Site Safety & Fire Protection Manager

Hankook Tire•Clarksville, TN

21d

About The Position

The Safety & Fire Protection Unit Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for the site’s safety and fire protection programs, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including OSHA/TOSHA, NFPA, and corporate standards. The role oversees hot work, chemical and SDS management, fire suppression and alarm systems, confined space, safe machine operations, emergency response, and other site safety matters across the TP campus. The manager leads safety and fire protection professionals, manages regulatory inspections and TOSHA requests, drives investments and special projects, and supports strong performance in leading and lagging indicators. The manager leads the Safety and Fire Protection team, including Senior Specialists, Shift Safety Specialists, and supporting personnel. They set priorities, assign responsibilities, develop goals and improvement plans, and coach and manage team performance. The position oversees safety programs and incident investigations; manages fire protection systems and hot work controls; oversees chemical approval, SDS, and inventory processes; and manages confined-space and other high-risk work programs. The manager also serves as the primary contact for TOSHA inspections and requests, leads audit preparation and corrective actions, and maintains regulatory relationships. The role is full-time, exempt, and scheduled for core business hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It reports to the EHS Director.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least 5 years of related experience as an EHS professional in a manufacturing-intensive environment.
Good command of written and spoken English.
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology, including principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment used in the design and production of goods and services.
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Knowledge of chemical composition, structure, properties, processes, transformations, uses, interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Critical-thinking skills, including using logic and reasoning to assess alternatives and approaches to problems.
Active listening and speaking skills, including understanding others’ points, asking appropriate questions, and conveying information effectively.
Active-learning skills, including understanding the implications of new information for current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex problem-solving skills, including identifying complex problems, reviewing relevant information, evaluating options, and implementing solutions.
Ability to frequently move about the manufacturing plant campus, office environments, and production areas, and occasionally ascend or descend stairs.
Ability to remain stationary for 50% of the time.
Ability to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery.
Ability to position oneself to file documents in the top and bottom drawers of file cabinets.
Ability to occasionally move office equipment and supplies weighing up to 25 pounds.

Nice To Haves

A degree in occupational safety, fire protection, or engineering, or an advanced degree in a related field.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the Safety and Fire Protection team, including Senior Specialists, Shift Safety Specialists, and supporting personnel.
Establish department priorities, assign responsibilities, and ensure consistent execution across all shifts.
Develop annual goals, KPIs, and improvement plans aligned with site and corporate EHS strategy.
Coach, develop, and manage the performance of team members.
Oversee safety programs including LOTO, machine guarding, safe machine operations, PPE, hazard identification, and incident management.
Ensure consistent application of safe work practices across departments.
Lead investigations of serious incidents, near misses, and high-risk events.
Maintain and improve leading indicators such as audits, observations, and training, and lagging indicators such as injuries, incidents, and severity rates.
Manage site fire protection systems, including suppression systems, alarms, extinguishers, and fire pumps.
Ensure compliance with NFPA standards and local fire code requirements.
Oversee hot work permitting, fire watch requirements, and field audits.
Coordinate with Facilities, Engineering, and vendors to maintain fire protection system reliability and readiness.
Oversee the chemical approval process, SDS database, and chemical inventory.
Ensure compliance with OSHA Hazard Communication and state chemical regulations.
Support departments with chemical storage, labeling, and hazard communication.
Manage the permit-required confined-space program, including training, entry oversight, and rescue planning.
Ensure appropriate controls for high-risk work such as line breaks, critical lifts, and energy control.
Conduct field audits to verify compliance and control effectiveness.
Serve as the primary point of contact for TOSHA inspections, requests, and regulatory interactions.
Lead preparation, responses, and corrective-action planning for regulatory and corporate audits.
Maintain relationships with regulatory agencies and ensure timely reporting.