Safety Management Systems (SMS) Manager

Woodward L'Orange • Rockford, IL

8d

About The Position

The Safety Management System (SMS) Manager leads the implementation, maintenance, integration, and continual improvement of the product Safety Management System for Fuel Systems & Controls (FS&C). This role supports a proactive, enterprise-wide approach to product safety through leadership engagement, hazard identification, risk-based decision making, safety assurance, and safety promotion. The SMS Manager partners with Business Unit and site leaders, Engineering, Operations, Quality, Product Support, and customer-facing teams to embed product safety principles across design, development, production, fielded product support, and service activities. The role promotes an open reporting environment, supports effective safety governance, and helps ensure that product safety controls are implemented, monitored, and validated.

Requirements

• Leadership, team development, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Safety Management System governance and product safety risk management.
• Quality assurance, corrective action, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to use data, audits, and performance metrics to support informed decisions.
• Knowledge of operational planning, business processes, and financial performance.
• Technical expertise in quality, safety, or manufacturing operations.
• Aken certification, Certified Technician credential, or bachelor’s degree
• This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
• All applicants must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of the ITAR and EAR, or eligible to obtain all required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce.
• The ITAR defines a U.S. Person as a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident (i.e., 'Green Card holder'), or a protected person (e.g., asylee, or refugee).

Responsibilities

• Lead the deployment and sustainment of the product Safety Management System (SMS) in alignment with company SMS policy and applicable site-specific SMS manuals.
• Support Business Units and sites in implementing the four SMS elements: Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion.
• Develop and maintain SMS processes, procedures, tools, governance routines, and records.
• Coordinate periodic reviews of the SMS policy and supporting processes to ensure continued relevance and effectiveness.
• Support Safety Program Management Team (SPMT) governance, meeting preparation, safety concern reviews, decision documentation, and action tracking.
• Maintain the safety item worklist, including approved containment actions, permanent corrective actions, closure requirements, monitoring, and validation of effectiveness.
• Coordinate cross-functional inputs required for timely, informed, and data-driven safety decisions.
• Support collaboration with the end product owner in determining whether a component-level concern represents a customer product safety issue.
• Oversee and direct quality assurance teams to achieve established quality and safety objectives.
• Develop, implement, and enforce quality standards and procedures across operational processes.
• Identify, analyze, and resolve technical and operational quality issues to maintain operational excellence.
• Develop and implement strategies to improve quality control processes and promote continuous improvement.
• Conduct performance appraisals, provide feedback, and facilitate training and development for team members.
• Establish and improve structured, ongoing processes for identifying potential product safety hazards across the product life cycle.
• Promote a just and open reporting environment that encourages employees to report hazards and safety concerns without fear of retaliation.
• Integrate Human and Organizational Performance (HOP), learning teams, and human factors principles where applicable.
• Reinforce STOP culture expectations and the prevention of defect pass-through.
• Facilitate the consistent assessment, prioritization, and management of product performance risks using defined methodologies.
• Ensure internal risk assessments remain focused on the ability of components or systems to meet design intent and customer specifications.
• Coordinate customer approval or involvement before customer product-level system safety risk assessments are performed.
• Track risk controls intended to eliminate or mitigate identified risks to an acceptable level.
• Establish monitoring and assurance activities to evaluate SMS conformance, performance, and control effectiveness.
• Use performance data, audits, lessons learned, and relevant industry trends to identify opportunities for continual improvement.
• Coordinate validation of containment and permanent corrective action effectiveness through closure.
• Support compliance with applicable regulatory and product safety requirements.
• Develop and coordinate role-based SMS training to ensure personnel have the knowledge and skills required to fulfill safety responsibilities.
• Create and execute communication plans that improve safety awareness, alignment, and active participation at all organizational levels.
• Provide coaching and practical guidance to leaders and functional teams regarding SMS responsibilities and expectations.
• Promote the sharing of lessons learned and effective safety practices across Business Units and sites.
• Integrate safety management principles into design, development, production, quality, support, and service processes.
• Advise leadership on SMS performance, emerging product safety risks, resource needs, and improvement priorities.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships and influence action across organizational boundaries.
• Champion a positive product safety culture focused on prevention, accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor departmental operational and financial performance and allocate resources to support quality and safety objectives.

Benefits

• All members included in annual cash bonus opportunity.
• 401(k) match (4.5%)
• Annual Woodward stock contribution (5%)
• Tuition reimbursement and Training/Professional Development opportunities for all members
• 12 paid holidays
• Industry leading medical, dental, and vision Insurance upon date of hire
• Vacation / Sick Time / Vacation Buy-up / Short Term Disability / Bereavement leave
• Paid parental leave
• Adoption Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program, including mental health benefits
• Member Life & AD&D / Long Term Disability / Member Optional Life
• Member referral bonus
• Spouse / Child Optional Life / Optional AD&D / Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending
• Voluntary benefits, including: Home / Auto Insurance discounts
• Whole Life Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance / Legal Assistance / Military Leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager