Director of Safety

Whitsons Culinary Group•Town of Islip, NY

21h•$170,000 - $190,000

About The Position

The Director of Safety is a senior leadership role responsible for protecting the company's most important asset — its people. Operating across a complex dual environment of dispersed contract foodservice accounts and high-volume meal manufacturing, this leader sets the strategic direction for all safety programs. They are accountable for ensuring regulatory compliance, driving measurable reductions in risk and injury and building a culture where every employee goes home safe — not just managing programs, but transforming how the organization thinks about safety at every level. Key Responsibilities Workplace Safety & OSHA Compliance Develop, implement, and enforce safety policies and procedures compliant with OSHA and applicable federal, state, and local regulations Manage all safety programs including lockout/tagout, confined space, machine guarding, powered industrial trucks, ergonomics, and chemical/GHS hazard communication Lead incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action tracking to closure Conduct and oversee regular safety audits, inspections, and risk assessments across manufacturing and field service sites Training & Culture Design and deliver safety training programs for hourly food service workers, production staff, supervisors, and management Build and sustain a strong safety culture through visible leadership, engagement programs, and accountability systems Develop safety onboarding standards across all sites and contract accounts Contract Operations Support Establish and monitor safety standards across multiple contract foodservice accounts serving diverse client environments (education, residential, healthcare, corporate dining, etc.) Serve as the Safety subject matter expert for contract bids, renewals, and client-facing audits Align safety protocols with client requirements while maintaining company standards Workers' Compensation Oversight Provide strategic direction and oversight to the Workers' Compensation Manager, ensuring programs are cost-effective, compliant, and support injured employee recovery Review claims trends and loss data to identify opportunities for injury prevention and program improvement Ensure alignment between workers' compensation outcomes and broader Safety initiatives Leadership & Strategy Build, mentor, and manage a geographically dispersed safety team Set annual Safety strategy with measurable goals tied to business objectives Report safety performance metrics and trends to senior leadership Manage the Safety department budget including training, PPE, equipment, and compliance programs This role offers a salary range of $170,000– $190,000 annually, based on skills, experience, and location. Employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, generous PTO, and paid holidays.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in safety management, Environmental Health & Safety, or a related field preferred.
8+ years of progressive safety experience, ideally in food service, hospitality, facilities management, manufacturing, distribution, or other multi-site service industries.
Proven success designing and implementing safety programs across a large, distributed workforce
Demonstrated ability to work autonomously in a lean organization, driving results with minimal supervision.
Experience managing direct reports and coaching leaders at all levels.
Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations and relevant state/local requirements
Experience with incident management systems, OSHA logs, and workers’ compensation processes.
Exceptional communication, presentation, and change-management skills.
Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and recommend practical, scalable solutions.
Ability and willingness to travel regularly to company and customer sites.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365

Nice To Haves

Relevant certifications (CSP, CHST, OSHA 30) a strong plus.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and enforce safety policies and procedures compliant with OSHA and applicable federal, state, and local regulations
Manage all safety programs including lockout/tagout, confined space, machine guarding, powered industrial trucks, ergonomics, and chemical/GHS hazard communication
Lead incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action tracking to closure
Conduct and oversee regular safety audits, inspections, and risk assessments across manufacturing and field service sites
Design and deliver safety training programs for hourly food service workers, production staff, supervisors, and management
Build and sustain a strong safety culture through visible leadership, engagement programs, and accountability systems
Develop safety onboarding standards across all sites and contract accounts
Establish and monitor safety standards across multiple contract foodservice accounts serving diverse client environments (education, residential, healthcare, corporate dining, etc.)
Serve as the Safety subject matter expert for contract bids, renewals, and client-facing audits
Align safety protocols with client requirements while maintaining company standards
Provide strategic direction and oversight to the Workers' Compensation Manager, ensuring programs are cost-effective, compliant, and support injured employee recovery
Review claims trends and loss data to identify opportunities for injury prevention and program improvement
Ensure alignment between workers' compensation outcomes and broader Safety initiatives
Build, mentor, and manage a geographically dispersed safety team
Set annual Safety strategy with measurable goals tied to business objectives
Report safety performance metrics and trends to senior leadership
Manage the Safety department budget including training, PPE, equipment, and compliance programs