Home Jobs Safety Manager

Back to Jobs

Safety Manager - Job Opportunity at Perdue Farms Inc

Dillon, US

Full-time

Mid-level

Posted: May 23, 2025

On-site

$90,000 - $115,000 per year

Benefits

Comprehensive 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions that helps secure your financial future and demonstrates the company's investment in long-term employee retention

Full-spectrum healthcare coverage including medical, dental, and vision insurance that protects you and your family while reducing out-of-pocket expenses

Health Savings Account (HSA) option providing tax-advantaged savings for medical expenses and additional retirement planning flexibility

Employee Assistance Program offering confidential counseling and support services for personal and professional challenges, showing the company's commitment to holistic employee wellbeing

Life insurance coverage providing financial security for your beneficiaries and peace of mind

Generous paid time off policy allowing for work-life balance and personal rejuvenation

Parental leave benefits supporting employees during important life transitions and family growth

Relocation assistance package demonstrating the company's investment in attracting top talent and supporting career transitions

Day shift schedule promoting work-life balance and family time compared to rotating shift alternatives

Key Responsibilities

Lead enterprise-wide safety and security strategy for a major food manufacturing complex, directly impacting operational efficiency and regulatory compliance across multiple facilities

Drive cultural transformation by implementing world-class safety protocols that achieve industry-leading TRIR metrics below 1.0, protecting workforce health while optimizing productivity

Manage multi-site safety operations including live production facilities, transportation hubs, and affiliated field operations, requiring strategic coordination and resource allocation

Direct and develop safety department personnel across multiple locations, building high-performing teams that deliver consistent safety excellence

Partner with C-suite and operational leadership as the technical safety expert, influencing strategic decisions on capital projects and process improvements

Lead incident command operations during emergencies, making critical real-time decisions that protect people, assets, and business continuity

Interface with regulatory agencies including OSHA, DHS, and DOT, managing compliance audits and building positive relationships that benefit the organization

Develop and execute comprehensive safety business plans using data analytics to identify trends, predict risks, and implement preventive measures

Collaborate cross-functionally with corporate security, environmental, and process safety management teams to align facility operations with enterprise objectives

Champion worker engagement initiatives that drive behavioral change and create sustainable safety culture improvements across all organizational levels

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental, safety & heath, or industrial health management, or occupational health & safety

Experience

5+ years' experience in manufacturing safety management, demonstrated experience leading a world-class safety program which has achieved <1.0 TRIR

Required Skills

Industrial and food safety health knowledge Thorough knowledge of OSHA requirements Strong organizational skills Excellent grammar and writing skills Strong supervisory skills, particularly supervising off-site personnel Proven ability to lead and influence others Ability to establish positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders Communication and interpersonal skills to effectively manage and motivate employees and communicate objectives and action plans Ability to research pertinent facts, data and other information from internal and external sources Proficient use of computer and corresponding programs – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OHM, SAP Ability to implement behavioral-based safety techniques to improve/maintain safety performance

Certifications

40-hour HAZWOPER certification and current annual 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher CPR/First Aid certification or willingness to obtain Valid driver's license and the ability to travel outside the US including obtaining a passport

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The food manufacturing safety sector is experiencing unprecedented transformation driven by post-pandemic workplace safety expectations, with companies investing heavily in behavioral-based safety programs and advanced monitoring technologies. Organizations achieving sub-1.0 TRIR rates are becoming the new industry standard rather than the exception, creating intense competition for experienced safety professionals who can deliver these results. The integration of safety management across multiple facilities and transportation networks reflects the industry's shift toward centralized safety leadership models that optimize resources while maintaining local accountability. Regulatory complexity in food manufacturing continues to intensify with increased OSHA enforcement, new FSMA requirements, and heightened DHS security protocols for critical infrastructure. Safety managers must now possess expertise across multiple regulatory frameworks while maintaining practical operational knowledge. The convergence of safety, security, and emergency response responsibilities into single roles reflects cost optimization strategies while demanding broader skill sets from safety professionals. Data-driven safety management has become essential as companies leverage predictive analytics to prevent incidents before they occur. Safety managers who can translate KPIs into actionable business intelligence are commanding premium compensation as organizations recognize the ROI of proactive safety investments. The emphasis on safety culture transformation rather than compliance-only approaches indicates mature safety programs seeking continuous improvement beyond regulatory minimums.

