Senior Safety Manager

Senior Safety Manager

Reports To: Director of Safety for assigned U.S. sites / Vice President, Safety for assigned Canadian sites
Direct Reports: No direct reports under the solid-line reporting structure; provides functional governance and technical direction to site Safety professionals

Position Summary

The Senior Safety Manager serves as the independent technical authority for an assigned group of sites, providing oversight and assurance to support consistent application of corporate Safety standards and effective management of significant workplace risks.

The role provides technical direction to site Safety professionals, reviews and approves significant safety controls within established authority levels, monitors serious and high-potential incidents and recurring risks, and provides independent assurance regarding site Safety performance, data integrity and corrective action closure.

Working closely with site leadership, Safety professionals and corporate functions, the Senior Safety Manager connects site-level risk and performance to Safety leadership while maintaining appropriate independence from local operational decision-making and implementation.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Governance and Risk Management

• Apply and reinforce approved corporate Safety standards consistently across assigned sites.
• Provide independent technical interpretation and direction on Safety standards, controls and significant workplace risks.
• Approve Tier 2 control approaches and closure criteria and provide final technical approval on Tier 3 matters within delegated authority.
• Monitor serious incidents, high-potential events, repeat findings and overdue corrective actions.
• Require appropriate interim protective measures where significant risk remains unresolved.
• Escalate implementation failures, significant legal exposure, funding barriers and matters outside delegated authority to the appropriate Safety leadership.
• Support timely resolution of technical disagreements involving site Safety requirements or controls.
  
  

Site Assurance and Audit

• Develop and maintain a risk-based site rotation, review and audit schedule across assigned locations.
• Conduct scheduled and unannounced site assurance activities based on risk, performance and emerging issues.
• Assess compliance with corporate Safety standards and the effectiveness of site-level controls.
• Identify recurring or systemic issues across assigned sites and escalate trends requiring broader intervention.
• Monitor the quality and timely closure of corrective actions resulting from audits, investigations and Safety reviews.
  
  

Incident Oversight

• Provide technical oversight and support for serious and high-potential incidents within assigned sites.
• Review significant investigations to assess the quality of findings, root-cause analysis, corrective actions and closure criteria.
• Identify common or recurring risks across sites and support the development of broader preventive measures.
• Maintain same-day escalation availability for significant events, with defined after-hours alternatives to ensure appropriate coverage.
  
  

Safety Performance and Data Assurance

• Verify Safety KPI definitions, supporting evidence and data quality prior to leadership reporting.
• Assess the reliability and consistency of incident, risk and corrective-action information across assigned sites.
• Identify inconsistencies or gaps in Safety reporting and require appropriate follow-up or correction.
• Provide Safety leadership with an independent view of significant site risks, emerging trends and areas requiring attention.
  
  

Functional Leadership and Coaching

• Provide technical guidance, coaching and functional leadership to site Safety professionals.
• Promote consistent Safety practices, technical capability and professional standards across assigned sites.
• Provide formal functional input into the performance review process for site Safety professionals.
• Support the development of Safety capability through coaching, knowledge sharing and technical guidance.
• Build effective working relationships with site leaders while maintaining the independence required to provide objective Safety assurance.
  
  

Decision Rights and Authority

The Senior Safety Manager is authorised to:

• Stop or pause work where an unsafe condition or significant uncontrolled risk exists.
• Require appropriate interim protective measures while permanent controls are developed or implemented.
• Provide final technical approval within delegated Tier 2 and Tier 3 authority.
• Escalate significant Safety, legal or implementation concerns to the Director of Safety or Vice President, Safety, as applicable.
• Define the required Safety outcome and minimum technical expectations where significant risk exists.
  
  

Key Working Relationships

The Senior Safety Manager works collaboratively with:

• Director of Safety and Vice President, Safety, as applicable
• Plant and site leadership
• Site Safety professionals
• Human Resources
• Legal
• Engineering
• Operations
• Internal and external subject-matter experts
• Regulatory authorities, as required
  
  

Measures of Effectiveness

Success in the role will be demonstrated through:

• Timely and consistent Tier 2 and Tier 3 technical decisions.
• Reduction in repeat high-risk findings across assigned sites.
• Reliability and integrity of Safety KPI and incident information.
• Timely and effective closure of escalated corrective actions.
• Quality and effectiveness of regional Safety assurance activities.
• Effectiveness of site audits, reviews and risk-based site engagement.
• Quality of technical coaching and functional support provided to site Safety professionals.
• Effective escalation and resolution of significant Safety risks.
  
  

Core Competencies

• Advanced technical Safety judgement and professional independence.
• Strong multi-site risk prioritisation and systems thinking.
• Advanced investigation, audit and data-assurance capability.
• Ability to interpret and apply Safety standards across diverse operating environments.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to identify systemic risk and distinguish significant issues from routine operational matters.
• Executive-level written and verbal communication.
• Coaching, influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Conflict resolution and ability to navigate technical disagreements.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement during significant or time-sensitive events.
  
  

Education, Experience and Knowledge

• Relevant degree, diploma or recognised occupational health and safety designation, or an equivalent combination of advanced education and experience.
• Substantial experience in occupational health and safety within a manufacturing or comparable industrial environment.
• Demonstrated experience supporting multiple sites or operations.
• Advanced knowledge and experience in incident investigation, auditing, Safety management systems, standards interpretation and high-risk controls.
• Demonstrated ability to provide independent technical advice and challenge operational decisions where Safety risk warrants intervention.
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements and Safety governance principles.
• Experience working collaboratively with Operations, Engineering, Human Resources, Legal and senior leadership.
• Ability to travel regularly between assigned sites.
• Ability to respond to significant Safety events and escalations as required.
  
  

Working Conditions

• Regular travel to assigned sites is required.
• Role includes both planned and unannounced site visits based on risk and operational requirements.
• May require response to significant Safety events outside normal working hours.