Safety Specialist / Safety Engineer

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Safety Specialist / Safety Engineer to support and strengthen health and safety programs across a manufacturing and field-service organization.

This position will partner with operational leaders, supervisors, and employees to develop and implement safety programs, improve safety performance, ensure regulatory compliance, identify and mitigate workplace hazards, and promote a proactive safety culture.

The Safety Specialist / Safety Engineer will work hands-on with local operations while collaborating with leadership and safety professionals to advance safety initiatives and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with supervisors and business leaders to strengthen safety leadership, accountability, and overall health and safety performance.
• Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve health and safety programs, policies, procedures, and standards.
• Ensure employees receive required safety training and maintain the competencies necessary to perform their jobs safely.
• Promote open communication, employee engagement, safety awareness, and a proactive workplace safety culture.
• Provide expert guidance to managers and supervisors regarding hazard identification, risk assessments, and appropriate control measures.
• Coach and support leaders in integrating health and safety into daily operations, decision-making, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor compliance with applicable federal, state, and local occupational health and safety regulations.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for OSHA, regulatory agencies, insurance representatives, and external auditors regarding health and safety matters.
• Coordinate OSHA recordkeeping and reporting activities.
• Support compliance with applicable DOT licensing, testing, transportation, and recordkeeping requirements.
• Lead and facilitate incident, injury, near-miss, vehicle, and property-damage investigations.
• Conduct root cause analysis and assist management with corrective and preventive actions.
• Monitor the effectiveness and quality of incident investigations and corrective action processes.
• Conduct risk assessments and hazard identification activities across manufacturing, warehouse, service, field service, fleet, and office operations.
• Perform workplace inspections, safety audits, assessments, and corrective-action follow-up.
• Lead and facilitate the Safety Committee and encourage employee participation and problem-solving.
• Develop and coordinate employee safety engagement programs, observations, recognition initiatives, and continuous improvement activities.
• Develop, coordinate, and deliver safety training, including new employee orientation, regulatory training, and job-specific training.
• Coordinate contractor safety programs and provide guidance to leaders responsible for contractor oversight.
• Provide health and safety support for field service operations, technician travel, and work performed at customer locations throughout the United States.
• Coordinate industrial hygiene and occupational health programs, including:
  • Noise and hearing conservation
  • Respiratory protection
  • Ergonomics
  • Chemical safety
  • Exposure monitoring
• Coordinate emergency preparedness and response programs, including emergency action plans, drills, evacuation procedures, and crisis response.
• Support safety audits, assessments, investigations, strategic initiatives, and continuous improvement projects.
• Monitor, analyze, and communicate safety performance indicators, trends, and leading metrics.
• Prepare weekly safety communications, monthly performance reports, annual regulatory reports, and safety-related budget proposals.
• Maintain health and safety records, documentation, permits, and training records in accordance with legal and organizational requirements.
• Participate in facility, equipment, process, and organizational change initiatives to identify and manage safety risks.
• Support environmental compliance and sustainability initiatives as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of occupational health and safety experience.
• Experience in manufacturing, heavy machinery, construction equipment, forestry equipment, industrial operations, or a similar environment.
• Experience developing and implementing workplace safety programs.
• Experience conducting risk assessments, incident investigations, audits, inspections, and corrective-action processes.

Technical Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations and OSHA recordkeeping requirements.
• Knowledge of industrial safety programs, including:
  • Machine guarding
  • Chemical safety
  • Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
  • Heavy mobile equipment
  • Fall protection
  • Electrical safety
  • Contractor safety
• Experience with root cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions.
• Ability to interpret regulatory requirements and translate them into practical operational solutions.
• Familiarity with ISO 45001 and occupational health and safety management systems.
• Environmental health and safety experience preferred.

Certifications

Relevant safety certifications or training preferred, including:

• OSHA 30-Hour
• OSHA 511
• Associate Safety Professional (ASP)
• Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician (OHST)
• Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
• Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
• Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)
• Equivalent professional certifications

Leadership and Communication Skills

• Ability to influence and drive organizational change without direct managerial authority.
• Strong coaching and leadership skills.
• Ability to build relationships and promote safety ownership and accountability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong training and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work effectively with employees, supervisors, managers, regulatory agencies, and external partners.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Ability to work effectively within a matrix organization and collaborate with teams across multiple locations and time zones.

Additional Requirements

• Fluent in English, both written and verbal.
• Valid driver's license.
• Ability to travel throughout the United States.
• Occasional international travel may be required.
• Approximately 25% travel is expected.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this position will include:

• Building strong partnerships with operational leaders.
• Increasing management ownership and accountability for workplace safety.
• Identifying and mitigating risks before incidents occur.
• Maintaining strong OSHA and regulatory compliance.
• Developing and sustaining a proactive safety culture.
• Improving employee engagement and participation in safety initiatives.
• Using safety data, trends, observations, and metrics to drive continuous improvement.
• Communicating effectively with employees, leaders, regulators, and other stakeholders.

Work Environment

This position operates across a variety of environments, including:

• Manufacturing facilities
• Workshops
• Warehouses
• Service operations
• Field service locations
• Customer sites
• Outdoor/field environments
• Office settings

The position requires regular presence in operational areas to conduct safety inspections, audits, training, workplace assessments, and incident investigations.

The employee may be exposed to moving mechanical equipment, powered industrial trucks, noise, vibration, airborne particles, and varying environmental conditions. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn when required.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to move throughout facilities to conduct inspections, audits, investigations, training, and other safety activities.
• Ability to work in manufacturing, warehouse, service, and field environments.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to wear required PPE.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Position Type and Work Schedule

This is a full-time position, generally Monday through Friday.

Work hours may vary based on business needs, operational requirements, training activities, travel, and incident response.

Because the role involves collaboration with stakeholders across multiple time zones, occasional meetings outside normal business hours, including early-morning meetings, may be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Link Recruiting, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.