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Safety Manager

Location: Greater Chicago Area, IL (Itasca facility)

Compensation: Competitive base salary [To be determined based on experience]

Reports to: VP of Operations, HR & Safety

Department: Manufacturing Administration Dept. 301

Growth Path: Critical leadership role ensuring workplace safety across expanding manufacturing operations serving global markets

The Opportunity:

Our client is a well-established global leader in industrial systems and enclosures, specializing in machinery and manufacturing solutions for the asphalt roofing, construction, telecommunications, power, natural gas, and data center industries. With over 120 years of expertise and headquarters in Itasca, Illinois, they serve customers across diverse worldwide markets and are known for innovation, reliability, and dedication to customer success.

This isn’t just a compliance position—it’s a strategic safety leadership role that directly impacts employee wellbeing, operational efficiency, and company culture. You’ll be the go-to authority on all safety matters, developing policies, conducting training, and leading the company Safety Committee. As their dedicated safety expert, you’ll bridge manufacturing, administration, and leadership to create a culture of safety excellence while ensuring compliance with OSHA, EPA, and ANSI regulations.

Summary of Responsibilities:

The Safety Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing comprehensive safety programs to ensure compliance with all safety regulations and standards. This role provides critical leadership in hazard prevention, safety training, incident investigation, and maintaining a culture of safety across manufacturing operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Safety Program Development: Develop and implement safety policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all safety regulations and standards, including OSHA, EPA, and ANSI requirements.
• Inspections and Audits: Conduct safety audits, hazard assessments, and regular equipment inspections to identify potential safety risks and hazards. Document findings and recommend corrective actions.
• Training and Education: Develop and deliver comprehensive safety training programs and materials for employees to increase safety awareness and reduce accidents. Support personnel training needs and mentor team members on safety best practices.
• Incident Management: Investigate and report on accidents, injuries, and near-misses. Take appropriate actions to prevent future occurrences and maintain accurate incident documentation.
• Compliance Management: Keep up to date with safety legislation and regulations. Ensure that all recommendations are implemented to meet required standards and maintain valid competency certificates.
• Collaboration and Communication: Work closely with team members, departments, and external agencies to ensure safety issues are addressed in a timely and efficient manner. Collaborate across the organization to promote a safe culture.
• Documentation and Reporting: Maintain accurate safety documentation and records, including incident reports, safety statistics, training records, and minutes of safety meetings compiled for management.
• Safety Committee Leadership: Lead and manage the company’s Safety Committee. Conduct periodic safety meetings to review safety performance, discuss safety issues, and recommend improvements.
• Safety Management Systems: Implement and maintain safety management systems and best practices, including ISO 45001, OSHA VPP, or similar frameworks.

Required Skills:

Education & Work Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental health and safety, or related field
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in safety management in a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Registration as a Health and Safety Officer
• Valid competency certificates

Required Skills:

• Regulatory knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of occupational health and safety regulations and standards, including OSHA, EPA, and ANSI regulations
• Safety management expertise: Knowledge of safety management systems and best practices, including ISO 45001, OSHA VPP, or similar safety management systems
• Policy development: Ability to write safety policies and procedures that are clear, actionable, and compliant
• Problem-solving skills: Strong analytical abilities to identify potential safety risks and hazards and recommend appropriate corrective actions
• Communication skills: Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills with the ability to convey complex safety information to a variety of audiences
• Technical proficiency: Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Office Suite, smartphone/tablet usage, and ERP/MRP systems, Salesforce & Business Central
• Organizational excellence: Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously

Valued Skills/Qualifications:

• Strong customer-centric approach
• Person of high integrity and strong values
• Strong mentor and leader
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with a strong sense of accountability and responsibility
• Experience in diverse manufacturing environments

Physical Requirements:

• This position will require periods of standing with frequent walking, bending, crouching, kneeling, and reaching
• Also required is to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
• Vision abilities required include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus

Personal Protective Equipment while working in Manufacturing Facilities:

• Safety glasses or safety side shields with glasses
• Shoes: Safety toed (steel) shoes when required
• Closed toes and heels
• Low heels
• Hard hat in designated areas or when crane is in use
• Hearing, respiratory, harness protection, and face shields where applicable

Work Conditions: Work environment tends to be fast-paced with frequent and direct interaction with employees, management, and external safety agencies.

While performing duties in the manufacturing area, the position requires occasional exposure to:

• Vibration
• Loud noise levels
• Moving parts
• Artificial lighting
• Manufacturing debris

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Why This Role Is Different

Most Safety Managers work in reactive environments, responding to incidents after they occur. This role is different. You’ll work in a proactive manufacturing environment where your expertise directly contributes to operational excellence, employee wellbeing, and company culture. Your safety leadership becomes a strategic advantage, helping the organization maintain exceptional safety records, reduce downtime, and create a workplace where employees feel protected and valued.

Our client values this position because safety is foundational to everything they do. They need someone who doesn’t just know the regulations but can build a culture of safety, communicate effectively across all levels of the organization, and lead with integrity. You’ll have the opportunity to shape safety programs, mentor teams, and make a meaningful impact on people’s lives every day.

This is ideal for someone who has safety management expertise and wants to lead safety initiatives in a well-established, innovative manufacturing environment. You’ll have variety: policy development, hands-on inspections, training delivery, committee leadership, and the satisfaction of knowing your work keeps people safe.

This job description is to be used as a guide for accomplishing objectives and only covers the essential duties and responsibilities of the position. It is in no way to be construed as an all-encompassing list of duties and responsibilities.