Corporate Safety Director (Chester)

Company DescriptionGilster-Mary Lee Corp., headquartered in Chester, Illinois, is a private label food processing company with a legacy dating back to 1895. The company specializes in private label manufacturing, contract production, and food service, committed to delivering quality, service, and value to its customers. With extensive industry experience, Gilster-Mary Lee has established itself as a trusted partner in the food processing sector. The company's long-standing tradition reflects its dedication to excellence and customer satisfaction.Director of Corporate SafetyLocation: Chester, Illinois (On-Site)Position OverviewThe Director of Corporate Safety is responsible for leading and strengthening a safety-first culture across all operations. This role goes beyond compliance—focusing on frontline engagement, leadership development, and embedding safe behaviors into everyday work across multiple manufacturing facilities.Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, this leader will partner closely with plant and functional leadership to drive accountability, standardization, and continuous improvement in all aspects of employee safety.Key ResponsibilitiesSafety Culture & EngagementLead the development of a strong, consistent safety culture across all facilities, with a focus on frontline engagement and ownershipBuild trust and credibility with employees at all levels—from hourly team members to plant leadershipPromote safety as a core value through visible leadership, communication, and recognition programsProgram Leadership & ExecutionDevelop, implement, and standardize safety programs, policies, and procedures across all locationsEnsure effective execution of safety initiatives through strong partnerships with plant leadersBalance corporate standards with practical, plant-level applicationShared Accountability & LeadershipPartner with plant managers and operations leaders to drive safety performance and accountabilitySupport and coach leaders to take ownership of safety outcomes within their teamsFacilitate clear expectations while reinforcing that safety is a shared responsibility across the organizationIncident Management & Continuous ImprovementLead incident investigations to identify root causes and implement corrective actionsTrack and analyze safety performance metrics (e.g., incident rates, near misses) to drive improvementEstablish a disciplined approach to learning from incidents and scaling improvements across all facilitiesTraining & DevelopmentDevelop and deliver practical, effective safety training for all levels of the organizationBuild capability within plant teams to proactively manage safetyEnsure consistent onboarding and ongoing safety education programsCompliance & Risk ManagementEnsure compliance with OSHA and other applicable safety regulationsSupport alignment with food manufacturing standards (HACCP, SQF, GMPs) as applicableMaintain readiness for audits and regulatory inspectionsCross-Functional CollaborationPartner with Operations, HR, Engineering, Quality, and other teams to integrate safety into all business processesSupport capital projects, process changes, and new initiatives to ensure safety is built in from the startQualifications5–10 years of experience in safety leadership within an industrial or manufacturing environmentProven experience managing people and influencing at multiple levels of an organizationDemonstrated success building or improving safety culture—not just maintaining complianceStrong working knowledge of OSHA and general manufacturing safety practicesExperience in food manufacturing, HACCP, SQF, or related standards is a plusExcellent communication and interpersonal skills; able to connect with frontline employees and senior leaders alikeStrong analytical and problem-solving skills, including root cause analysisWhat We're Looking ForA hands-on leader who is comfortable in plants and visible to employeesA culture builder who can influence behavior and drive engagementSomeone who can balance corporate discipline with practical executionA leader who understands that safety is best achieved through people, not just programsWhy This Role MattersAt Gilster-Mary Lee, safety is a core value. This role plays a critical part in protecting our employees, strengthening our culture, and ensuring that every facility operates safely and consistently every day.