at Whitsons Culinary Group in Berkely, United States
Job Description
Safety Manager
Berkeley, IL, USA
Requisition Number
16429
Location
Berkeley, ILJob Description
SUMMARY: The Safety Manager is one of the designated safety authorities responsible for day-to-day administration overseeing and coordinating Whitsons’ workplace safety programs across two Culinary Centers, two Distribution locations, Corporate Offices and over 1300 kitchens and/or cafeterias where we provide food services on-site at client locations (On-Site Locations). This role serves as an operational safety authority for assigned locations, ensuring compliance with OSHA and company standards while driving a proactive, prevention-focused safety culture. This position also plays a critical employee-facing role, providing outreach and support to injured team members, ensuring appropriate care, clear communication, and timely return-to-work whenever possible. The Safety Manager functions as a highly autonomous, field-facing leader who conducts inspections, investigates incidents, and manages safety initiatives. While this role has no direct reports, it exercises significant influence and leadership across all On-site services, Culinary services and Corporate operations. This role will also serve as a back-up to the Workers Compensation Specialist, whose role serves as the primary liaison between the company and our Third-Party Administrator (TPA) in overseeing workers’ compensation claims and administration. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES: Safety Program Oversight+ Oversee the implementation, execution, and continuous improvement of Whitsons’ safety programs across Culinary Centers, Distribution Depots, On-Site Locations, and Corporate Offices.
+ Drive consistent adoption of safety policies, procedures, and best practices across all supported sites.
+ Monitor safety performance metrics and identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
+ Manage and support all Safety Programs across the organization.
+ Provide guidance, communication, training support, and accountability to safety representatives.
+ Serve as the escalation point for safety issues, compliance gaps, and high-risk incidents.
+ Serve as the primary liaison for the Nurse Triage Program and ReEmployability Program.
Inspections, Audits & Compliance+ Conduct routine and ad-hoc safety inspections and compliance audits at Culinary Centers, Distribution Depots, On-Site Locations, and other company locations.
+ Identify hazards, document deficiencies, write site-visit report with safety-improvement recommendations, and work with site leadership to implement timely corrective actions.
+ Partner with Fleet Management to review driver logs, pre-trip and post-trip inspections, and fleet safety compliance.
Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis+ Respond to workplace injuries, accidents, and near-miss events in a timely and professional manner.
+ Lead incident investigations to determine root causes and contributing factors.
+ Prepare formal written investigation reports and submit them to the Director of Safety and relevant leadership.
+ Partner with site leadership to develop, implement, and track corrective and preventive actions.
Training & Safety Engagement+ Manage and coordinate safety training, and toolbox talks across facilities and On-Site Locations.
+ Facilitate Safety Committee meetings and safety engagement activities.
+ Ensure all required safety postings, emergency information, and regulatory notices are current and properly displayed.
Reporting, Documentation & Data Management+ Maintain accurate OSHA logs, injury records, training documentation, and audit reports.
+ Track incident trends, corrective action status, and training completion.
+ Prepare safety summaries, metrics, and reports for leadership and regulatory needs.
Continuous Improvement & Risk Reduction+ Proactively identify opportunities to reduce injuries, fleet incidents, and operational risk.
+ Stay current on OSHA regulations, foodservice and logistics safety standards, and industry best practices.
+ Support special projects, audits, and company-wide safety initiatives as assigned.
Claims Management & Administration+ Serve as back-up to the Workers Compensation Specialist who is the primary point of contact with the Third-Party Administrator (TPA) for workers’ compensation claims and administration.
Special Projects+ Adapt to evolving organizational priorities by taking on special assignments and interim responsibilities as requested.
+ Participate in system upgrades or reporting enhancements related to safety, workers’ compensation, and risk management.
+ Perform other related duties as assigned.
This role offers a salary range of $90,000- $110,000 annually, based on skills, experience, and location. Employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, generous PTO, and paid holidays.Requirements
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Education+ Associate degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health, or a related field required, bachelor’s degree preferred.
+ OSHA 10-Hour or 30-Hour General Industry certification required (or ability to obtain within 6 months).
EXPERIENCE, OTHER QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES Experience+ Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in workplace safety, risk management, or EHS.
+ Experience supporting multiple locations or field-based operations required.
+ Demonstrated experience conducting inspections, investigations, and safety training.
+ Familiarity with OSHA, fleet safety, workers’ compensation, and food production/distribution environments.
Other Qualifications+ Strong communication and influencing skills across operational and field environments.
+ Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and operate in a fast-paced, geographically dispersed organization.
+ Strong analytical, documentation, and follow-up discipline.
+ Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate compassionately with injured employees.
+ Ability to manage sensitive, confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
+ Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and safety reporting systems.
+ Ability to travel regularly between facilities and On-Site Locations (approximately 30%).
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES+ Safety & Risk Management
+ Regulatory Compliance
+ Root Cause Analysis
+ Operational Partnership
+ Training & Coaching
+ Data-Driven Decision Making
+ Continuous Improvement
+ Accountability & Follow-Through
+ Communication & Influence
Computer Skills+ Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 (Excel, Word, Outlook).
+ Experience with claims management systems and reporting platforms preferred.
Work Schedule
Monday through Friday, 7am-4pmSupervisor
Gregory A RobbinsSalary Target
$90,000-$110,000 To view full details and how to apply, please login or create a Job Seeker account