programs for all levels of staff, including new-hire orientation, OSHA-required training (e.g., hazard communication, lockout/tagout), confined space, PPE use and safe equipment operation.
- Manage recordkeeping for safety metrics, OSHA logs, incident reports, training records and regulatory submissions; prepare regular reports for leadership and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Coordinate with operations, quality and maintenance teams to integrate safety into production processes and change management, with emphasis on food safety and cross-functional risk controls.
- Oversee contractor safety programs, ensuring pre-qualification, site orientation, and performance monitoring for third-party vendors.
- Drive ergonomics assessments and injury prevention programs to reduce musculoskeletal injuries in production and packaging areas.
- Develop and test emergency response and disaster recovery plans, lead drills and ensure preparedness for fires, chemical spills and other incidents.
- Serve as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies, insurance providers and external auditors during inspections and certifications.
Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health, Engineering, Food Science or related field, or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of progressive safety experience in manufacturing, with preference for food manufacturing or meat processing environments.
- Demonstrated working knowledge of OSHA standards and regulatory compliance; experience managing OSHA recordkeeping and inspections.
- Experience with food industry safety systems and standards such as HACCP, GMP, FSMA, BRC or SQF preferred.
- Certifications such as CSP, CIH, CHST or OSHA 30-hour are highly desirable; OSHA 10/30 training required or ability to obtain.
- Proven experience conducting incident investigations, root cause analysis (e.g., A3, 5 Whys, Fishbone) and implementing corrective actions.
- Strong training and communication skills with the ability to influence operations and frontline teams to adopt safe work practices.
- Proficient in safety data analysis and reporting, comfortable using MS Office and safety management software; ability to track KPIs and drive continuous improvement.
- Physical ability to conduct plant walkthroughs and enter production areas; willingness to work flexible hours to support multiple shifts and respond to incidents.
- Preferred: prior experience in meat processing, food production or food processing environments and familiarity with PPE and sanitation requirements specific to the industry.
Benefits
- Annual Base Salary: $80,000 - $95,000
- Bonus Potential
- Health, Dental, Vision Insurance Plans
- Life, Short Term Disability, Long-Term Disability Plans
- 401k Plan with Company Matching
- PTO / Paid Vacation
- Privately Owned Company
- Growth Opportunities