Salary Evaluation

The offered salary range of $90,000-$115,000 aligns well with market standards for mid-level safety managers in the Southeast region, particularly considering the multi-site responsibilities and food manufacturing specialization. When factoring in the comprehensive benefits package including relocation assistance, the total compensation package likely exceeds $120,000-$140,000 in value. For a role requiring management of multiple facilities and achievement of world-class safety metrics, this compensation reflects fair market value with room for growth based on performance.

Role Significance

Based on the multi-facility scope and references to managing safety department personnel across locations, this role likely oversees a team of 5-10 direct reports including site safety coordinators, security personnel, and administrative support. The mention of managing guard force operations suggests additional indirect reports through security contractors, potentially bringing total team influence to 15-20 individuals. The distributed nature of the team across multiple sites requires strong remote leadership capabilities and systematic communication processes.

This position represents a senior operational role with significant autonomous decision-making authority across multiple facilities, positioning it as a key leadership position within the regional safety organization. The direct management of safety personnel across sites and partnership with C-suite executives indicates strategic influence beyond typical safety coordinator roles. The responsibility for developing facility-wide safety business plans and leading incident command operations demonstrates executive-level accountability typically associated with director-track positions.

Key Projects

Implementation of behavioral-based safety programs designed to achieve and maintain world-class TRIR metrics below 1.0 across all facilities, requiring systematic culture change initiatives, comprehensive training programs, and sustained engagement campaigns that transform worker attitudes and behaviors over 12-18 month cycles. Development and execution of integrated emergency response protocols across the manufacturing complex, including coordination with local emergency services, creation of facility-specific incident command structures, and regular drill exercises that ensure readiness for various scenarios from chemical releases to severe weather events. Capital project safety integration for new equipment installations and facility expansions, partnering with engineering teams from concept through commissioning to ensure inherent safety design principles, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency while managing budgets potentially exceeding $1-5 million in safety-related investments. Comprehensive security infrastructure upgrades aligned with DHS critical infrastructure protection requirements, including physical security assessments, access control system implementations, and development of security policies that balance operational efficiency with threat mitigation.

Success Factors

Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority becomes critical when driving safety culture change across multiple facilities with established operational practices. Success requires building credibility through technical expertise while maintaining collaborative relationships with plant managers who may initially resist safety-driven operational changes. The most effective safety managers in this environment combine deep regulatory knowledge with practical problem-solving skills that minimize productivity impacts. Multi-site coordination capabilities distinguish high-performing safety managers from those limited to single-facility oversight. Success requires developing systematic approaches to maintain consistency across locations while adapting to unique facility requirements. This includes creating scalable training programs, standardized audit protocols, and communication systems that ensure all sites receive equal support despite geographic distribution. Data analytics proficiency has evolved from nice-to-have to essential for modern safety management success. The ability to identify patterns in incident data, predict emerging risks, and present compelling business cases for safety investments directly impacts organizational support and resource allocation. Safety managers who transform raw metrics into actionable intelligence drive superior outcomes and career advancement. Crisis leadership skills determine success during high-stakes emergency situations where decisions directly impact lives and business continuity. The incident command responsibilities require remaining calm under pressure, making rapid decisions with incomplete information, and coordinating multiple stakeholders including emergency responders, senior management, and regulatory agencies. Those who excel in these moments become invaluable organizational assets.

