Safety Manager

Job Title: Safety Manager (Manufacturing)

Department: Manufacturing

Reports To: VP of Manufacturing

FLSA Status: Exempt (Salaried)

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Position Summary

FR Conversions is seeking an experienced Safety Manager to lead and continuously improve our safety program across multiple manufacturing operations. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Manufacturing, this position serves as the organization's primary safety professional and is responsible for developing safety strategy while executing the daily operational responsibilities that support a safe, compliant, and productive workplace.

The Safety Manager serves as a trusted advisor to Operations, Human Resources, Engineering, and executive leadership by translating regulatory requirements into practical solutions that protect employees while supporting business objectives.

This is a department-of-one leadership position requiring both strategic thinking and hands-on execution. The successful candidate will be expected to develop safety programs, policies, training, metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives while remaining actively engaged on the production floor. This role requires someone who is equally comfortable presenting safety strategy and performance metrics to executive leadership as they are conducting new employee orientation, investigating incidents, performing facility inspections, managing safety inventories, or replenishing first aid supplies.

The ideal candidate understands the realities of a manufacturing environment and exercises sound judgment by identifying and mitigating risk without unnecessarily disrupting operations. They recognize when immediate intervention is required and when coaching, planning, and corrective action are the appropriate path forward.

Success in this role requires the ability to translate regulatory requirements into practical solutions, communicate effectively with employees on the production floor, and provide executive leadership with meaningful analysis and recommendations that support sound business decisions.

Essential Responsibilities

Safety Leadership & Compliance

• Lead and continuously improve the company's safety program across multiple manufacturing operations.
• Develop, implement, and maintain safety policies, procedures, SOPs, Job Safety Analyses (JSAs), and required regulatory programs.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, MOSH, Hazard Communication, Lockout/Tagout, PPE, and other applicable safety regulations.
• Monitor regulatory changes and recommend improvements to company policies and practices.
• Promote a culture of accountability, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Develop, implement, and monitor corrective and preventive actions resulting from inspections, audits, incident investigations, and regulatory findings.

Manufacturing Safety Operations

• Maintain a visible presence throughout the manufacturing facilities by routinely interacting with employees and supervisors.
• Conduct facility inspections, behavioral observations, and hazard assessments.
• Conduct investigations involving workplace injuries, near misses, property damage, manufacturing equipment, powered industrial trucks, company vehicles, and customer vehicles, and coordinate corrective actions with Operations, Human Resources, and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• Partner with operations leadership to implement practical corrective actions that improve safety while supporting production.
• Participate in process improvements, equipment installations, and operational planning from a safety perspective.
• Monitor the safe operation of powered industrial trucks and aerial work platforms through periodic observations and operator evaluations.
• Coordinate corrective training and recertification when required.
• Safely operate company vehicles, including customer and production vehicles, as necessary to support inspections, investigations, testing, facility operations, or emergency response activities.
• Coordinate contractor safety requirements and monitor contractor compliance with company safety expectations while on-site.
• Coordinate emergency preparedness activities, including evacuation planning, emergency response procedures, drills, and post-incident reviews.

Training & Employee Development

• Conduct all new employee safety orientations.
• Develop and deliver ongoing safety training for employees and supervisors.
• Serve as the company's designated trainer for powered industrial trucks (forklifts) and aerial work platforms, ensuring operator training, evaluations, certifications, and recertifications are completed in accordance with OSHA requirements.
• Maintain required training records and regulatory documentation.
• Coach supervisors and employees on safe work practices and regulatory compliance.

Safety Administration

• Maintain OSHA logs, safety records, and required compliance documentation.
• Coordinate workers' compensation reporting and support return-to-work efforts.
• Maintain first aid kits, AEDs, eye wash stations, fire extinguishers, spill kits, and other safety equipment.
• Manage PPE inventory, purchasing, and distribution.
• Coordinate required inspections, regulatory testing, vendor services, and corrective actions related to safety equipment and compliance.
• Administer the Hazard Communication Program, including maintaining Safety Data Sheets (SDS), chemical inventories, labeling compliance, spill response procedures, waste management practices, and employee training.
• Develop and manage the departmental budget for safety equipment, PPE, training, and related safety initiatives.

Reporting & Business Analytics

• Develop and maintain safety dashboards, metrics, and key performance indicators.
• Analyze leading and lagging indicators to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly reports for executive leadership.
• Present safety performance, recommendations, and strategic initiatives to the executive team.
• Utilize data to support informed business decisions and continuous improvement.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties may be modified or assigned as business needs change.

Job Categorization

This position is a full-time, salaried, FLSA exempt role (SOC Code – 19-5011).

Safety-Sensitive Position:

This role is a safety-sensitive position and may require at-cause and post-incident drug and alcohol testing to maintain a safe working environment.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible safety leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success partnering with manufacturing operations to implement practical safety solutions while maintaining regulatory compliance.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations and manufacturing safety practices.
• Experience conducting incident investigations and root cause analysis.
• Experience developing written safety procedures, SOPs, and employee training.
• Strong analytical skills with experience developing reports, dashboards, and executive presentations.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate with hourly employees, supervisors, managers, and executive leadership.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Professional safety certifications (e.g., ASP, CSP, CHST, OSHA 500) are highly desirable. Candidates without certifications must demonstrate equivalent manufacturing safety leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a qualified trainer for powered industrial trucks (forklifts) and aerial work platforms.
• Experience conducting safety audits and regulatory inspections.
• Experience managing workers' compensation claims, return-to-work programs, and OSHA recordkeeping.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health & Safety, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience in automotive, metal fabrication, industrial manufacturing, or assembly operations.
• Experience using business intelligence or dashboard reporting tools.
• Experience supporting ISO 9001 or other quality management systems within a manufacturing environment.

Other Requirements

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license with an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) in accordance with company policy and be able to safely operate company and customer vehicles as required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain certifications necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Ability to influence and coach others through collaboration, communication, and relationship building rather than authority alone.
• Strong business judgment and practical decision-making.
• The ability to balance regulatory compliance with operational needs.
• Confidence communicating with both production employees and executive leadership.
• A collaborative leadership style that builds trust and accountability.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• The ability to prioritize competing responsibilities and work independently.
• A willingness to perform both strategic and hands-on responsibilities in support of the safety program.
• A continuous improvement mindset with a focus on building a strong safety culture.
• Ability to establish credibility and build productive working relationships with employees at all levels of the organization.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

This position requires regular movement throughout active manufacturing operations, including fabrication, welding, paint, assembly, warehouse, and shipping areas.  Must be able to respond to emergencies and safely access all areas of the manufacturing facility.

The Safety Manager must be able to:

• Walk and stand for extended periods.
• Climb stairs and ladders as necessary.
• Lift and carry safety equipment and supplies up to 50 pounds.
• Wear required personal protective equipment while working in production areas.
• Work in varying temperatures and manufacturing conditions.
• Respond to workplace incidents and emergencies as operational needs require.