Safety Manager

Company Name: Confidential Manufacturing Company

Location: Indiana

Position Title: Safety Manager

The Opportunity:
This is a high-impact, highly visible opportunity to step into a true turnaround role and make an immediate and measurable difference within a manufacturing operation in transition. The site is currently experiencing gaps in safety leadership, inconsistent accountability, and a stalled rollout of critical safety systems following recent turnover.

The incoming Safety Manager will play a pivotal role in reshaping the safety culture from the ground up. This is not a maintenance role, it is a builder’s opportunity. You will be responsible for restoring discipline and accountability, ensuring adherence to established procedures and PPE requirements, and driving a cultural reset where safety becomes a core operational expectation.

A key priority will be completing the rollout and adoption of a new safety reporting system that has stalled due to leadership changes. This individual will also lead efforts in incident reduction, as recent safety incidents have been preventable and tied to non-compliance. Through strong floor presence, training, and reinforcement of standards, you will directly impact risk reduction and operational performance.

This role requires a unique blend of strategic thinking and hands-on execution. You will simultaneously build systems, influence behavior, and establish credibility across all levels of the organization, from hourly employees to senior leadership. For the right individual, this is an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by transforming both safety performance and organizational culture.

The Company:
This organization is a privately held manufacturing company with a strong reputation for operational excellence, quality, and customer service. It operates with the stability and resources of an established enterprise, while maintaining the agility and responsiveness of a privately owned business.

Leadership is committed to investing in safety, systems, and talent to improve performance and drive long-term success. The manufacturing site plays a critical role within the broader organization and is receiving focused attention to elevate safety standards and operational discipline.

The company fosters an environment where employees are empowered to take ownership, implement improvements, and directly impact outcomes. This creates a strong platform for individuals who thrive in hands-on, change-driven roles.

The Boss:
The Safety Manager will report directly to the Mill Manager, with a dotted-line relationship to corporate safety leadership. This structure provides both strong on-site leadership access and alignment with broader organizational safety initiatives.

The leadership team is seeking a proactive, confident individual who can take ownership of safety performance and operate with a high degree of autonomy. Success in this role will require someone who can balance approachability with accountability, earning trust with employees while driving necessary behavior change.

The environment is collaborative and action-oriented, with leadership highly supportive of bringing in someone who can build, implement, and sustain meaningful safety improvements.

The Position:
The Safety Manager serves as the site’s primary safety leader, responsible for driving safety culture, ensuring regulatory compliance, and implementing key safety programs across the facility. This individual will spend significant time on the production floor, engaging directly with employees while also leading strategic initiatives and system improvements.

Essential Functions (Other duties may be assigned):

• Rebuild and enforce a culture of accountability around safety compliance
• Drive consistent use of PPE and adherence to existing safety procedures
• Lead implementation and adoption of the site-wide safety reporting system
• Develop, update, and standardize SOPs and safety documentation
• Conduct incident investigations with strong root cause analysis and follow-through
• Monitor and improve safety KPIs, including reduction of recordable incidents
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations and maintain required documentation
• Serve as the primary contact for audits and safety inspections
• Deliver training and communicate safety initiatives across all levels
• Build relationships and trust with employees through strong floor presence
• Present safety initiatives and updates to plant and corporate leadership

Qualifications:

• Proven experience leading safety initiatives in a manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated ability to drive culture change and improve accountability
• Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations and compliance practices
• Experience implementing safety systems or programs
• Ability to communicate effectively with both frontline employees and leadership
• Strong leadership presence and ability to influence behavior
• U.S. Citizenship required

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Industrial Hygiene, or related field preferred
• At least five years of safety experience in heavy manufacturing
• Experience leading site-level safety programs or initiatives
• Background in regulatory or investigative environments preferred
• Industry experience within similar manufacturing environments is a plus

Competencies:

• Leadership and accountability
• Communication and influence
• Strategic and tactical execution
• Problem-solving and root cause analysis
• Relationship building and approachability
• Change management and cultural transformation

Work Environment:

• Manufacturing facility with approximately 105 employees at full staffing
• Significant time spent on the production floor
• Fast-paced, hands-on environment requiring active engagement
• Minimal travel required