Market Demand

High demand exists for safety professionals with proven track records of achieving sub-1.0 TRIR rates in food manufacturing environments. The specific combination of multi-site management experience, regulatory expertise across OSHA/DHS/DOT frameworks, and behavioral safety implementation skills creates a narrow candidate pool. The requirement for HAZWOPER certification and emergency response leadership further limits qualified candidates, positioning successful applicants for strong negotiating leverage and career advancement opportunities.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

OSHA regulatory expertise stands as the foundational requirement given the complex compliance landscape in food manufacturing. Deep knowledge must extend beyond basic standards to include process safety management, lockout/tagout, confined space, and food-specific regulations. The ability to interpret gray areas and provide practical guidance while maintaining compliance protects both workers and organizational liability. Safety managers lacking comprehensive OSHA expertise struggle to maintain credibility with operations teams and regulatory inspectors. Behavioral-based safety implementation capabilities directly correlate with achieving world-class TRIR performance goals. This requires understanding psychological principles of behavior modification, designing observation programs that engage workers positively, and creating feedback systems that reinforce safe behaviors. Technical knowledge alone cannot transform culture; success requires applying behavioral science to create sustainable change. Organizations investing in BBS programs expect leaders who can design, implement, and continuously improve these systems. Data analytics and KPI management skills have become indispensable for demonstrating safety program ROI and securing organizational resources. Modern safety managers must move beyond incident counting to predictive analytics that identify risks before incidents occur. Proficiency in Excel, statistical analysis, and visualization tools enables compelling presentations that influence executive decisions. The ability to translate safety metrics into business language determines funding support and career advancement.

Beneficial Skills

Multi-site management experience, while preferred rather than required, significantly enhances effectiveness in this distributed leadership role. Understanding how to maintain consistency across locations while adapting to local needs requires systematic thinking and strong organizational skills. Candidates with this background typically achieve faster results and experience less stress adapting to the multi-facility scope. The ability to leverage technology for remote team management becomes increasingly valuable. Food safety knowledge, though not explicitly required, creates synergies with occupational safety in food manufacturing environments. Understanding HACCP, FSMA, and food defense principles enables more effective partnership with quality and operations teams. Safety managers who speak the language of food safety gain credibility faster and identify unique hazards others might miss. This cross-functional expertise positions candidates for broader operational leadership roles. Spanish language proficiency addresses the demographic reality of modern food manufacturing workforces and enables direct communication with all associates. The ability to conduct training, investigate incidents, and build relationships without interpreters dramatically improves safety engagement and cultural transformation. Bilingual safety managers often achieve superior results through authentic connection with frontline workers. This skill becomes increasingly valuable for regional and corporate advancement opportunities.

Unique Aspects

The combination of manufacturing safety leadership with live production and transportation safety oversight creates a uniquely comprehensive role rarely found in single positions. This expanded scope provides exceptional learning opportunities across multiple operational environments while building versatile skills valuable for senior leadership positions. Most safety roles specialize in either manufacturing or agricultural operations, making this hybrid experience particularly valuable for career advancement.

The explicit mention of world-class safety culture with sub-1.0 TRIR achievement requirements indicates Perdue's commitment to exceeding industry standards rather than meeting minimum compliance. This performance expectation, while challenging, positions successful managers as elite practitioners capable of commanding premium compensation and selective career opportunities. Few companies publicly commit to such aggressive safety metrics in job postings.

The integration of security management responsibilities including guard force oversight and DHS compliance adds a homeland security dimension uncommon in traditional safety roles. This expanded portfolio develops skills in physical security, threat assessment, and critical infrastructure protection that differentiate candidates for executive positions. The post-9/11 emphasis on food defense makes this combined expertise increasingly valuable.

The requirement for multi-lingual capabilities (Spanish/French preference) reflects the diverse workforce reality in modern food manufacturing and positions successful candidates to lead increasingly multicultural teams. This cultural competency becomes a significant differentiator for advancement to regional or corporate roles where diversity leadership is essential. The ability to conduct safety training and investigations across language barriers represents advanced professional capability.

