Manufacturing Safety Manager Jobs in Riverside, CA

The Safety Manager is responsible for leading all aspects of Safety at Ontario Mill. This role ensures compliance with OSHA regulations and company safety standards, helps reduce risk, and creates a strong safety culture across a complex 24/7 recycled containerboard operation. The Safety Manager will work closely with the Mill Manager, mill leadership team, department leaders, supervisors, and hourly team members to deliver Safety Excellence.

Site Operations

• Attend daily production and leadership meetings
• Lead weekly crew safety meeting with a compliance/training focus
• Interact with New-Indy operators daily
• Lead incident management with the use of Dakota
• Report the following data monthly to site leadership: safety observations, safe work plans of action, incidents for site and on-site maintenance contractor
• During mill scheduled outage (every 9 weeks); leads control of hazardous energy audits, confined space testing/audits, fire prevention inspections, etc.
• As part of the leadership team, participates in weekend rotation for mill coverage (e.g., mill lead coverage once every ~10 weeks for a year to gain a basic understanding of mill’s operation)

Strategic & Technical Oversight

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve safety programs across the plant in alignment with corporate performance standards and OSHA regulations.
• Lead risk assessments, job safety analyses, and machine safeguarding reviews to identify and mitigate hazards.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on safety compliance (OSHA, NFPA, ANSI as applicable).
   

Program Oversight

• Manage and improve site safety programs, such as: Control of Hazardous Energy, Machine Guarding, Confined Space, Work at Height, Contractor Safety, and Workplace Transport Safety.
• Ensure conformance with corporate Life Impacting Injury or Fatality Event Principles and high-risk activity controls.
• Oversee industrial hygiene monitoring, ergonomics, and injury/illness prevention programs.
   

Learning Culture and Engagement

• Promote and reinforce a culture of personal responsibility and accountability for safety.
• Drive employee engagement through mill safety committees, STOP observations, and field coaching.
• Lead training and awareness to improve hazard recognition and safe decision-making.

Incident Prevention & Response

• Lead incident investigations by identifying system causes, defining appropriate corrective and preventative actions to prevent recurrence.  Share these lessons with the sites during the recurring monthly Safety Lessons Learned meeting – promoting a learning culture.
• Track and analyze leading/lagging indicators; develop and present reports to site and corporate leadership.
• Coordinate emergency response plans, drills, and readiness.
   

Continuous Improvement

• Recommend capital and process improvements that reduce safety risk.
• Monitor safety technology, regulatory changes, and industry trends to ensure forward-looking programs.
• Champion Human Organizational Performance (HOP) and Just Culture principles.

NICE TO HAVE:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in occupational safety, engineering, industrial technology, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Experience: 3–5 years of progressive safety experience in manufacturing, packaging, or industrial operations.
• Certifications: ASP, CSP, or working toward certification is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations and safety engineering principles.
• Effective communicator and coach across all site levels.
• Data-driven, with experience using safety metrics to influence performance.
• Excellent written and verbal communications.
• Ability to develop and present materials.

• Lead by example, mentoring, and exhibiting behaviors that are consistent with the company’s values.

Leadership Skills

• Lead by example, mentoring, and exhibiting behaviors that are consistent with the company’s values.
• Build trust and respect for individuals.
• Commitment to Safety: Portray a passion for safety and the well-being of people.
• Visibility: Be present and engaged in the work environment
•  LEARNING Culture: Promote a work environment of learning from each other and sharing lessons learned.
• Safety Culture: Demonstrate success in building a work ethic around Safety as a Value. 
• Accountability: Promote personal ownership for safety with employees, visitors and contractors.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in occupational safety, engineering, or related technical discipline required from an accredited institution.
• Experience: 5+ years of progressive safety leadership experience in manufacturing, pulp & paper, packaging, or heavy industrial operations. Prior experience in corrugated, recycled fiber, or power/boiler house environments preferred.
• Certifications: CSP, ASP, or equivalent strongly preferred.
• Skills: Expert knowledge of OSHA, Cal/OSHA, NFPA, and ANSI safety standards. Strong leadership, coaching, and communication skills across all organizational levels. Data-driven approach with experience in using metrics and audits to drive improvement. Ability to lead in a 24/7 workforce environment.

• Lead safety in a state-of-the-art recycled containerboard mill that produces over 1,000 tons per day.
• Opportunity to make a measurable impact on an operation with advanced machinery and power systems.
• Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and career advancement opportunities within a growing company.
• Be part of a culture that values safety as a core business driver, not just compliance.