Contractor (Business Partner) Safety Leader

International Paper•Rome, GA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

International Paper is seeking a Contractor (Business Partner) Safety Leader responsible for providing health and safety (HS) leadership to ensure that the Business Partners working for International Paper are 100% committed to working safety according to the Business Partner Safety Performance Standard with commitment to reducing and eliminating serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs).

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Safety or Industrial Engineering, Industrial Hygiene, related engineering discipline or equivalent experience.
5 years' construction supervision or project management or 5 years heavy industrial contractor management (Pulp & Paper, Power, Refining, Steel or Chemical Industry).

Nice To Haves

5-10 years Safety experience at a paper mill and/or related business experience with experience managing heavy industrial contractors and suppliers.
Strong technical understanding of Federal and State Safety and Health regulations.
Completion of the OSHA 500 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction industry.
Rigging, Scaffolding/Trenching, NFPA 70E, (PSM) Process Safety Management, HAZMAT.
OSHA 30 Construction or completion of The OSHA 500 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety & Health Standards for the Construction Industry.

Responsibilities

Lead and continuously improve site Health and Safety systems by engaging mill employees, contractors and suppliers, reinforcing safe behaviors, ensuring compliance with company standards, OSHA regulations and integration into the IP Safety Excellence culture.
Develop, implement, and maintain safety programs, policies and procedures and manuals for the Rome, GA Containerboard Mill (The Mill) in alignment with International Paper policies and applicable local, state, and federal regulations. The primary focus is on heavy industrial contractors and suppliers.
Build strong relationships with business partners. Share and develop the IP Safety Excellence culture with them, assuring both physical and psychological safety for all working in The Mill.
Develop IP contractor coordinators at The Mill to effectively engage business partners and assure compliance to safety expectations, performance visibility, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Deliver and promote safety communication with business partners to provide accurate, consistent, and timely information regarding safety performance, risks, incidents, and employee concerns.
Update existing management systems as needed.
Be the liaison between ISNetworld, the Corporate Business Partner Manager and business partners for The Mill.
Monitor, observe, and assess contractor work practices through field observations and job auditing to assure proper controls are in place to prevent exposure to hazards and assure approved job plans, permits, and procedures are accurate and followed.
Actively intervene and stop work when unsafe conditions or behaviors are observed to prevent injury, environmental impact, or property damage. Promote the stop work culture in our business partner work force.
Conduct and lead incident, injury, near‑miss, and occupational illness event learnings involving employees and business; ensure root causes are identified, incidents are documented, and corrective actions are implemented and verified.
Perform routine and formal safety inspections, including leading annual safety audits, ensuring corrective actions are tracked to completion and drive continuous improvement.
Recommend engineering, process, and product safety improvements to reduce exposure to chemical, physical, and ergonomic hazards.
Plan, manage, and coordinate industrial hygiene programs, including oversight of contracted IH services and testing related to air quality, noise, temperature, and chemical exposure.
Develop, coordinate, and conduct safety training programs for employees and business partners, including onboarding, regulatory training, hands‑on proficiency evaluations, toolbox talks, and pre‑job safety planning.
Review and approve safety requirements for new equipment, processes, facility modifications, and business partner work scopes to ensure hazards are identified and controlled prior to startup or execution.
Serve as the primary health and safety resource for business partners, ensuring understanding and adherence to mill safety rules, professional conduct expectations, and company values.
Track and analyze safety performance trends for employees and business partners, escalate repeated non‑compliance, and recommend improvements to safety and business partner management processes.
Partner with mill maintenance and operations technicians to promote and sustain Safety Excellence.
Maintain a visible field presence and serve as a consistent safety leader.
Support and help lead the IP Safety Cultural Excellence Journey.
Actively participate as a member of the Health and Safety team.