Safety Manager

At Link Snacks, we show up hungry, roll up our sleeves, plaid or otherwise, and dive straight into the hard work. We don’t hide from challenges; we hunt them down. We push harder, move faster, and take the kinds of big swings that built this business in the North Woods of Wisconsin four decades ago.

We’re everyday people who deliver extraordinary results. Innovation, creativity, and urgency aren’t buzzwords, they’re expectations. And just like the real protein snacks we make across our global house of brands—Jack Link’s®, Lorissa’s Kitchen®, Golden Island®, BiFi®, and Peperami® and KOOEE!® to name a few—there’s nothing artificial about us. What you see is exactly what you get: humble, gritty, passionate people who show up every day ready to not just be a participate in the meat snack industry that the Link Family created, but to move faster, innovate harder and keep raising the bar so high, the rest of the world needs a ladder just to see it.

Dominating this space across the world takes a team. A team that runs together, succeeds together, and celebrates together. A team that’s full of relentless energy and spirit that can only be fueled by one thing: a fist full of our delicious meat snacks.

Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks.

The Safety Manager leads a proactive, people‑first safety program that engages every team member, strengthens reporting and analytics, and partners closely with the Plant Manager and site leadership to build and sustain a strong safety culture. Scope includes injury prevention, regulatory compliance, behavior‑based safety, contractor safety, and risk‑reduction initiatives in a food manufacturing environment.

Annual Salary Range: $90k - $105k 

Responsibilities

Leadership, Engagement & Culture

• Be a visible leader on the floor—conduct routine safety gemba walks, coach supervisors/leads, and recognize safe behaviors.
• Facilitate a high‑performing Safety Committee (charter, goals, action logs, follow‑through).
• Integrate safety into the tiered daily/weekly/monthly operating rhythm; reinforce accountability at all levels.

Reporting, Analytics & Business Rhythm

• Own OSHA 300/300A/301 logs and the site’s safety KPI dashboard (e.g., TRIR, DART, near misses, observations, training, audit/action status).
• Publish a monthly safety report; present trends, risks, and closure status to the Plant Manager and plant leadership.
• Track and verify effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions; maintain auditable records.

Compliance, Risk Assessment & Programs

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local safety regulations; maintain required programs, procedures, and records.
• Perform and maintain JHAs/PHAs for high‑risk tasks (LOTO, machine guarding, PIT, confined space, working at heights, hot work); integrate controls into SOPs/standard work.
• Lead incident and near‑miss investigations using structured root cause (e.g., 5‑Why, fishbone) and implement verified corrective actions.
• Manage contractor safety (pre‑qualification, orientation, oversight).
• Coordinate emergency preparedness and drills with local responders.

Food Manufacturing Integration

• Collaborate with Quality/Food Safety on GMP awareness, hygiene, and sanitation practices that affect worker safety.
• Align safety controls with production and maintenance plans to minimize risk during changeovers, startups, and maintenance activities.

Ammonia Systems

• Oversee the site’s ammonia refrigeration safety program (ARM/ARMS), aligning with IIAR standards and applicable regulatory requirements, coordinate inspections, PMs, and emergency response readiness.

Environmental Coordination

• Partner with corporate/environmental resources to meet site environmental obligations (e.g., RCRA, Clean Water Act) and address safety interfaces.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Safety or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 5+ years of manufacturing safety experience (food/beverage or cold‑chain preferred); 2+ years in a leadership or program‑owner role.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; experience with EHS/Risk Management Information Systems (incident reporting, audits, action tracking).
• Certifications: OSHA 30 (required/preferred), CSP/ASP preferred; First Aid/CPR/AED.
• Demonstrated capability in incident investigation, audits, and continuous improvement (5S, Kaizen).

Skills & Competencies

• Strong coaching, facilitation, and influence skills; credible communicator with frontline teams through senior leadership.
• Analytical capability to build dashboards, interpret trends, and translate insights into action.
• Effective conflict resolution; able to drive accountability while building strong partnerships.
• Organized, action‑oriented, and able to prioritize in a dynamic production environment.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions for this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit, stoop, kneel, bend, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities are required by this job include close vision and ability to distinguish colors.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant/office setting with varying degree of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet/slippery floors. Most of the time will be spent in a production environment. Travel may be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

E-VERIFY:

Jack Link’s is participant in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees.  For information about the E-Verify program, please visit:  http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.