Safety Specialist

ABOUT BAY STATE MILLING COMPANY:

Bay State Milling Company is a family-owned company with a strategic intent to support the growth of the next generation of grain-based foods in North America by providing the leading array of plant-based ingredients. Since 1899, we have proudly provided exceptional quality flour and grain products, and we continue to build on our legacy as we bring new supply chains and technologies into our realm of capabilities.  Our Core purpose is to provide food ingredients to promote the growth of healthful and affordable food choices for the consumer.

We recognize that the universe of grain-based foods is constantly changing and responding to consumers’ desire for variety, healthfulness, great taste, and affordability in their food choices. We are not afraid of change; in fact, we believe that change cultivates opportunity. Our goal is to stay a step ahead of our customers’ needs, while always maintaining the trust they have placed in us for generations. We are committed to maintaining our Core Values of INTEGRITY, CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION, CARING AND QUALITY in pursuit of achieving this goal.

SUMMARY  

The Safety Specialist position plays a key role in supporting the Director of Safety by owning the day-to-day execution of environmental, health, and safety (EHS) programs across facilities. This role is responsible for driving consistent application of safety practices, ensuring regulatory compliance, and partnering closely with plant teams to proactively identify and mitigate risk.

This position is a hands-on safety professional role that blends technical expertise, field presence, and administrative coordination. The Safety Specialist helps maintain the effectiveness of safety programs, supports incident management and reporting, and plays an active role in training and continuous improvement efforts. This role also provides informal leadership and guidance to site teams and may support or coordinate administrative safety tasks as needed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

• Safety Program Execution & Compliance
• Support implementation and ongoing management of corporate safety programs and initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA and applicable local, state, and federal safety regulations.
• Assist with environmental compliance efforts, including air and stormwater requirements.
• Support permit tracking, documentation, and regulatory reporting activities.
• Field Presence & Risk Management
• Conduct routine safety audits, inspections, and site evaluations across facilities
• Identify hazards and support risk assessments and mitigation planning
• Partner with plant leadership to ensure consistent application of safety standards and best practices
• Incident Management & Continuous Improvement
• Lead or support incident investigations, including root cause analysis and corrective action development
• Track corrective actions and follow-through to ensure closure and effectiveness
• Support injury management and return-to-work processes
• Monitor and report on safety metrics and KPIs to identify trends and opportunities
• Training & Culture
• Deliver safety training and support development of safety education programs
• Participate in and facilitate safety meetings and communications
• Reinforce a strong safety culture through visibility, coaching, and engagement across sites
• Operational & Administrative Support
• Maintain safety documentation, records, and reporting systems
• Support coordination of audits, inspections, and compliance activities
• Assist with tracking data, updating procedures, and preparing reports for leadership
• Provide flexible support across both field and administrative tasks depending on business needs
• Leadership & Partnership
• Serve as a trusted partner to plant leadership, providing practical safety guidance and support
• Provide informal leadership and direction on safety initiatives without formal direct reports
• Act as a key liaison between corporate safety strategy and site execution

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE  

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, or related field, or equivalent experience
• ~5–10 years of experience in safety roles within manufacturing or regulated industries
• Experience working directly in plant environments and supporting frontline operations
• Experience with multi-site safety support preferred
• ASP, CSP, or other safety certification preferred
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA and regulatory requirements
• Hands-on experience with audits, risk assessments, and incident investigations
• Ability to balance strategic intent with execution-focused work
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail (especially for documentation and tracking)
• Comfortable flexing between field leadership and administrative tasks
• Effective communicator with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization
• Willingness to travel (~20–30%) to support site needs
• Ability to work in manufacturing environments, including exposure to dust, noise, and industrial processes

LANGUAGE SKILLS  

English fluency is essential.  Must have strong verbal and written communication skills, with ability to respond to either common and sensitive inquiries or complaints from internal and external customers. Proficiency in Spanish communication is considered advantageous.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS 

Ability to work with advanced mathematical concepts.  Ability to apply complex and involved concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY

Must have seasoned judgment and business situation versatility, with ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

OTHER SKILLS & ABILITIES

Demonstrates considerable knowledge of principles and practices of personnel administration, effective oral and written communication skills, and excellent interpersonal skills. The ability to work independently and cooperatively across functions is essential.  The ability to work with highly confidential and sensitive data, materials in a professional and appropriate manner is critical.