Corporate Safety Director

Corporate Safety Director FDR Safety - Thomasville, GA FDRsafety is seeking a Corporate Safety Director to lead and scale enterprise-wide safety strategy across multiple manufacturing facilities in North America. This role is responsible for driving a proactive, data-driven safety culture, ensuring regulatory compliance, and implementing best-in-class safety programs across high-risk industrial environments. This is a highly visible leadership role partnering with executive leadership, plant operations, and engineering teams to integrate safety into all aspects of the business. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Governance Develop and execute a North America-wide safety strategy aligned with operational goals and risk profile. Establish standardized safety policies and management systems across all facilities. Serve as the corporate authority on safety governance, escalation, and decision-making. Lead the transformation from compliance-driven to proactive, prevention-focused safety culture. Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management Ensure compliance with OSHA and applicable safety regulations across all operating regions. Lead regulatory audits, inspections, and corrective action initiatives. Conduct enterprise-level risk assessments across high-hazard manufacturing activities. Monitor and anticipate regulatory changes impacting operations. Manufacturing Safety Programs Oversee implementation of critical safety programs, including: Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Machine guarding & automation safety Electrical safety & arc flash Confined space & hot work Material handling & lifting systems Contractor and visitor safety Partner with engineering and operations to embed safety into equipment design and capital projects. Develop and implement enterprise-level safety training programs. Incident Prevention & Performance Establish and monitor leading and lagging safety KPIs. Lead incident investigations and root cause analysis. Drive enterprise-wide corrective actions and knowledge sharing. Champion near-miss reporting and hazard identification programs. Leadership & Culture Lead and develop regional safety teams across multiple sites. Influence plant leadership to take ownership of safety performance. Drive leadership engagement through site visits, audits, and accountability systems. Support union and labor environments as applicable. Data & Continuous Improvement Implement and optimize safety management systems and reporting tools. Use analytics to prioritize risk reduction and resource allocation. Integrate safety into Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives. Benchmark safety performance against industry best practices. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with Operations, Engineering, HR, Legal, and Risk Management teams. Support safety integration in acquisitions, expansions, and new site startups. Collaborate with HR on training and workforce development initiatives. Qualifications Education Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Engineering, Environmental Health, or related field required Master’s degree preferred Experience 10+ years of progressive EHS leadership experience in heavy manufacturing or industrial environments Proven success leading safety programs across multiple facilities Experience in high-risk operations such as fabrication, automation, welding, or heavy equipment Certifications (Preferred) CSP, CIH, CHST or equivalent Lean / Six Sigma certification a plus Key Competencies Executive-level leadership and influence Strong technical knowledge of industrial safety systems Data-driven decision making Change management and culture transformation Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement Work Environment Frequent travel to manufacturing facilities (40–60%) Exposure to industrial production environments Occasional off-hours support for incidents or compliance matters