Complex Health & Safety Manager

About the role

The Complex Health & Safety Manager establishes, promotes, and oversees the health and safety programs for an assigned poultry processing complex, including the poultry processing plant, feed mill, and hatchery. This role provides guidance and policy/regulation interpretation to ensure compliance with OSHA, DOT, and other state and federal agency regulations.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee all activities related to health and employee/occupational safety programs, either directly or by managing a professional/para-professional staff, to ensure company compliance with internal policies, regulatory guidelines, and legal requirements.
• Develop, implement, and maintain effective systems, procedures, and training to achieve and sustain an accident-free, injury-free, and healthy workplace.
• Lead execution of the site’s annual Safety and Health Plan, including development of expense and capital budgets to support these efforts.
• Manage and audit regulatory requirements, offer guidance, and direct teams to correct infractions; communicate resolutions to appropriate personnel or agencies.
• Provide guidance to complex leaders through consistent interpretation of company policies and regulatory agency guidelines.
• Manage complex permits to ensure regulatory permits are acquired, reports are submitted on time, and site permit conditions (e.g., sampling, recordkeeping) are met.
• Lead the incident investigation process, including root cause analysis and identification of corrective action plans.
• Participate in formal Health & Safety reviews of existing equipment modifications, new equipment purchases, and changes in site processes, communicating issues to leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts in environmental, health, and safety system management while supporting employee diligence in safety compliance.
• Partner with facility leadership to develop site-specific annual objectives for employee health, industrial hygiene, safety, and workers' compensation improvements.
• Mentor, coach, and train/cross-train employees, encouraging career development and providing consistent feedback on strengths and areas for improvement.
• Perform additional relevant duties as assigned.

Supervisor Responsibilities

This role requires leadership competencies in sizing up people, delegation, planning, customer focus, and conflict management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Safety or Health Management, Industrial Hygiene, or a related discipline from an accredited institution. A combination of relevant experience and education may substitute for the degree.
• Safety Professional certification preferred.
• Minimum five (5) years of relevant safety management/compliance experience; experience within the food manufacturing industry preferred.
• Minimum three (3) years of demonstrated experience managing direct reports, with the ability to inspire and guide individuals toward goal achievement.
• Strong leadership experience, including conflict resolution, interpersonal skills, influence management, and the ability to resolve issues efficiently.
• Functional knowledge of regulatory requirements, safety technical aspects (industrial hygiene, emergency management), risk management, behavior-based safety, training, auditing/program review, DOT, Homeland Security Risk Management Plan, regulatory agency enforcement, and safety vendor assessment for PPE.
• General business knowledge required.
• Ability to read, comprehend, interpret, and apply company and regulatory rules, laws, and business/technical documents.
• Strong customer focus with effective communication skills (verbal and written) for all levels of the organization and external stakeholders.
• Proven track record in driving cultural change in Health & Safety.
• Ability to prioritize and perform multiple tasks without losing sight of complex-wide regulatory compliance.

Safety Requirements

• Follow and promote departmental and company safety policies and programs.
• Wear required protective equipment in all mandatory areas.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work non-standard shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Ability to travel throughout the facility as needed.
• Ability to work in cold, wet, hot, or dusty environments as needed.
• Ability to maintain necessary physicals for HAZMAT and respiratory PPE.