Safety Manager - Runnings Distribution Center, Sioux Falls, SD

Runnings•Sioux Falls, SD

49d•$90,000 - $115,000•Onsite

About The Position

Runnings is seeking a Safety Manager for its Distribution Center in Sioux Falls, SD. This role is responsible for leading and supporting safety programs across all Runnings operating locations, including retail stores, distribution centers, and the Retail Support Center. The Safety Manager is the primary owner of companywide safety compliance, partnering with Operations, Human Resources, insurance partners, and leadership teams to enhance safety culture, mitigate risk, and drive improvements in safety performance across multiple states. The role has the authority to recommend immediate corrective actions, including suspending unsafe operations, when imminent hazards are identified. This position utilizes a practical, field-focused, coaching approach to ensure teams work safely while supporting efficient operations and excellent customer service. The Safety Manager acts as the company representative for OSHA/state-plan interactions, including inspections, responses, and abatement tracking.

Requirements

Five years of progressive safety experience in a retail and/or distribution centers or similar multi-site environments or equivalent education and/or experience.
Maintain a high level of confidentiality and professionalism.
Ability to develop written policies/procedures.
Significant air and street travel.
Able to work weekends and evenings when circumstances require it.
Ability to solve complex problems.
Ability to perform assigned duties under frequent time pressures in an interruptive environment.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to occasionally lift up to 20 lbs. during onsite inspections, trainings and investigations, walk, stand, kneel, bend, and stoop on a regular basis.
Valid Driver License and/or identification and flexibility to travel within assigned areas.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification (CSP, CHST) and OSHA 30
Multi-state experience

Responsibilities

Promote and create a proactive, consistent safety culture across stores, distribution centers, and the Retail Support Center.
Serve as the primary safety resource across all operating locations and creates and delivers executive level safety reports and dashboards (injury trends, leading indicators, audit performance, corrective action closures and claim metrics).
Partner with Operations and HR teams to ensure safety expectations are understood, supported, and consistently applied companywide.
Support and strengthen unit-level safety efforts, including store, distribution center, and Retail Support Center safety committees, by providing guidance, training, resources, and best practices.
Establish consistent processes for hazard identification, reporting, corrective action, and verification of completion across all operating locations.
Develop, implement, and maintain safety policies, programs, and procedures applicable to retail, warehouse, and office environments aligned with best practices.
Create and deliver safety training for team members and leaders, including onboarding, refresher training, and role-specific education.
Support ongoing safety communication, lead safety meetings, and the unit-level safety committee initiatives to reinforce expectations and safe work behaviors.
Ensure programs and training address retail and distribution hazards including slips/trips/falls, material handling/ergonomics, seasonal operations, dock safety, PIT, conveyors, machine guarding, and lockout/tagout (as applicable).
Ensure compliance with OSHA and other federal, state, and local safety regulations; represent the company during OSHA/state-plan inspections and abatement and reporting of sever incident reporting and regulatory notifications.
Serve as the primary owner of safety programs address retail-specific and distribution hazards including material handling, slips/trips/falls, powered equipment, seasonal operations, and customer-facing incidents and related injury and illness recordkeeping.
Support OSHA compliance and reporting, including recordkeeping, regulatory reporting, inspections, and corrective action follow-up across all operating locations.
Manager multi-state OSHA/state plan requiring and conduct frequent routine audits/risk assessments across retail, DCs and the Support Center.
Maintain safety programs/documentation, contractor controls, and safety review support for all new stores, acquisitions, and operational changes.
Oversee the reporting, investigation, and follow-up of incidents, injuries, and near misses across all locations.
Analyze injury, claim, and near miss trends to identify root causes and prevention opportunities.
Partner with HR and Operations to support workers’ compensation claims management and return-to-work efforts.
Leverage data and findings to help reduce claim frequency and severity, improve loss ratios, and positively impact the company’s Experience Modification Rate (EMR).
Track and report leading indicators such as near-miss reporting, audit completion, safety observations, and corrective action closure performance.
Partner closely with Operations leadership to address safety risks while supporting efficient business operations.
Collaborate with Human Resources on training, employee relations considerations, and claims-related activities tied to workplace safety.
Provide ongoing consultation and support to unit-level safety committees, helping ensure local safety concerns are identified, documented, and addressed consistently.
Partner directly with insurance brokers and safety consultants to proactively identify risks, implement recommendations, and continuously drive safety improvements across stores, distribution centers, and the Retail Support Center.
Track safety metrics and key indicators, including claims trends, loss performance, and EMR, and provide insights and recommendations to leadership.
Support company growth by scaling safety programs while maintaining consistency, practicality, and alignment with Runnings’ culture.
Develop, implement, and maintain Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) and Fire Prevention Plans (FPPs) where required for stores, DCs, and the Retail Support Center.
Coordinate and document emergency training and drills/tabletop exercises (evacuation, severe weather, other foreseeable emergencies).
Ensure EAPs include required elements: reporting emergencies, evacuation routes/assignments, employee accountability after evacuation, rescue/medical duties, and designated contacts.
Partner with Operations/Facilities to ensure emergency alarms/notifications and site readiness processes are effective and maintained.
Frequently travel to all operating states, including air and road travel on a frequent basis, to perform audits, assist with compliance issues, training, safety committees, and team members, and to investigate to get to root cause.