Ahlstrom is seeking an experienced, hands-on Safety Manager to lead workplace safety and health programs at our unionized manufacturing mill. Based on site at the Thilmany mill in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. This role partners with employees, union representatives, mill leadership, operations, maintenance, engineering, and Human Resources to prevent injuries, reduce risk, and strengthen a culture of shared responsibility for safety. The successful candidate will combine technical expertise with practical problem-solving, visible floor presence, and the ability to build trust across all levels of the organization.
The ideal candidate is a visible, approachable safety leader who builds credibility through listening, practical guidance, and consistent follow-through. They are comfortable working on the mill floor, engaging employees across shifts, and partnering with union representatives and management to address concerns and strengthen shared ownership of safety. They translate technical requirements into workable solutions, use data and root-cause analysis to drive prevention, and encourage open reporting of hazards and near misses. As a people leader, they provide clear direction, coach and develop salaried and hourly team members, and foster collaboration while respecting the collective bargaining agreement. They balance day-to-day needs with long-term improvement and hold safety expectations firm while treating people respectfully.
Key Responsibilities- Lead the mill's safety and occupational health strategy, establishing priorities, measurable objectives, and sustainable improvement plans.
- Provide supervision and development for salaried and hourly direct reports., establishing clear responsibilities, coordinating work priorities, and supporting collaboration consistent with applicable company policies and the collective bargaining agreement.
- Maintain and improve safety programs to support applicable regulatory requirements and company standards, including OSHA-related programs and required documentation.
- Build collaborative relationships with union representatives and employees; support joint safety committees and meaningful employee involvement in hazard identification and corrective actions.
- Maintain a visible presence throughout the mill, engaging employees across shifts and partnering with leaders to address safety concerns promptly and consistently.
- Coordinate risk assessments, inspections, and audits; prioritize hazards and verify that corrective actions are implemented and effective.
- Oversee programs addressing hazardous energy control, machine guarding, confined spaces, fall protection, mobile equipment, electrical safety, hazard communication, personal protective equipment, and contractor safety.
- Ensures effective incident and near-miss investigations using root-cause analysis; communicate lessons learned and track preventive actions without discouraging reporting.
- Develop and coordinate practical safety orientation, refresher training, and leadership education; maintain training records and evaluate effectiveness.
- Partner with operations, maintenance, and engineering to integrate safety into equipment changes, capital projects, shutdowns, and nonroutine work.
- Coordinate emergency preparedness, drills, and response planning with appropriate internal resources and external responders.
- Monitor leading and lagging safety indicators, identify trends, and provide clear recommendations to mill leadership.
- Partner with Human Resources and occupational health resources on injury reporting, prevention, and return-to-work coordination while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
- Owns the plant protection equipment and system including contracted security personnel
- Support regulatory inspections and maintain accurate safety records, reports, and program documentation.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in occupational safety, industrial hygiene, engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
- At least five years of progressive safety experience in manufacturing or another heavy industrial environment, including responsibility for safety programs and improvement initiatives.
- Working knowledge of occupational safety requirements and the ability to translate technical standards into practical mill procedures.
- Experience with incident investigation, root-cause analysis, hazard assessment, corrective-action management, and safety training.
- Ability to build productive relationships with hourly employees, union representatives, and management in a unionized environment.
- Strong communication, facilitation, and coaching skills, with the ability to influence change and address concerns respectfully.
- Strong organizational and analytical skills, including proficiency with reporting tools and safety performance data.
- Able to work weekends and off hours as needed and on a rotation.
- Current authorization to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience in a unionized manufacturing mill, preferably pulp and paper or a comparable continuous-process operation.
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), or a related professional certification.
- Experience supporting joint labor-management safety committees and cross-functional improvement teams.
- Experience with industrial hygiene monitoring, ergonomics, contractor safety, and safety management systems.
