Safety Manager

Our Mission

Our mission is to leverage the power of food to end hunger and build healthier communities.

Our Vision

We believe that the fight against hunger and the fight against poverty are one and the same. We envision a future in which food is recognized as a human right and every person is able to feed themselves and their families in dignity. Together, we work to create a more nourished, prosperous region.

The Foodlink Way

Act With Compassion

Take Responsibility

Be a Team Player

Listen, Learn, Adapt

Job Title: Safety Manager

Department: Facilities and Technology

Reports to: Vice President, Infrastructure and Sustainability with a dotted line to the Senior Vice President, Chief People and Culture Officer

Status: Full time, Salary, Exempt

Job Level:(8) Manager

Updated: March 2025

SUMMARY

The Safety Manager will ensure Foodlink adheres to occupational safety regulations by developing and implementing safety policies, practices, and training. The Safety Manager is responsible for communicating effectively with diverse internal stakeholders and building on our culture of safety at Foodlink. The Safety Manager is responsible for the overall coordination, planning, and application of Foodlink's safety program and for establishing safety guidance across Foodlink's program areas. This work includes but is not limited to the warehouse, commercial kitchen, curbside market, off-site cafe, and farm, with an emphasis on driver safety covering Foodlink's fleet of over 25 vehicles.

The Safety Manager works within the Facilities and Technology department to ensure a clean, safe, and efficient workplace at all locations. They will also work closely with the Human Resources Department and partner as needed on workplace incidents, driver processes, and the overall safety of Foodlink employees.

The Safety Manager will proactively monitor and address the workplace's health and safety risks and hazards and develop mitigation and prevention strategies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Safety:

• Maintain and improve a year-round safety program that is inclusive of all departments. This should include, but not be limited to, new hire training, thematic training by departments and roles, monthly themes or focus topics, consistent monitoring, and corrective actions.
• Build and support a safety culture throughout the organization. Effectively communicate the intention behind safety measures in an inclusive manner.
• Create, coordinate, and deliver safety training. Implement routine safety training and lead other training as needed, including, but not limited to, job-specific and general safety training.
• Staff the safety committees. Schedule monthly safety committee meetings to review incidents, review approved policies, and increase safety visibility. Provide quarterly trend analysis, policy reviews, and critical updates to Senior Leadership.
• Ensure compliance with NY HERO Act and other relevant State and Federal laws and regulations at all times.
• Investigate any/all safety incidents. Follow SOPs and ensure proper internal documentation is completed. Analyze incident reports, metrics, and injury case studies to institute changes that lead to a safer environment.
• Determine if an injury or illness meets OSHA recordkeeping requirements and record as necessary. If medical treatment is needed, coordinate the individual's visit to Foodlink's occupational health provider.
• Coordinate drug screening as necessary per company policy.
• Regular internal safety inspections should be conducted to identify workplace hazards, such as facilities and unsafe equipment use.
• Communicate infractions to department heads and work to correct hazards promptly.
• Conduct safety assessments on equipment as needed.

Coordination:

• Support relationships with insurance companies: Workers Compensation and OSHA requirements, including creating supporting policies and procedures and staff training, with the support and collaboration of the Human Resources and Finance departments.
• Serve as lead for Foodlink's Workers Compensation program, handling new and existing employee claims from date of incident to return to work and beyond, with the collaboration and support of the Human Resources department.
• Assist Foodlink's return to work program. Work with department heads to provide work to injured workers with varying restrictions.
• Lead the FMCSA, DOT, and LENS requirements for Foodlink's fleet and drivers with the support of HR and Fleet Managers.
• Support driver safety across the organization with safety checklists and ride-alongs and continually communicate with Foodlink's fleet manager and drivers.
• Coordinate with the Facilities Manager and the Senior Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability to ensure that facility projects and plans improve Foodlink's safety.
• Communicate with the IT Manager to understand all cyber threats and serve as a resource to all staff in taking preventative, hardening, and reactive measures.

Collaboration:

• Support Foodlink Leadership and Facilities & Technology staff toward the goal of a clean, efficient workplace using the latest technology.
• Work with the Food Safety Coordinator to ensure food safety requirements are met or exceeded.
• Assist in the supervision of contractors working at Foodlink's facilities. Ensure plans are communicated to staff as necessary and that on-site contractors follow all the required safety protocols.
• Other duties as assigned include supporting Foodlink's Festival of Food, The Get-Together, community-wide distributions, or member agency volunteer shifts.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• College degree and a minimum of 3 years' experience required: or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience overseeing a corporate safety program is strongly desired
• Experience with Workers Compensation insurance and claims management strongly desired
• Fully developed communications and public speaking skills; Experience delivering group trainings. Ability to communicate effectively across an organization
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective work relationships internally and externally
• Ability to explain technical concepts in simple terms
• Exceptional reasoning, problem solving and strategic thinking skills
• Self-motivation and ability to work independently
• Proficiency in Microsoft office programming including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations and record-keeping requirements
• Knowledge of FMCSA and DOT regulations and program requirements
• Must possess a valid driver's license with a good driving record, have access to a vehicle and be willing to travel within Foodlink's 10-county service area as needed

We are actively seeking a diverse pool of candidates for this position and strongly encourage applications from candidates of color.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

This is a full-time position paid on a salary basis between $76,500 - $93,425. Foodlink covers 100% of individual health and dental insurance with the ability to acquire family coverage with pretax dollars. In addition to generous paid time off (PTO), we observe 13 paid holidays throughout the year. Opportunity to contribute to a 401k retirement savings plan upon hire. Eligible for generous employer match after 1 year of service.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to handle or feel items such as documents. The team member is required to stand; walk and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus. This position regularly requires the individual to lift objects weighing up to 50lbs.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Foodlink is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. At Foodlink we believe that anti-hunger work is only possible with a commitment to removing barriers caused by systems of oppression that perpetuate hunger and poverty. We recognize that systematic injustice and bias disproportionately impact some identities more than others. Foodlink is actively working to center equity- the fair treatment of all people- in everything that we do so that everyone in our region has access to nourishing food that reflects and values cultural differences.

Foodlink is committed to listening and supporting solutions to hunger that are sourced from people and communities with lived/living experience of hunger and poverty, and to responding where inequities exist.

Foodlink is committed to taking great care to cultivate internal culture and practices that support diversity and inclusion. We embrace and encourage our employees' differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. We aim to foster an environment in which everyone feels a sense of belonging and understands their connection to the Foodlink mission.

Foodlink employees have a responsibility to always treat others with dignity and respect. Employees are expected to always exhibit conduct that reflects our values and promotes equity and inclusion during work, and at work functions

Salary Description

$76,500 - $93,425/annually