Career Growth

Career advancement typically follows a 3-5 year cycle for high performers who consistently achieve safety metrics, successfully complete major projects, and build strong stakeholder relationships. The multi-site management experience accelerates advancement timelines compared to single-facility roles, with regional director opportunities potentially emerging within 3 years for exceptional performers. Those targeting corporate positions should expect 5-7 years to develop sufficient strategic perspective and organizational influence.

Potential Next Roles

Regional Safety Director positions overseeing multiple safety managers across broader geographic territories represent the natural progression for successful performers in this role. These positions typically emerge after 3-5 years of demonstrated multi-site management success and command $130,000-$160,000 in base compensation. The experience managing distributed teams and complex regulatory frameworks provides ideal preparation for regional leadership responsibilities. Corporate Safety positions at Perdue's headquarters focusing on enterprise-wide safety strategy, policy development, and program standardization offer alternative advancement paths for those preferring strategic over operational roles. These positions leverage field experience to influence company-wide safety initiatives and typically require 5-7 years of successful facility management experience. Plant Manager or Operations Director roles become accessible for safety managers who develop strong business acumen and operational knowledge. The comprehensive understanding of regulatory requirements, workforce dynamics, and continuous improvement methodologies positions safety leaders as attractive candidates for general management positions, particularly in safety-critical industries. Independent safety consulting opportunities emerge for experienced managers who build reputations for achieving exceptional safety performance. The combination of food manufacturing expertise, multi-site management experience, and proven TRIR improvement capabilities creates valuable consulting credentials commanding $150-$200 per hour for specialized projects.

Company Overview

Perdue Farms Inc

Perdue Farms stands as one of America's largest privately-held food and agriculture companies, with a 100+ year heritage of family ownership that influences its long-term strategic thinking and employee-centric culture. The company's position as a vertically integrated poultry producer controlling operations from feed mills through retail distribution creates unique safety management complexities spanning agricultural, industrial, and transportation environments. This fourth-generation family business maintains a reputation for employee loyalty and community investment while competing effectively against public corporations through operational excellence.

As a top-5 poultry producer in the United States, Perdue commands significant market influence with annual revenues exceeding $8 billion and employment of over 20,000 associates. The company's commitment to becoming 'the most trusted name in food and agricultural products' drives investments in safety, quality, and sustainability that often exceed industry minimums. Their financial stability and continued growth despite industry consolidation provides job security and advancement opportunities typically unavailable at smaller processors.

The Dillon, SC facility represents a strategic location within Perdue's Southeast manufacturing network, positioned to serve growing population centers while accessing agricultural supply chains. As a harvest facility, it serves as a critical node in the company's integrated supply chain, making safety performance directly impact product quality and customer satisfaction. The regional importance of this facility likely provides visibility to senior leadership and opportunities to influence broader organizational safety strategies.

Perdue's culture emphasizes the company's CARE values (Community, Associates, Responsible, Excellence) which manifest in safety management through emphasis on protecting associates while serving communities. The family-owned structure promotes longer-term thinking and relationship-building compared to quarterly-focused public companies. The description of 'every voice matters' and 'inclusive environment' suggests a collaborative approach to safety where frontline input is valued alongside management directives, creating opportunities for safety managers to drive meaningful cultural change through engagement rather than enforcement.

Apply Now

Safety Manager - Job Opportunity at Perdue Farms Inc

Benefits

Key Responsibilities

Requirements

Education

Experience

Required Skills

Certifications

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

Salary Evaluation

Role Significance

Key Projects

Success Factors

Market Demand

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Beneficial Skills

Unique Aspects

Career Growth

Potential Next Roles

Company Overview

Perdue Farms Inc

Data Sources & Analysis Information

Job Listings Data

Sauge AI Market Intelligence