Aurora Organic Dairy, a 2024 USA Top Workplace is growing, and we are seeking a Director of Safety for our organic Dairy Processing Facilities and farms.
Purpose:
Directs and oversees the organization’s safety programs developing and implementing a comprehensive, unified safety strategy. Develops organizational safety programs and policies that are meant to prevent injuries, fires, or other workplace accidents through a collaborative engaging and participatory approach.
Directs the identification and mitigation of potential safety hazards, the development and delivery of safety training programs educating employees on safe working practices, appropriate equipment operation, and emergency procedures, or the investigation of accidents and incidents. Ensures compliance with internal safety policies and federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Leverages data and insights from incidents to use and learning opportunities to strengthen the overall safety culture.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Designing a Comprehensive Safety Strategy- Develop a long-term safety strategy that aligns with the organization’s goals and values, emphasizing initiative-taking risk management and continuous improvement. Create a roadmap for implementing safety initiatives that enhance both safety performance and employee engagement.
- Fostering a Culture of Safety- Lead efforts to embed safety as a core value across the organization, ensuring it is integrated into daily operations and decision-making processes. Promote a safety-first mindset by engaging all employees in safety discussions and empowering them to take ownership of workplace safety.
- Employee Engagement and Participation- Develop programs that encourage active employee participation in safety initiatives, such as safety committees, suggestion programs, and peer-led safety audits. Regularly communicate with employees to gather feedback, address concerns, and involve them in the development of safety policies and procedures.
- Strategic Safety Training and Education- Implement targeted safety training programs that not only meet regulatory requirements but also engage employees in meaningful ways, enhancing their understanding and commitment to safety.
- Utilize interactive and innovative training methods, such as hands-on workshops and safety simulations, to reinforce key safety concepts.
- Collaborative Risk Assessment and Mitigation- Engage employees at all levels in identifying potential hazards and assessing risks, ensuring that their insights and experiences shape safety solutions. Work with cross-functional teams to develop and implement risk mitigation strategies that are practical, effective, and embraced by the workforce.
- Incident Response and Learning- Establish a transparent and collaborative incident investigation process that involves employees in identifying root causes and developing corrective actions. Use incidents as learning opportunities, sharing lessons learned across the organization to prevent future occurrences and strengthen the safety culture.
- Promoting Safety Leadership- Develop and support safety leadership at all levels, encouraging managers and supervisors to lead by example and actively promote safety within their teams. Recognize and reward safety champions who demonstrate a strong commitment to fostering a safe work environment.
- Continuous Safety Communication- Implement ongoing communication strategies to keep safety top-of-mind, using a variety of channels such as newsletters, safety talks, and digital platforms. Ensure that safety messaging is clear, consistent, and resonates with employees, reinforcing the importance of safety in every aspect of their work.
- Measuring and Improving Safety Culture- Regularly assess the organization’s safety culture through surveys, focus groups, and other feedback mechanisms, using insights to drive improvements. Set measurable goals for safety culture enhancement and track progress, adjusting the safety strategy as needed to achieve desired outcomes.
- Integrating Safety into Business Strategy- Collaborate with senior leadership to ensure that safety considerations are integrated into the broader business strategy, reinforcing the connection between safety and organizational success. Advocate for the allocation of resources to support safety initiatives, demonstrating the value of safety investments in improving overall performance.
- Building a Supportive Safety Network- Establish partnerships with external safety organizations, industry groups, and regulatory bodies to stay informed of best practices and emerging trends. Leverage these relationships to enhance the organization’s safety programs and maintain a competitive edge in safety performance.
- Sustaining Safety Excellence- Lead efforts to maintain a continuous improvement mindset, encouraging employees to identify opportunities for enhancing safety practices and processes. Design programs to celebrate safety achievements and milestones, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to sustaining a safe and healthy work environment.
Other Required Responsibilities:
- Plant operations are 24/7: calls and tasks may require attention outside of regular work hours.
- Minimum 50% scheduled and non-scheduled travel.
Location Requirements:
We are seeking candidates that are open to relocation to the Northern Colorado area, or who currently reside in Colorado.
Relocation assistance is available.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Requires a bachelor's degree and at least 10 years of experience, including some prior management and or individual contributor role experience in manufacturing and/or agriculture industries.
- Experience leading and directing the work of other safety employees directly, and or indirectly.
- Experience developing strategy direction, and goal setting for organization’s safety in collaboration with senior management.
- Experience establishing organization safety policies, practices, and procedures that have a significant impact on the organization in engaging and fostering a safety-focus culture.
Physical Requirements:
Must be able to work for extended periods in an office environment, production environment and farm environment. Walking, climbing, bending, stooping, and working in adverse environments. Extensive reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Regular exposure to noise, temperature changes, and heavy equipment. Lifting to 50lbs at times.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $110,000.00 - $165,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- AD&D insurance
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Ability to Relocate:
- Platteville, CO 80651: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person