Safety Manager

Description

The Safety Manager is responsible for supporting and overseeing workplace safety programs across the dealership group. This position works with dealership leadership, department managers, and employees to promote a safe working environment, identify and correct potential hazards, maintain required safety records, and support compliance with applicable federal, state, and local safety requirements.

This is an opportunity for a recent graduate with a degree in safety engineering, occupational safety, environmental health and safety, industrial hygiene, or another applicable field. Prior professional safety experience is not required. The company will provide training regarding its operations, policies, systems, and dealership-specific safety risks.

Requirements

•  Develop, implement, and maintain safety programs, procedures, and training materials for dealership operations.
• Conduct routine safety inspections and audits at dealership, service, body shop, parts, warehouse, rental, and administrative locations.
• Identify unsafe conditions, work practices, and potential hazards and work with management to implement corrective actions.
• Assist dealership managers with maintaining safe work areas and ensuring employees follow established safety procedures.
• Conduct or coordinate employee safety training, including new-hire safety orientation and recurring training.
• Maintain safety records, inspection reports, training documentation, corrective-action logs, and other required documentation.
• Assist with OSHA recordkeeping, including OSHA 300, 301, and 300A documentation, when applicable.
• Monitor changes to workplace safety requirements and recommend updates to company policies and procedures.
• Review workplace accidents, injuries, near misses, and property-damage incidents to identify root causes and preventive measures.
• Participate in incident investigations and prepare clear, accurate investigation reports.
• Track safety trends and provide regular reports to company leadership.
• Assist with workers’ compensation claim reporting, documentation, and return-to-work coordination.
• Work with insurance carriers, safety consultants, medical providers, and other outside partners as needed.
• Support emergency preparedness, evacuation planning, fire prevention, and required drills.
• Assist with programs involving hazardous materials, chemical labeling, Safety Data Sheets, personal protective equipment, respiratory protection, lockout/tagout, powered industrial trucks, lifts, machinery, and other dealership-related hazards.
• Help ensure service departments, body shops, wash bays, detail areas, parts departments, and other operational areas follow applicable safety practices.
• Promote employee participation in safety initiatives and encourage prompt reporting of hazards, injuries, and near misses.
• Serve as a safety resource for managers and employees throughout the organization.
• Travel regularly to company locations and maintain a visible presence within dealership operations.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Education and Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in safety engineering, occupational safety, environmental health and safety, industrial hygiene, engineering, risk management, or another applicable field.
• General understanding of workplace safety principles and hazard-recognition practices.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees, managers, executives, insurance representatives, and outside vendors.
• Ability to prepare professional reports, policies, training materials, and other written communications.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and follow through on corrective actions.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining accurate records.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and ability to travel between company locations.

Preferred

• Coursework involving OSHA regulations, industrial safety, ergonomics, hazardous materials, environmental compliance, emergency management, or accident investigation.
• Internship, cooperative education, campus safety, military, volunteer, or other experience involving safety, operations, engineering, or risk management.
• Graduate Safety Practitioner, Associate Safety Professional, Certified Safety Professional, OSHA 30-Hour, First Aid/CPR, or similar certification.

Prior professional safety experience is not required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to recognize potential workplace hazards and recommend practical corrective measures.
• Ability to learn dealership operations, including service, body shop, parts, sales, rental, and administrative functions.
• Ability to present safety information in a clear and approachable manner.
• Ability to conduct training for employees with different levels of education and experience.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately.
• Ability to remain professional and objective when investigating incidents or addressing safety concerns.
• Ability to build productive working relationships while holding employees and managers accountable for safety requirements.
• Ability to interpret regulations, policies, technical information, and Safety Data Sheets.
• Ability to analyze incident data and identify patterns or recurring risks.
• Willingness to spend significant time in active dealership and shop environments.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Ability to walk, stand, bend, climb stairs, and move throughout dealership, service, body shop, parts, warehouse, and outdoor work areas.
• Ability to inspect equipment, workspaces, vehicles, lifts, storage areas, and other operational locations.
• Ability to occasionally lift or move items weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Regular exposure to automotive service and dealership environments, including noise, moving vehicles, machinery, chemicals, fumes, heat, and outdoor weather conditions.
• Personal protective equipment may be required in certain work areas.
• Regular daytime travel between company locations is required. Occasional overnight travel may be necessary.