Machine Safety COE Leader

Becton Dickinson Medical Devices•Sumter, SC

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Machine Safety Center of Excellence Leader is the enterprise owner of machine safety strategy, governance, and performance across all global manufacturing operations. This role provides leadership to ensure machinery is designed, installed, operated, and maintained in a manner that eliminates or minimizes risk of injury, while maintaining efficient, and compliant operations. The Leader serves as the company’s subject matter expert on machine safety, setting global standards and expectations, guiding capital investments, and ensuring consistent application across the operations network. The role requires strong technical credibility, strategic leadership, and the ability to partner effectively with senior leaders in Operations, Engineering, EHS, Procurement, Legal, and Supply Chain. We are the makers of possible BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world. Advancing the world of health™ is our Purpose, and it’s no small feat. It takes the imagination and passion of all of us—from design and engineering to the manufacturing and marketing of our billions of MedTech products per year—to look at the impossible and find transformative solutions that turn dreams into possibilities. We believe that the human element, across our global teams, is what allows us to continually evolve. Join us and discover an environment in which you’ll be supported to learn, grow and become your best self. Become a maker of possible with us.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, or similar).
15+ years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, automation, or EHS.
Demonstrated leadership in managing machine safety programs across multi-site or global operations.
Experience influencing senior leaders and guiding enterprise-wide change initiatives.
Deep expertise in machine safeguarding, automation, and controls.
Advanced working knowledge of: ISO 12100 (Machinery Risk Assessment) ISO 13849 / IEC 62061 (Functional Safety) ANSI B11 series OSHA 29 CFR 1910 (Subpart O, 1910.147) Robotics standards (ISO 10218, ISO/TS 15066)
Proven experience validating and approving risk reduction measures for complex manufacturing systems.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Engineering, Safety, or Business is preferred.
FSE – Functional Safety Engineer or equivalent
CMSE® – Certified Machinery Safety Expert
CSP or comparable professional credential

Responsibilities

Establish and own the global machine safety vision, strategy, and roadmap aligned with enterprise EHS and operational excellence objectives.
Define and govern global machine safety expectations for all manufacturing operations, including legacy equipment, new installations, and emerging technologies.
Serve as an escalation point for high-risk machine safety issues and risk acceptance decisions.
Develop, approve, and maintain corporate standards related to: Machine guarding and safeguarding Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Electrical, controls, and functional safety systems
Ensure alignment with regulatory and consensus standards (OSHA, ANSI, ISO, IEC, NFPA) and regional legal requirements.
Establish governance mechanisms to ensure consistent application and compliance across all sites and regions.
Define the network approach to machine risk assessment and risk reduction, including methodologies, tools, and escalation thresholds.
Ensure high‑risk machinery and processes are identified, assessed, and mitigated using robust engineering controls.
Monitor machine-related incident trends, near misses, and precursor events; sponsor systemic corrective actions.
Embed machine safety requirements into: Capital project design standards Equipment purchase specifications OEM and systems integrator contracts
Provide leadership oversight and approval for machine safety aspects of: Major capital investments Automation, robotics, and digital manufacturing initiatives Significant equipment modifications and line upgrades
Influence equipment standardization and technology selection to reduce enterprise risk.
Lead, coach, and develop global or regional machine safety resources.
Define role-based competency requirements for engineers, maintenance teams, and operators.
Sponsor global training programs to build and sustain machine safety capability.
Establish machine safety assurance programs, including audits, self-assessments, and maturity models.
Review site performance, validate closure of high‑risk findings, and ensure sustainable risk reduction.
Define and track enterprise KPIs related to machine safety, including leading indicators.
Advise executive leadership on machine safety risks, investments, and performance.
Support regulatory interactions, inspections, and legal matters related to machinery safety.
Represent the company in external forums, industry groups, and standards committees as appropriate.