Lead Safety Excellence. Protect People. Shape Culture.Reporting directly to the Managing Director, this role serves as the senior site leader responsible for creating and sustaining a world-class safety culture while protecting our employees, contractors, visitors, assets, and operations. The successful candidate will lead a team of safety and security professionals, including a Health & Safety Supervisor, and partner closely with operational leaders to drive safety excellence, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and organizational performance.
This is an exceptional opportunity for a passionate leader who thrives on influencing culture, developing people, and delivering measurable business results through safety leadership.
Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Leadership & Safety Culture- Serve as the site's senior advisor and subject matter expert on health, safety, emergency response, and security matters.
- Develop and execute the site's strategic Health, Safety & Security roadmap, aligning initiatives with corporate objectives and operational priorities.
- Champion a proactive safety culture that promotes accountability, employee engagement, ownership, and continuous improvement at all levels of the organization.
- Lead transformational safety initiatives that reduce risk, improve performance, and strengthen organizational resilience.
Operational Excellence & Risk Management- Direct the implementation, effectiveness, and continuous improvement of site-wide safety management systems, programs, and processes.
- Ensure compliance with all federal, state, local, and corporate health, safety, environmental, and security requirements.
- Monitor leading and lagging indicators, analyze trends, and leverage data-driven insights to identify opportunities and drive sustainable improvements.
- Lead significant incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action processes to prevent recurrence.
- Oversee risk assessments and ensure appropriate controls are implemented across operations, maintenance, projects, and contractor activities.
Team Leadership & Organizational Influence- Provide leadership, coaching, development, and performance management for the Health & Safety Supervisor and broader safety and security personnel.
- Build strong partnerships with operations, maintenance, engineering, human resources, labor representatives, and corporate stakeholders to strengthen safety ownership throughout the organization.
- Influence leaders and employees at all levels to drive behavioral change and embed safety into daily decision-making.
- Foster an environment of trust, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
Emergency Preparedness & Security- Lead the site's emergency response, crisis management, fire protection, and business continuity preparedness efforts.
- Oversee site security programs and ensure contracted security personnel effectively execute their responsibilities to safeguard employees, facilities, visitors, and assets.
- Ensure emergency response plans, training programs, drills, and security protocols remain current, effective, and aligned with best practices.
Capital Projects & Regulatory Stewardship- Provide safety leadership and oversight for capital projects, new equipment installations, facility modifications, and operational changes.
- Ensure safety principles are incorporated into the design, selection, and implementation of equipment, processes, and facilities.
- Maintain strong relationships with regulatory agencies and serve as the primary site contact for OSHA and other applicable authorities.
- Lead site audits, inspections, and compliance activities while driving timely and effective corrective actions.
What You BringRequired Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Industrial Safety, Environmental Health & Safety, Engineering, or a related field.
- Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive health and safety experience in manufacturing, industrial operations, energy or a similarly complex environment.
- Demonstrated success leading safety programs, culture transformation initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts.
- Experience managing direct reports and influencing cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment.
- Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local safety and health regulations, including OSHA requirements.
- Experience working within ISO 45001, OHSAS, or similar management systems.
- Excellent communication, presentation, facilitation, and leadership skills.
Preferred Qualifications- Professional safety certification such as CSP, ASP, CIH, or equivalent.
- Experience in pulp and paper, heavy manufacturing, chemical processing, mining, energy, or other high-hazard industries.
- Experience partnering with unionized workforces.
- Demonstrated expertise in incident investigation methodologies, risk management systems, and behavioral safety programs.
Leadership CompetenciesWe're looking for a leader who demonstrates:
- Strategic thinking and business acumen
- Courageous and influential leadership
- Change management expertise
- Strong decision-making and problem-solving capabilities
- Ability to build trust and credibility across the organization
- A passion for developing people and strengthening organizational capability
- A relentless commitment to protecting people and driving operational excellence
Why This Role MattersThis position plays a critical leadership role in shaping the future of safety, security, and operational excellence at Sappi Cloquet. As a member of the site leadership team reporting directly to the Managing Director, you will influence strategic decisions, lead high-impact initiatives, and help ensure every employee returns home safely every day.
Salary is determined by a number of factors including the value of the job to the organization, market forces, internal equity and skills brought to the job.
Salary is determined by a number of factors including the value of the job to the organization, market forces, internal equity and skills brought to the job.
