Workplace Health & Safety Associate Manager

Location: Detroit, MI (Onsite 3-4 days / week)

The Workplace Health & Safety (WHS) Associate Manager is responsible for driving the implementation, performance, and continuous improvement of workplace health and safety programs across multiple U.S. locations, with primary onsite presence at Madison Heights.

This role operates as a subject matter resource and system owner, leading through influence to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and alignment to global WHS standards. The Associate Manager partners with site leadership, operations teams, and cross-functional stakeholders to identify risks, implement controls, and strengthen a proactive safety culture.

Key Responsibilities

1. Health & Safety Management System (HSMS) & ISO Leadership

• Support development, implementation, and continuous improvement of WHS policies, procedures, and management systems aligned to ISO 45001 and ISO 14001.

• Lead site-level ISO readiness, implementation, and audit preparation across multiple locations.

• Translate global standards into practical, site-level processes and operational controls.

• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by analyzing system performance and identifying enhancement opportunities.

2. Risk Management & Operational Safety

• Lead and facilitate workplace risk assessments (e.g., HIRAC/JHA/JSA) to identify hazards across facilities, operations, personnel, materials, and equipment.

• Define and implement risk mitigation strategies and verify effectiveness of control measures.

• Provide day-to-day safety oversight, coaching, and guidance to site teams as a trusted safety resource.

• Support safe execution of high-risk activities including permitting processes (e.g., LOTO, confined space, hot work, working at heights).

• Promote stop-work authority and safe work practices across all operations.

3. Regulatory Compliance & Assurance

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., OSHA) as well as company standards and client requirements.

• Conduct and facilitate workplace inspections, audits, and compliance reviews, including ISO audits.

• Identify compliance gaps and drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) to closure with validation of effectiveness.

• Support incident classification and reporting requirements in accordance with regulatory and corporate standards.

4. Incident Management & Continuous Improvement

• Facilitate reporting, investigation, and root cause analysis of incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions.

• Identify trends and systemic issues across sites and recommend targeted improvement actions.

• Develop leading and lagging indicators and support site-level and regional performance reporting.

• Drive continuous improvement through integration of lessons learned into procedures, training, and controls.

5. Training, Coaching & Safety Culture

• Identify, develop, and coordinate required safety training programs based on risk assessments and regulatory requirements.

• Provide coaching and guidance to site leadership and employees to build safety capability and ownership.

• Support safety communications, toolbox talks, and employee engagement initiatives.

• Foster a positive safety culture emphasizing hazard identification, reporting, and accountability.

6. Emergency Preparedness & Life Safety

• Collaborate with Life Safety teams to implement and maintain emergency preparedness and response programs.

• Support development, testing, and continuous improvement of emergency response procedures (e.g., evacuations, shelter-in-place, spill response).

• Facilitate drills and identify gaps to strengthen site readiness.

7.Scope & Impact:

• Supports multiple sites across the U.S. with primary onsite presence at Madison Heights.

• Leads through influence; no direct reports but accountable for driving performance of systems and site teams.

• Acts as a key contributor to ISO certification and continuous improvement efforts.

• Identifies trends across sites and translates findings into systemic improvements.

8. Environmental Support (Secondary Scope)

• Support environmental compliance activities including chemical management, hazardous materials handling, and waste management.

• Contribute to environmental risk assessments, spill prevention, and response planning.

• Assist with sustainability reporting, environmental metrics, and ESG-related initiatives where applicable.