Safety Manager, DC

OVERVIEW:

The Safety Manager, DC Safety is the on-site safety leader for an assigned Distribution Center and is responsible for driving a proactive safety culture, ensuring regulatory and company compliance, reducing operational risk, and leading consistent execution of safety programs. This role translates network safety strategy into site-level action, partners closely with site leadership, and leads the Safety Supervisor and Safety Specialists, where applicable. The Safety Manager maintains a strong presence on the warehouse floor and is accountable for the overall effectiveness of the site's safety program. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Safety Leadership & Site Ownership 

• Serve as the primary on-site safety leader for the assigned Distribution Center. 

• Lead implementation and sustained execution of company safety standards, policies, programs, and network initiatives. 

• Build a proactive safety culture through visible floor leadership, employee engagement, coaching, and partnership with site leaders. 

• Identify site-level risks, trends, and improvement opportunities and establish action plans to address them. 

• Maintain accountability for overall site safety performance and communicate priorities, risks, and progress to safety leadership. 

Team Leadership 

• Lead, coach, and develop the Safety Supervisor and Safety Specialists, where applicable. 

• Set clear expectations, priorities, and accountability for the site safety team. 

• Ensure appropriate safety coverage across shifts and operational needs. 

• Build team capability and support development and succession within the safety organization. 

Incident & Risk Management 

• Oversee response to injuries, incidents, near misses, hazards, and other safety events. 

• Lead or provide oversight for investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective and preventive actions. 

• Review safety metrics and incident trends to identify systemic risks and opportunities for prevention. 

• Ensure significant incidents, regulatory concerns, and elevated risks are escalated appropriately. 

• Partner with operational leaders to ensure corrective actions are timely, effective, and sustainable. 

Compliance & Regulatory Readiness 

• Ensure compliance with applicable OSHA requirements, company safety standards, and site procedures. 

• Lead safety audits, inspections, risk assessments, and corrective-action tracking. 

• Maintain required safety documentation and support regulatory inspections, inquiries, and responses. 

• Ensure site readiness for emergency response, First Aid/CPR/AED, and other required safety programs. 

Operational Partnership 

• Partner with Operations, HR, Facilities, Security, Training, Engineering, and other functions to integrate safety into daily operations. 

• Provide safety guidance for operational changes, new equipment, process changes, Peak activities, launches, and other higher-risk work. 

• Develop practical safety solutions that protect employees while supporting operational needs. 

• Participate in site leadership meetings and provide clear visibility to safety performance, trends, risks, and required actions. 

Training & Employee Engagement 

• Ensure required safety training is completed, documented, and effectively implemented. 

• Support safety campaigns, meetings, recognition programs, and employee engagement initiatives. 

• Reinforce safe behaviors and standards through consistent floor presence and leader engagement. 

Qualifications 

• 5–7+ years of Safety/EHS experience, preferably within distribution, warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, or another high-volume operational environment. 

• 2–3+ years of people leadership experience. 

• Demonstrated experience leading incident investigations, risk assessments, audits, corrective actions, and regulatory compliance. 

• Strong working knowledge of OSHA requirements and general industry safety practices. 

• Demonstrated ability to influence operational leaders and drive measurable safety improvements. 

• Strong analytical, communication, leadership, and employee-engagement skills. 

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume Distribution Center environment. 

• Ability and willingness to maintain a significant presence on the warehouse floor. 

• Less than 10% travel for off-site meetings, training, or occasional support of another Distribution Center. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• OSHA 30 certification. 

• ASP, CSP, or equivalent professional safety certification. 

• First Aid/CPR/AED certification; must be obtained within the company's established timeframe if not already certified. 

• Experience leading safety programs in a large-scale distribution or fulfillment environment. 

Leadership Profile 

• Visible and engaged leader who builds trust with employees and operational leadership. 

• Balances strong safety standards with practical, business-minded solutions. 

• Uses data, trends, and observations to prioritize risk and drive action. 

• Communicates clearly, escalates appropriately, and follows through on commitments. 

• Develops people and creates accountability while promoting a collaborative safety culture. 

Measures of Success 

• Consistent execution and sustainment of network safety standards at the assigned DC. 

• Timely and effective closure of corrective actions and identified risks. 

• Strong incident investigation quality, root-cause identification, and preventive action. 

• Regulatory and audit readiness. 

• Improved employee and leadership engagement in safety. 

• Development, effectiveness, and accountability of the site safety team.