Project Safety Manager (Contract until 12/31/2028)

Job Description Summary:

Key Responsibilities

Safety Operational Readiness

• Lead all EHS readiness activities from Detail Design through go-live and stabilization.
• Develop and execute the site Safety Readiness Plan.
• Define safety requirements necessary to achieve operational readiness.
• Establish safety governance processes, standards, and compliance programs.
• Prepare the organization for safe production start-up and operational stabilization.
• Coordinate cross-functional safety readiness activities across Manufacturing, Warehouse, Utilities, and Support Functions.

Design Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Review facility layouts, process designs, automation and robotics systems, utilities, and warehouse operations from an EHS perspective to ensure compliance with machine safety and safeguarding requirements.
• Ensure compliance with Korean occupational health and safety regulations, including the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAPA, 중대재해처벌법), and corporate safety requirements.
• Support safety-related permitting, inspections, and regulatory reviews.
• Participate in design risk reviews including HAZOP, PHA, JSA, and safety assessments.
• Facilitate operational safety sign-off processes prior to commissioning and start-up.

Statutory Safety Compliance (SAPA & OSHA)

• Establish and maintain the site Safety and Health Management System required under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAPA, 중대재해처벌법), including safety policy, objectives, dedicated organization, and budget.
• Conduct semiannual SAPA compliance reviews (반기 이행점검) and support reporting of results and improvement actions to the Responsible Executive (경영책임자).
• Ensure statutory appointments under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA, 산업안전보건법), including Safety Manager (안전관리자), Health Manager (보건관리자), and supervisors, are met throughout the project and transitioned to the operations organization without gaps.
• Set up and operate the Occupational Safety and Health Committee (산업안전보건위원회) and related worker participation processes.
• Fulfill the principal contractor's (도급인) safety and health obligations, including the Safety and Health Council (안전보건협의체), joint workplace inspections, and contractor qualification and evaluation.

Occupational Health

• Support statutory occupational health programs, including work environment measurement (작업환경측정) and special health examinations (특수건강검진) required under OSHA.
• Conduct ergonomic risk assessments for musculoskeletal disorders (근골격계 유해요인조사) and establish PPE selection and management standards.

Contractor & Construction Safety Management

• Support implementation of contractor safety management programs during construction and installation activities.
• Conduct contractor safety audits and compliance reviews.
• Ensure safe work permit processes are effectively implemented.
• Monitor high-risk activities including work at height, confined space entry, electrical work, lifting operations, and hot work.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Construction teams to proactively address safety risks.
• Support incident prevention and corrective action implementation.

Risk Assessment & Hazard Management

• Lead site-wide risk assessments and maintain hazard identification and risk mitigation programs.
• Establish risk registers and track corrective actions.
• Lead Process Safety Management (PSM) reviews for utilities, process systems, and high-risk operations.
• Partner with operational teams to ensure risks are reduced to acceptable levels prior to start-up.

Emergency Preparedness & Crisis Management

• Develop site emergency response procedures and crisis management protocols.
• Establish emergency response teams and operating procedures.
• Coordinate emergency drills and simulation exercises.
• Partner with local authorities and emergency response organizations.
• Ensure readiness of emergency response, fire detection, suppression, evacuation, and related safety systems prior to facility start-up.
• Coordinate fire protection readiness activities and interactions with local fire authorities.

EHS Systems & Program Deployment

• Establish site EHS management systems, policies, standards, and procedures.
• Develop safety KPIs, reporting processes, and governance routines.
• Support deployment of digital EHS tools and reporting systems.
• Maintain regulatory compliance documentation and records.
• Implement safety observation and safety engagement programs.

Commissioning, Qualification & Start-Up Support

• Support commissioning and start-up activities from an EHS perspective.
• Participate in safety reviews during IQ, OQ, and PQ activities.
• Verify safety controls, including LOTO (Lockout-Tagout-Tryout), risk mitigations, and workforce readiness prior to equipment release and operational start-up.
• Support issue resolution during commissioning and stabilization phases.

