Safety Manager - Cordova, NC

We are seeking an experienced Safety Manager to lead and strengthen our safety culture in a demanding industrial manufacturing environment. The Safety Manager will be responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining safety programs that protect employees, contractors, visitors, and company assets while supporting safe and efficient operations.

The ideal candidate will be a hands‑on safety professional who is comfortable working directly with employees, supervisors, managers, and maintenance personnel in an environment involving heavy machinery, mobile equipment, industrial processes, and elevated operational hazards.

• Prior professional safety experience is required.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations and general industrial safety practices.
• Experience conducting workplace inspections, hazard assessments, and Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs).
• Experience investigating incidents, identifying root causes, and developing corrective actions.
• Ability to provide safety training and effectively communicate safety expectations to all levels of an organization.
• Strong knowledge of PPE requirements, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), machine guarding, hazard communication, and emergency response.
• Ability to recognize hazards and work with operations and maintenance to implement practical corrective measures.
• Strong organizational, communication, leadership, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced industrial environment.

Preference will be given to candidates with:

• Pulp and paper mill experience.
• Experience working around heavy industrial machinery and manufacturing equipment.
• Experience in environments involving heavy mobile equipment, forklifts, cranes, loaders, skid steers, trucks, and other industrial vehicles.
• Experience with industrial maintenance and mechanical/electrical hazards.
• Experience with confined spaces, hot work, fall protection, electrical safety, and permit‑required work.
• Experience managing contractor safety programs.
• Experience with Behavior‑Based Safety (BBS) programs or employee safety observation programs.
• Experience developing and maintaining written safety procedures, SOPs, JHAs, and training programs.
• Experience with OSHA recordkeeping and safety metrics.

• Lead the site’s overall safety program and promote a safety‑first culture.
• Conduct regular safety inspections and workplace audits.
• Identify unsafe conditions and behaviors and work with leadership to correct them.
• Investigate incidents, near misses, and property damage events and determine root causes.
• Develop and track corrective and preventive actions.
• Coordinate and conduct employee safety training.
• Maintain OSHA‑required records, documentation, and reporting.
• Assist departments with JHAs, risk assessments, SOPs, and safe‑work procedures.
• Ø Manage and improve safety programs including:
  • Lockout/Tagout
  • Machine Guarding
  • Confined Space
  • Fall Protection
  • Powered Industrial Trucks
  • Crane and Hoist Safety
  • PPE
  • Emergency Response
  • Contractor Safety
  • Hot Work
  • Electrical Safety
• Monitor safety performance metrics and identify trends requiring corrective action.
• Participate in safety committees and employee engagement initiatives.
• Work closely with operations, maintenance, engineering, and management to ensure safety is incorporated into daily operations and projects.
• Support compliance with OSHA regulations and applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Serve as a visible safety leader who is willing to get out into the facility, engage employees, and address hazards firsthand.

• Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Occupational Health, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene preferred
• A related field preferred; equivalent safety experience may be considered.
• OSHA 30‑Hour certification is preferred.
• ASP, CSP, or equivalent professional safety certification preferred.
• Additional industrial safety certifications are a plus.

​The ideal candidate is more than someone who simply manages paperwork. We are looking for a hands‑on safety leader who can build relationships with employees, hold people accountable, coach supervisors, and work alongside operations…