Sr. Safety Specialist

Panasonic • De Soto, KS

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Join Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation. Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health & Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Science, or a related field
• Relevant work experience may be substituted for required education
• 4+ years of safety experience in manufacturing, industrial, construction, commissioning, or similarly regulated environments
• Demonstrated experience leading safety programs, audits, inspections, risk assessments, incident investigations, corrective actions, and cross-functional initiatives
• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations and applicable industry standards (e.g., NFPA, ANSI, NEC, ACGIH, and NIOSH)
• Experience developing and delivering safety training, supporting contractor safety programs, and monitoring workplace hazards and exposures
• Strong analytical, project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate data and drive informed decision-making
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and communicate effectively with employees, leaders, contractors, and external stakeholders
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to support emergency response activities outside normal business hours as needed
• Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking
• Alignment to Panasonic’s seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)
• Pre-employment drug testing is required.
• Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
• All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
• All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.

Nice To Haves

• CSP certification or ASP certification with active pursuit of CSP
• Occupational safety certifications and training such as OSHA 30-Hour, HAZWOPER, First Aid/CPR, ISO 45001, Lockout/Tagout, Electrical Safety, and Respiratory Protection/Fit Testing
• 6+ years of occupational health and safety experience in manufacturing, industrial, construction, commissioning, or similarly regulated environments
• Experience leading site-wide safety improvements, complex compliance initiatives, regulatory interactions, and performance reporting
• Experience mentoring safety professionals and operational leaders
• Familiarity with lithium-ion battery manufacturing, chemical handling, or other high-hazard operations
• Working knowledge of ISO 14001, ISO 45001, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, and occupational exposure assessment principles
• Experience with EHS management systems, audits, inspections, consultants, contractors, and regulatory agencies
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of occupational health and safety programs, policies, procedures, and systems to support regulatory compliance and operational excellence.
• Provide visible safety leadership through routine field presence, employee engagement, hazard recognition, coaching, and incident response support.
• Manage safety records, permits, reports, metrics, and documentation to support business needs and regulatory requirements.
• Support emergency preparedness and response activities, including drills, exercises, and after-hours response as needed.
• Lead risk assessments, job hazard analysis (JHA), management of change (MOC) activities, and other risk reduction initiatives.
• Serve as the lead safety resource for assigned operational areas, advising leaders on safety strategy, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor, analyze, and communicate safety performance metrics, trends, and program effectiveness to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Lead or support moderately complex projects and cross-functional initiatives focused on safety, compliance, and operational performance.
• Conduct workplace inspections, audits, and operational assessments to identify hazards, verify compliance, and recommend corrective actions.
• Lead incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective and preventive action processes, including verification of effectiveness and completion.
• Support strategic initiatives that strengthen safety culture, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence.
• Develop, deliver, and continuously improve safety training programs, materials, and resources for employees and contractors.
• Serve as a mentor and subject matter expert by providing coaching, technical guidance, and regulatory interpretation to employees, leaders, and less-experienced safety professionals.
• Support onboarding, safety orientation, and employee engagement initiatives that promote safe work practices and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and partner to leaders, operational teams, contractors, and external stakeholders on occupational health and safety requirements, compliance obligations, and industry best practices.
• Communicate safety performance, observations, trends, and improvement opportunities to leadership and employees.
• Support regulatory inspections, audits, and interactions with external agencies, consultants, and contractors.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local occupational health and safety regulations, standards, and company requirements.
• Maintain current knowledge of OSHA regulations, emerging regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

Benefits

• Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
• Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
• 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
• Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
• Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
• Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources.
• High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
• Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
• Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events.

What This Job Offers

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