Safety Specialist

Company Overview

Our operation is simple – we manufacture tires. But at Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia (YTMV), we see it as moving the world. From the racetrack to Main Street, we put our customer’s destination at the heart of our work, ensuring the millions of tires we produce annually exceed expectations in quality, safety, and environmental consciousness. Rooted in Salem since 1989, we have a history of excellence in both our products and our people.

Summary

Are you a natural leader with a passion for safety and people? We’re looking for a Safety Specialist who’s energized by connecting with others, solving problems, and making an impact on a manufacturing floor. In this role, you won’t be sitting behind a desk all day—more than half your time will be spent working directly with employees, building trust, promoting safe work habits, and leading a culture where safety is second nature. You’ll also investigate incidents, assess risk, and put proactive countermeasures into place to keep our team safe and productive. With a blend of interpersonal connection, regulatory knowledge, and hands-on problem solving, this position is perfect for someone who thrives on variety and purpose in their work.

Responsibilities

As the Safety Specialist, you’ll play a critical role in ensuring our employees go home just as safely as they arrived. You will work closely with Union safety representatives and other employees across all shifts to build trust and accountability around workplace safety. Here’s how you’ll do that:

• Engage daily with team members on the production floor to create a positive, safety-focused work environment
• Lead monthly joint company/Union safety meetings to address issues, share updates, and keep safety front of mind
• Conduct monthly safety audits on all shifts in partnership with Union members, helping to ensure proactive thinking around safety
• Lead and participate in safety investigations—getting to the root of what happened, why, and how to prevent it in the future
• Conduct thorough risk assessments and implement appropriate countermeasures to reduce workplace hazards
• Design and deliver impactful training programs for new hires, job transfers, and tenured employees—keeping safety top of mind
• Capture, organize, and analyze safety data to spot trends and recommend changes that improve safety performance
• Collaborate with union partners, the Industrial Rescue Squad, plant security, and regulatory bodies to promote alignment and compliance
• Flex your project management skills to lead key safety initiatives and help shape the future of our safety culture

Knowledge and Skills

Our ideal candidate would have the following experience and attributes. However, we believe in a culture that recognizes not everyone’s path is the same. If you feel your knowledge and abilities will be successful in this role, we encourage you to apply. 

• A confident communicator who’s equally effective leading a room or connecting one-on-one – with a special ability to build rapport across Union and non-Union teams
• A natural team builder with experience in leadership, supervision, and/or project ownership (3-5 years preferred)
• Someone who thrives in collaborative settings, with experience participating in or leading joint company/Union committees or initiatives
• Someone who understands manufacturing and has a deep respect for compliance, safety, and continuous improvement
• A problem-solver with investigative instincts, capable of identifying root causes and driving long-term solutions
• Familiarity with OSHA (Virginia preferred), NFPA, ANSI, NIOSH, IBC, ASTM, and other safety-related regulations
• Experience with risk assessments, industrial hygiene, and safety audits/walkthroughs – ideally in partnership with Union safety teams
• Advanced Excel skills (you’ll be tracking and presenting data regularly)
• Certifications such as OSHA 10 or OSHA 30, or willingness to obtain them
• A degree in a Health or Safety-related field