Safety Manager

Job Title: Plant Safety Manager Location: Valley, AL Department: Safety Reports To: Corporate Safety Director Direct Reports: Safety Supervisors Normal Work Schedule: The typical working hours are 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, with a 30-minute lunch break. Travel: Overnight travel may be needed based on business needs, up to 10% of the time Work Schedule Requirements: Working irregular hours, including evenings and weekends when necessary is expected. Overview of Company Soules Foods is a thriving family-owned food company that has made a positive difference for its customers and consumers for nearly 50 years. Our purpose and promise of Great Food, Made Simple® drives us. Based in Tyler, Texas, the company is a leading national producer of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook chicken and beef products and is the number one producer of chicken and beef fajitas in the USA. We proudly serve a broad portfolio of great-tasting, high-quality products sold throughout the US via retail, food service distributors, and restaurants. Our wide array of national customers includes prominent organizations such as Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, Sysco, and HEB. The company was established in 1975 by John Soules Sr., and the business is now in the second generation of family leadership. The organization has expanded dramatically over the past decade, and with its continued growth, it now has annual sales of approximately $1 billion. The company employs over 2,000 individuals and has three manufacturing facilities in Gainesville, Georgia; Valley, Alabama; and its headquarters in Tyler, Texas. Job Summary The Safety Manager is a visible, proactive safety leader responsible for driving accountability across all levels, influencing safety culture, and ensuring the immediate identification, escalation, and resolution of safety risks. This role is not advisory or reactive; it is expected to lead from the production floor, partner closely with all functions, including Operations, Maintenance, and Human Resources, and actively challenge unsafe behaviors, shortcuts, or decisions regardless of role, tenure, or title. Success in this role is measured not only by KPIs but also by the level of urgency, the ownership demonstrated, and the ability to influence behavior across the organization so that safety is fully embedded in daily execution, training programs, and leadership decision-making. Qualifications Minimum Qualifications (Required) • Bachelor's degree in safety, Environmental Health, Safety Engineering, or a related field. • Minimum of five (5) years of occupational health and safety experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment required • Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence and hold others accountable • Excellent verbal and written communication skills • Ability to lead training and engage diverse audiences • Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills • Ability to anticipate risk, assess conditions, and drive corrective action • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Teams, and related systems Preferred Qualifications • Prior experience in a food processing facility. • Certified Safety Professional (CSP) • Associate Safety Professional (ASP) preferred; pursuit of CSP encouraged • OSHA Authorized Trainer (General Industry) preferred or ability to obtain • Lean or Continuous Improvement certification with safety application • Bilingual in other languages is a plus. Equivalent combinations of education, experience, and demonstrated leadership may be considered. Driving Requirements: A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record. Key Responsibilities NOTE: This description is not intended to be all-inclusive. An employee may perform other related duties to meet the organization's ongoing needs; these duties are considered marginal. Essential Functions of the Role The responsibilities listed above represent essential functions of the Safety Manager role. This position requires: • Regular presence on the production floor • Decisive action in response to safety risks • Willingness to challenge peers and leaders • Ability to influence behavior across all levels of the organization Safety Leadership & Accountability • Serve as a visible, assertive safety leader across all production areas, shifts, and departments • Drive accountability for safety expectations across employees, supervisors, managers, and peers • Actively intervene and immediately escalate unsafe behaviors, near misses, and hazardous conditions • Maintain continuous awareness of safety conditions and risks; failure to identify or act on safety risks is considered a failure of the role • Ensure no shortcut, production pressure, or operational urgency compromises safety standards Culture, Influence & Partnership • Influence and improve safety culture through visible leadership, coaching, and challenge • Partner closely with all functions, plant, and corporate leaders to ensure safety expectations are consistently enforced • Escalate unresolved safety risks, repeat violations, or leadership non-compliance through HR and senior leadership until resolution is achieved • Ensure safety expectations are reinforced through onboarding, refresher training, and operational routines • Address cultural gaps identified through surveys, near-miss trends, observations, and employee feedback Program Execution & Compliance • Develop, implement, and sustain safety programs in compliance with OSHA, EPA, and applicable regulatory requirements • Lead occupational health, workers' compensation, and environmental compliance programs • Manage contractor safety programs • Oversee Process Safety Management requirements where applicable • Lead audits, inspections, and assessments; ensure corrective actions are implemented, verified, and sustained Incident Management & Risk Reduction • Lead incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action planning • Monitor trends in near misses, incidents, and observations to reduce risk proactively • Participate in workers' compensation reviews, mediations, and hearings as required • Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce safety risk and environmental impact Training & Team Leadership • Ensure consistent, effective safety training for employees, supervisors, and managers • Actively participate in and lead training sessions to reinforce safety expectations • Provide leadership, development, and accountability for members of the safety team Performance Measurement Performance is evaluated on both outcomes and behaviors, including but not limited to: • Leading and lagging safety KPIs • Audit and assessment results, including pass/fail evaluations • Effectiveness of escalation, follow-through, and issue resolution • Demonstrated leadership presence, urgency, and ownership • Safety culture indicators, survey feedback, and observed behaviors Other: • Project work & Other duties as assigned. Work Environment This job is carried out in a professional office setting and involves using standard office equipment, such as laptops, desk phones, and smartphones. Regular visits to production facilities may also be required. During those visits, the employee is occasionally exposed to cold and/or humid conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, cold temperatures, and risks of electrical shock and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is moderate. Physical Demands Employees must be able to stand, walk, or sit; use their hands for tasks; reach with their arms; and communicate verbally. Occasional lifting or moving of objects is necessary, along with close, distance, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The applicant who fills this position will be eligible for the following: • Incentive Pay:This position is eligible for the Company's bonus plan, with amounts varying based on program terms. • Vacation / Sick days • Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits • Telemedicine • Onsite Clinic • Free annual health screening • 401 (k) with company match • STD and LTD • Life insurance & other voluntary benefits • Career Development:We support professional growth through continuous learning and development opportunities. Soules Foods is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status. Applicants with disabilities needing accommodation during the application process can contact Human Resources at the relevant location. Soules Foods will not discriminate against applicants who discuss their compensation. We also participate in the E-Verify program where required by law. Unsolicited Assistance: Soules Foods does not accept unsolicited support from external recruitment vendors for U.S. positions. Resumes or candidate profiles submitted without a valid written request and search agreement from HR will be considered the property of Soules Foods. No fees will be paid for candidates hired through unsolicited referrals.

Created: 2026-03-04