Safety Specialist

Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association, Inc.; La Mirada (CA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Grupo Chilero, LLC in Southern California is seeking a Safety Specialist to partner with site leaders to develop, implement, and continuously improve Environmental, Health & Safety programs across locations. The role ensures regulatory compliance, promotes a strong safety culture, conducts audits, and supports initiatives to reduce workplace risk and incidents.

Qualifications include an associate degree in EHS or related field with 1 year of EHS or risk-management experience, or 2+ years of EHS

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Environmental Health & Safety or related field and at least 1 year of EHS, safety, or risk management experience; or at least 2 years of EHS experience.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; ability to use Excel for data tracking and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve EHS programs across Grupo Chilero locations.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local EHS regulations.
• Partner with site leaders and employees to promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct routine site safety audits and assessments; identify risks, recommend corrective actions, and monitor follow-up.
• Coordinate Workers’ Compensation activities with HR, insurance providers, medical professionals, and employees.
• Deliver safety training and education to employees and leaders on workplace safety, regulatory requirements, and prevention practices.
• Support programs related to accident prevention, hazardous materials, fire safety, ergonomics, and other workplace safety initiatives.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of EHS programs and recommend improvements based on audits, data, and observations.
• Maintain accurate safety records, reports, and documentation.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to address safety risks, resolve issues, and support business initiatives.
• Stay current on applicable regulations, industry practices, and EHS requirements.
• Travel locally between company sites as needed.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Attention to detail

Strong communication

Problem-solving

Microsoft Office

Valid driver's license

Education

Associate degree in Environmental Health & Safety or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Grupo Chilero, LLC is a Southern California–based, private equity-backed Hispanic food company and parent of three category-leading brands — Tadin Herbs & Tea Co, La Fiesta Food Products, LLC and Chef Merito, LLC. Together, these brands represent decades of trusted heritage, strong consumer loyalty, and deep roots in Hispanic food culture across the United States. The company operates a best-in-class Direct Store Delivery (DSD) network of more than 130 routes nationwide, serving a diverse customer base spanning Hispanic grocery chains, independent retailers, and major mainstream grocery channels. Grupo Chilero, LLC is actively pursuing organic growth opportunities to strengthen its Hispanic foods presence and expand its brands and products nationally.

Job Description

Overall Responsibility:

The Safety Specialist partners with site leaders to develop, implement, and continuously improve Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) programs across Grupo Chilero locations. This role ensures compliance with applicable regulations and company standards, promotes a strong safety culture, conducts site audits, and supports initiatives that reduce workplace risk and incidents.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local EHS regulations and company requirements.
• Partner with site leaders and employees to promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct routine site safety audits and assessments; identify risks, recommend corrective actions, and monitor follow-up.
• Support workplace incident reporting, investigation, analysis, and corrective action to reduce injuries and incidents.
• Coordinate Workers’ Compensation activities with HR, insurance providers, medical professionals, and employees.
• Deliver safety training and education to employees and leaders on workplace safety, regulatory requirements, and prevention practices.
• Support programs related to accident prevention, hazardous materials, fire safety, ergonomics, and other workplace safety initiatives.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of EHS programs and recommend improvements based on audits, data, and observations.
• Maintain accurate safety records, reports, and documentation.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to address safety risks, resolve issues, and support business initiatives.
• Stay current on applicable regulations, industry practices, and EHS requirements.
• Travel locally between company sites as needed.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Associate degree in Environmental Health & Safety or a related field and at least 1 year of relevant EHS, safety, or risk management experience; or
• At least 2 years of relevant EHS, safety, or risk management experience.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish required.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and adaptability.
• Knowledge of risk and compliance management, employee training, and ergonomics.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively with employees and leaders at all levels.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel between locations.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment with noise, dust, moving machinery, and varying temperatures.
• Ability to alternate between sitting, standing, walking, bending, and reaching as needed.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs.

Environmental

• Manufacturing with average noise levels, dust levels and moving machinery in a non-temperature-controlled environment.

Grupo Chilero, LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and gives all applicants for employment equal consideration regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, arrest record, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, transgender status, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. Upon request and consistent with applicable laws, Grupo Chilero, LLC will provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities who need accommodation to fully participate in the application process.