Senior Safety/ Health Specialist

Location: Peoria, IL (on-site with regular time on the plant floor)

Employment type: Full-time. On call as needed.

Salary grade: SG22 (average starting range $75,000 - $92,000)

Comprehensive Benefits Package

Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, additional voluntary benefits (accident insurance, critical illness, and employee, spouse, and child whole life), flexible spending account (healthcare and dependent daycare), long-term disability, and participation in employee assistance program (EAP).

Paid Time Off - vacation, sick leave, personal, and holidays

Retirement Plans - 401(k) with company match. Eligible: 1st of the month following date of hire or immediate if date of hire is first of the month.

Career Growth - Opportunities for advancement and continuous learning.

Position Overview

The Senior Safety Specialist is a senior member of the Health & Safety team, leading safety programs, audits, and training across plant operations. This role partners directly with operations leadership to reduce incidents and build a strong, sustainable safety culture in a unionized steel mill environment.

This is a visible, floor-based role that requires the credibility and communication skills to influence behavior at every level of the organization, from hourly employees to plant leadership.

Core Responsibilities

Safety Program Leadership

• Lead implementation and continuous improvement of plant safety programs (lockout/tagout, confined space, fall protection, hot work, and others)
• Conduct safety audits, job hazard analyses, and incident investigations
• Track and analyze safety metrics, identifying trends and recommending corrective actions
• Ensure compliance with OSHA and other applicable regulatory requirements

Training & Culture

• Develop and deliver safety training for employees and supervisors
• Partner with supervisors to reinforce safety expectations and coach on hazard recognition
• Support new employee safety onboarding

Incident Management

• Lead or support investigations of injuries, near misses, and property damage incidents
• Maintain accurate incident documentation and regulatory reporting (OSHA 300 logs and others)
• Partner with Labor Relations on safety-related disciplinary matters

Qualifications

Candidates interested in this role should have the following qualifications:

• 5+ years of safety experience in a manufacturing or heavy industrial environment; steel industry experience strongly preferred
• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered
• Working knowledge of OSHA General Industry standards
• Experience in a unionized environment strongly preferred
• Safety certifications (CSP, OHST, or similar) a plus
• Strong communication and coaching skills across all levels of the organization

Success In This Role

Success in this role requires a credible, visible safety presence who builds trust with the hourly workforce and union leadership alike. The Senior Safety Specialist must balance regulatory rigor with practical, floor-level coaching, and be willing to have direct conversations when safety expectations aren't being met.