Training & Safety Culture Development

• Develop and implement site safety training programs.
• Deliver safety orientation programs for employees, contractors, and visitors.
• Lead Train-the-Trainer activities for operational teams.
• Promote a strong safety culture and employee engagement.
• Support leadership safety coaching and capability development.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve EHS performance and safety culture.
• Conduct incident investigations and root cause analysis.
• Implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Benchmark best practices across CPS and industry networks.

EHS Transition & Handover

• Define the steady-state EHS organization, roles, and staffing plan for operations.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and capability development of the operations EHS team.
• Prepare a comprehensive EHS handover package, including procedures, risk registers, permits, compliance records, and open action items.
• Lead structured knowledge transfer and ensure full EHS ownership is transitioned to the operations organization by the end of the stabilization phase.

Qualifications / Requirements

Experience

• 7+ years of experience in Safety or EHS roles within manufacturing, food, beverage, FMCG, logistics, or related industries.

• Experience applying the machine safety risk assessment methodology during Equipment Design Review, FAT, SAT, and Commissioning

• Experience managing workplace safety programs in industrial environments.
• Experience conducting risk assessments, incident investigations, and regulatory compliance activities.
• Experience working with contractors and construction safety management.
• Experience with emergency response planning and preparedness programs.

Preferred

• Experience supporting Greenfield projects or major facility start-ups.
• Experience in automated manufacturing, distribution centers, ASRS, AGV/AMR, or material handling systems.
• Experience implementing EHS management systems in new facilities.
• Experience working with multinational organizations and global safety standards.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Safety Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Environmental Health & Safety, Engineering, or a related discipline preferred.
• ISO 12100 Risk Assessment Training
• ISO 13849 Functional Safety Training

Preferred Certifications

All certifications listed below are preferred, not mandatory. Candidates with relevant experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Industrial Safety Engineer (산업안전기사) or higher, qualifying for statutory Safety Manager (안전관리자) appointment
• CMSE® (Certified Machinery Safety Expert) by Pilz and TÜV NORD
• TÜV Functional Safety Engineer (Machinery) for key automation and engineering leads
• Construction Safety Engineer (건설안전기사)
• Fire Safety Manager certification (소방안전관리자)
• Hazardous Materials Safety Manager qualification (위험물산업기사 or 위험물기능사)
• ISO 45001 Lead Auditor or equivalent

Technical Knowledge

• Strong understanding of occupational safety and health regulations.
• Knowledge of Korean industrial safety regulations and compliance requirements.
• Basic understanding of occupational health and ergonomics principles.
• Understanding of manufacturing, warehouse, utility, and automation-related risks.
• Familiarity with machine safety principles and industrial risk management.
• Knowledge of Process Safety Management (PSM) principles and hazard analysis methodologies.
• Understanding of contractor safety management systems.

Leadership & Functional Skills

• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence cross-functional project teams.
• Strong risk assessment and problem-solving capability.
• Excellent communication and training skills.
• Ability to balance regulatory compliance and business operational needs.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.

Language

• Business-level English proficiency required.
• Ability to communicate effectively with local and global project stakeholders.

IT Skills

• Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Experience with EHS reporting systems preferred.
• Familiarity with digital safety management tools is advantageous.

Organizational Impact

• Ensure safe and compliant start-up of Project Nuri.
• Establish a sustainable safety culture and EHS management system.
• Minimize operational, regulatory, and workplace safety risks.
• Support successful commissioning, qualification, and operational readiness activities.
• Enable Project Nuri to operate as a highly automated, digitally enabled, and safety-focused manufacturing facility.
• Ensure a seamless EHS handover to the operations organization, with sustainable systems, capable people, and full statutory compliance in place.

Location

• The primary work location is the Project Nuri site in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea.
• This is a site-based role requiring full-time on-site presence during the construction, commissioning, and start-up phases.
• Domestic and international travel may be required during Detail Design and operational readiness phases.
• Travel frequency will vary depending on project phase and operational readiness requirements.

Skills:

Location(s):

City/Cities:

Travel Required:

Relocation Provided:

Job Posting End Date:

Our Purpose and Growth Culture:

We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what’s possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors – curious, empowered, inclusive and agile – and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasonsour company continues to thrive after 130+ years. VisitOur Purpose and Vision to learn more about these behaviors and how youcan bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.