Safety Manager

Reports to: VP of Manufacturing                              

Department:  Operations   

Classification:  Exempt                                                   

Travel: up to 5%

JOB SUMMARY: 

The Safety Manager leads Vibrant Works’ safety and health program across manufacturing and facility operations to prevent injuries, reduce risk, and drive regulatory compliance. Through visible production-floor leadership, this role builds employee and supervisor accountability and integrates safety into equipment, processes, maintenance, and capital projects. The Safety Manager partners with Production, Engineering, Human Resources, and Facilities to support safe, reliable operations and an inclusive workforce, including employees who are blind or have low vision. 

JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Lead the company-wide safety and health program; maintain policies, annual objectives, and compliance with applicable OSHA, state, and local requirements. 

• Report leading and lagging indicators, including hazard closure, training completion, and injury trends; drive measurable risk reduction without discouraging reporting. 

• Deliver new-hire, task-specific, and refresher training; verify competency and provide accessible materials for employees who are blind or have low vision. 

• Maintain Safety Data Sheets (SDS), chemical inventories, training records, and OSHA injury and illness records; coordinate required reporting and protect confidentiality. 

• Lead emergency plans, evacuation drills, and response readiness; coordinate accessible evacuation procedures and First Aid, CPR, and AED coverage. 

• Investigate injuries, illnesses, and near misses; identify root causes, assign corrective actions and deadlines, and verify effectiveness to prevent recurrence. 

• Conduct job hazard analyses, risk assessments, and floor inspections; prioritize serious injury risks and apply the hierarchy of controls. 

• Own machine guarding and lockout/tagout programs; partner with Engineering and Maintenance on equipment safeguards, procedures, and periodic inspections. 

• Manage applicable programs for hazard communication, PPE, ergonomics, electrical safety, powered industrial trucks, and pedestrian traffic. 

• Coordinate industrial hygiene assessments and exposure controls for noise, dust, fumes, and chemicals; oversee hearing conservation and respiratory protection as applicable. 

• Partner with Facilities on preventive and corrective maintenance, building inspections, and safety-critical systems; track hazards through resolution. 

• Establish contractor and vendor safety requirements; coordinate orientation, safe work permits, and controls for hot work, confined spaces, and work at height as applicable. 

• Develop safety budgets and support facility cost tracking; recommend investments based on risk, compliance needs, and operational impact. 

• Review new equipment, process changes, layouts, and capital projects for safety before startup; integrate safeguards and maintenance access into designs. 

• Coach supervisors, lead safety committee activities, and engage employees across shifts; encourage hazard reporting and stop-work action without retaliation. 

• Lead safety audits and regulatory inspection responses; support customer, ISO 9001, and AS9100 audits within the role’s scope and close findings. 

• Stop or escalate unsafe work presenting imminent danger; coordinate corrective controls with Operations before work resumes. 

• Demonstrate and embody our values: Be Limitless, Be Resilient, Be People Centered, Be a Team, and Be Trustworthy. 

Qualifications

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health and Safety, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience. 

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive safety experience in manufacturing or industrial operations. 

• Demonstrated success leading safety programs and delivering measurable risk reduction. 

• Strong knowledge of OSHA general industry standards, recordkeeping, reporting, and inspections. 

• Government contracting, AbilityOne, or regulated production experience strongly preferred. 

• Hands-on experience with machine guarding, lockout/tagout, job hazard analysis, and contractor safety. 

• Current First Aid, CPR, and AED certification required. 

• CSP or ASP certification preferred; OSHA 30-hour General Industry course completion preferred. 

• Experience with incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action verification. 

• Experience developing accessible training for employees with varied abilities preferred. 

• Experience with facility inspections, preventive maintenance, and equipment safety reviews. 

• Experience with safety metrics, audits, budgeting, and risk-based improvement planning. 

SKILLS/ABILITIES: 

• Strong leadership and ability to influence production teams and hold leaders accountable. 

• Strong risk assessment, analytical, and problem-solving skills. 

• Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on production-floor engagement. 

• Attention to detail and disciplined documentation and corrective action follow-up. 

• Ability to prioritize serious risks and manage competing production demands. 

• Working knowledge of manufacturing equipment, maintenance hazards, and building systems. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and safety, training, and maintenance management systems. 

• Sound judgment and ability to act with urgency in emergencies. 

• Integrity and discretion in handling employee information and incident records. 

• Ability to interpret safety standards, equipment documentation, and contractor requirements. 

• Clear communication and ability to coach employees and advise leadership. 

• Collaborative, service-oriented approach that encourages trust and employee participation. 

• Schedule flexibility to support all shifts; weekends and after-hours work may be required. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Ability to lift or move up to 50 lbs. using safe handling methods or assistance, with or without reasonable accommodation. 

• Ability to move through manufacturing and facility areas and sit or stand for extended periods, with or without reasonable accommodation. 

• Ability to perform repetitive tasks and use required PPE in production areas, with or without reasonable accommodation. 

This job description does not imply these are the only duties to be performed. The incumbent in this position will perform such other tasks as may be required for the effective operations of the Division/Department upon request by his/her supervisor. 

Please note: Under the AbilityOne Program, Vibrant Works gives hiring preference to individuals who are legally blind. Any decision to disclose a disability by an applicant related to the hiring preference is completely voluntary. Requesting such information is also a part of our affirmative action efforts. Information that is disclosed will remain confidential. Also, your decision not to disclose disability status will not have a negative impact in the hiring process. 

Vibrant Works is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, the use of a dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. 

I have read and understand the job requirements, responsibilities and expectations set forth in this job description. I attest that I am able to perform the essential job functions as outlined with or without any reasonable accommodations.