Manager, Occupational Safety

To ensure a safe manufacturing environment, our Occupational Health and Safety Engineering team plays a crucial role in hazard prevention, conducting safety audits, providing training, and implementing risk mitigation strategies.

The Manager, Occupational Safety/VOME Safety Manager is responsible for leading the safety strategy and execution within the Vehicle Operations Manufacturing Engineering organization. You will ensure that new vehicle programs, equipment installations, and manufacturing processes adhere to Ford’s Safety Operating System (SOS), OSHA regulations, GVOSS and global safety standards. Your mission is to eliminate workplace hazards during the design, build and launch phases of vehicle production.  This role bridges the gap between engineering design and floor-level execution, ensuring that safety is "designed-in" before a single vehicle rolls off the line.

Safety Engineering & Standards Compliance:
• Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for machine guarding and control systems, ensuring all equipment meets regulatory requirements and Ford Machine Guarding Standards.
• Conduct 100% design and build reviews, interpreting and communicating international and Ford Global Standards for tooling, machinery, and material handling equipment.
• Perform facility safety design reviews and technical signoffs to ensure workstation readiness.
• Collaborate with VOME Controls teams to verify compliance for safety PLC-related equipment and Energy Control and Power Lockout (ECPL) placarding.
• Reviews and updates Occupational Safety policies to ensure compliance with relevant laws and with corporate safety policies, communicated effectively to relevant stakeholders, and consistently enforced.

Launch Execution & Tooling Buy-off:
• Lead and coordinate the Ford Progressive Tagging System (PROTAG) buy-off process during program launches.
• Manage the Tooling Buy-off Procedure in alignment with Ford Global Standards, working closely with VO Engineers and plant safety teams.
• Oversee safety processes during all VOME launch phases, including demolition, construction, and commissioning.
• Drive construction safety onsite, ensuring all vendors and contractors adhere to Ford’s safety protocols.

Risk Management & Operational Safety:
• Lead multi-functional teams in performing comprehensive Risk Assessments and Pre-Task Analysis (PTA).
• Execute Workstation Readiness reviews and ensure robust safety processes are integrated into the plant floor environment.
• Identify, document, and communicate safety "lessons learned" between Manufacturing Engineering and Plant Safety to update future program specifications.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to resolve audit findings and implement preventative measures that mitigate future risks. Proactively develop site-specific safety and loss control programs to address operational roadblocks and ensure seamless implementation.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Representation:
• Represent VOME in key safety forums, including the Construction Safety Council, Manufacturing Safety Council, and Engineering Alignment meetings.
• Manage safety KPIs and reporting to drive continuous improvement and ensure regulatory compliance for senior leadership.
• Facilitate joint communication and alignment with the UAW National Ford Department regarding safety standards and implementations.
• Provide expert input to external standard governing bodies to influence industry-wide safety requirements.
• Teach, coach, and mentor contractors and the broader VOME engineering community on proactive safety processes.
Travel & Global Support
• Support VOME functional areas with non-launch related safety issues at various plant locations as needed.

Skills: 
•    Team Management
•    Conflict Resolution
•    Interpersonal Communication
•    Prioritization and Organization
•    Problem Solving
•    Safety Policy and Procedure Development
•    Safety Regulations and Standards
•    Safety Risk Assessment Methods 
•    Safety Inspection and Auditing
•    Incident Investigation
•    Emergency Response Planning 
•    Data Analysis and Reporting
•    Training Development

You'll have...

• Bachelor’s degree in occupational health and safety, Industrial Hygiene, or a similar field.
• 5+ years of work experience in Occupational Safety and Health or a related field.
• Travel (up to 30%) to local and international tooling suppliers and Ford manufacturing sites, including locations in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, to support launch activities
• In-depth knowledge of OSHA regulations and industrial safety standards (e.g., Machine Guarding, Lockout/Tagout, Fall Protection, and Arc Flash).
• Strong understanding of Risk Assessment methodologies.

Even better, you may have...

• Master’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Quality Assurance Engineering, or a similar field.
• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing / automotive environment.
• 1+ years' experience working in a union environment.
• 1+ years of experience in an Occupational Safety leadership role.
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Associate Safety Professional (ASP) designation.
• Experience with automotive assembly processes (Body Shop, Paint, or Final Assembly).
• Technical knowledge of robotics safety standards (ISO 10218 / ANSI RIA R15.06).
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and external vendors.
• Proficiency in project management and data analysis tools.

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service 
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day 
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time. 

This position is leadership level 6 and ranges from $115,500-$218,100.      
Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL6

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.
This position is hybrid (onsite four days per week) for candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location or remote for non-local candidates. 

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