Senior Manager, Health and Safety

About the Role

Workplaces is responsible for the active management of the Global Real Estate Portfolio for all owned and leased properties, including lease and transaction management, design, construction services, canteen services, and operational maintenance for all offices, showrooms, and distribution centers for adidas North America (NAM). Workplaces supports the successful implementation of “Own the Game” by supporting revenue growth, portfolio optimization, and creating great workplaces to attract and retain top talent across the globe.

The Senior Manager Health & Safety will manage and enforce company safety policies, ensuring compliance with all applicable global, regional, and local regulations for the Spartanburg DCs Campus. This role involves developing and implementing health and safety initiatives and protocols aligned with adidas values, analyzing and evaluating safety risks, and ensuring the protection of brand value through effective risk management.

Responsibilities

• Implement written health and safety (H&S) programs, ensuring safe working conditions for all employees and compliance with company policies and all laws and regulations.
• Ensure site programs fully comply with health and safety regulations, adidas policies, and Global H&S standards through regulatory review and updates.
• Conduct timely evaluations and periodic reviews of the site operational H&S profile to ensure effective controls are applied.
• Establish mechanisms for proactive H&S assessment of the impact of change.
• Identify and manage H&S regulatory requirements applicable to site operations, including preparation of impact assessments, registrations, and certifications.
• Implement health and safety risk reduction strategies incorporating Safety Standards, Policies, Environmental, Ergonomics, People Risk, Governance, Crisis Management, Event Risk, Incident Investigation & Management, Risk Assessment, and Preventive Measures.
• Conduct risk assessments on workplace organization, employee behaviors, and standard operating procedures to minimize and mitigate risks.
• Act as the site representative for Corporate H&S programs and initiatives, as well as federal, state, and local health and safety agencies.
• Serve as the site Health and Safety Committee representative.
• Maintain all records and documentation in compliance with the local Health and Safety Management System and ISO-45001 standard.
• Ensure implementation and maintenance of a Health and Safety Management System that meets external and internal H&S standards and continuously improves the H&S program at the site.
• Periodically evaluate the effectiveness of the site H&S management system.
• Support adidas corporate and third-party audit programs to ensure compliance with the Health and Safety Management System, regulations, and other legal requirements.
• Capture, analyze, and react to safety metrics, reviewing weekly and monthly incident trends to identify areas of highest safety risk.
• Support Operations in incident investigation and near-miss processes, including training, root cause analysis, and review of corrective actions.
• Integrate H&S risk assessment within operations to ensure all site initiatives are conducted safely and in compliance with applicable regulations.
• Develop a communication plan to effectively distribute health and safety information.
• Serve as a technical expert on Health & Safety legal matters and legislative trends.
• Develop all required training materials (e.g., new hire, annual training, toolbox talks) related to health and safety.
• Collaborate with Operations, Training, and HR departments to ensure all employees receive necessary training.
• Identify and manage relationships with key stakeholders to build a broader network and embed a positive health and safety culture.
• Inform operations of new and developing health and safety regulations.
• Support Operations with root cause analysis and corrective actions resulting from injuries and near misses, and train supervisors to conduct thorough investigations.
• Advise and support adidas employees on health and safety aspects based on local regulations.
• Ensure vendors, contractors, and third-party employees comply with Company H&S standards.
• Determine appropriate H&S controls and adopt a harmonized implementation approach with key stakeholders and internal business units.
• Support Security Emergency Action Plans (e.g., Major Incident Responses, Life Safety, Evacuation).
• Introduce and ensure a leadership culture based on adidas principles within the department and across all hierarchical levels.
• Implement and maintain H&S software/system for the location.
• Perform other duties and tasks as assigned to support health and safety for the organization.

Key Relationships

• DC Operations Management
• Workplace Management Teams
• Human Resources
• Regulatory Agencies
• External Vendors
• Legal Department
• Other Departments

Skills & Qualifications

• Ability to think strategically and conceptually to drive continuous improvement.
• Ability to provide a clear framework for performance to direct reports and stakeholders.
• Strong coaching, guiding, and team management skills.
• Business mind-set with strong numerical and analytical skills, including experience in finance.
• Strong influencing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead local regulatory compliance.
• Focus on service, customer satisfaction, and people management/leadership culture.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Industrial Engineering, Environmental Management, or a related field.
• 8+ years of Health & Safety experience.
• Working knowledge of Health and Safety Management Systems (ISO-45001).
• Direct experience with Workers Compensation Laws.
• Extensive experience in managing Health & Safety programs.
• People management experience preferred.

Schedule

This role follows a hybrid work policy requiring attendance in the office Monday through Thursday, with the flexibility to work remotely on Friday. However, due to direct support of Distribution Center floor operations, an alternative remote workday may be required to ensure consistent coverage. The role may also require full on-site presence for the entire work week due to high collaboration needs.