Safety Specialist

Virgin Galactic • Truth or Consequences, NM

8d • $69,550 - $100,925 • Onsite

About The Position

Virgin Galactic is seeking an experienced Safety Specialist to support its New Mexico team and proactively manage risks associated with human spaceflight. The role promotes strong safety behaviors, regulatory compliance, hazard reporting, and effective communication of safety information. It is onsite five days per week in New Mexico offices, with occasional flexible hours outside normal business hours to support operations or special events.

The Safety Specialist supports environmental, safety, and industrial hygiene programs; manages hazardous-waste compliance and operations; assists with employee exposure monitoring; investigates incidents; and develops and implements safety programs. The role works with employees, contractors, management, consultants, regulators, and the Virgin Galactic Safety Team to maintain regulatory compliance and improve the organization’s safety culture. It also supports emergency response and FAA licensing requirements related to systems safety.

Requirements

• Detailed knowledge of and experience working with OSHA, EPA, FAA, and local regulators.
• Demonstrated ability to perform root-cause analysis for injuries and conduct incident and accident investigations.
• Experience with human factors as applied to aerospace operations and maintenance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop and deliver presentations to groups of varying sizes and levels.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office software.
• Ability to develop and maintain partnerships across functional areas.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule outside normal business days and hours to support operations or special events.
• Ability to respond to serious emergency situations.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Must be able to stand for extended periods, stoop, bend, crawl, and maneuver in tight spaces.
• Physically able to handle items weighing up to 40 pounds unassisted.
• Must be a U.S. Person or able to obtain required U.S. Government export authorization, and must not be included on the specified OFAC list of blocked persons.

Nice To Haves

• A bachelor’s degree in a safety field is highly desired.
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification is highly desired.
• Certifications or similar qualifications in the aerospace or aviation field are beneficial.
• Experience with aerospace industry processes is highly desirable.
• Experience with aviation flight-line processes is highly desirable.
• At least 2 years of safety experience.
• Experience with regulatory agency policies, procedures, and programs.
• Experience with start-up programs is desired.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and ensure Environmental, Safety, and Industrial Hygiene Program compliance with applicable government laws and regulations.
• Ensure hazardous-waste registrations, permits, and licenses are current and in place; oversee hazardous-waste operations and support departmental Waste Coordinators.
• Gather data to identify, reduce, or eliminate sources of pollutants and hazards affecting the work environment and employee health.
• Assist with monitoring employee exposure to chemical and other toxic substances and physical hazards, including Industrial Hygiene sampling and coordinating with Certified Industrial Hygienists and other safety consultants.
• Identify and evaluate occupational exposures and recommend controls or hazard elimination in accordance with OSHA, NIOSH, and ANSI requirements.
• Communicate safety issues to management and provide safety information to staff, contractors, and stakeholders.
• Assist Systems Safety engineers in establishing regulatory requirements related to FAA licensing.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships across the organization and communicate safety issues to all organizational levels.
• Investigate injuries and incidents, and analyze data for trends involving injuries, hazards, events, and occurrences.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, FAA, EPA, NTSB, local municipalities, and other applicable regulatory agencies.
• Serve as a member of the Emergency Response team and respond to serious emergency situations.
• Identify opportunities to improve leadership knowledge and skills to support safe business operations.
• Develop and implement safety programs that ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
• Conduct facility and operations inspections to support continuous improvement and regulatory compliance.
• Facilitate required regulatory training and maintain safety-related records.
• Work with the Virgin Galactic Safety Team to develop proactive annual safety plans that build and sustain a strong safety culture.
• Practice safety behaviors and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) awareness and prevention, and follow regulatory protocols and rules.
• Maintain timely execution of tasks and deliverables; follow team-leader directions and collaborate across teams to complete projects and assigned tasks.
• Adapt thinking and behavior as needed and communicate in a timely, respectful manner that is open to other ideas.

Benefits

• The compensation package may include bonus or long-term incentive pay, in addition to medical, financial, and other benefits, depending on the position offered.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED