Safety Specialist

NOW HIRING: SAFETY SPECIALIST

New Horizons Baking Company | Columbus, Ohio

Salary: $70,000-$80,000 annually, based on experience

Schedule: Flexibility to support multiple shifts as needed

Department: Corporate Ops

Reports To: Health and Safety Manager - Bakery
Champion Safety. Empower Employees. Make an Impact.

Are you a proactive safety professional who enjoys solving problems, educating employees, and creating safer workplaces?

New Horizons Baking Company is looking for an experienced Safety Specialist to join our growing Columbus, Ohio team! If you're passionate about workplace safety, employee development, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement, we want to hear from you.
Who We Are

Since 1967, New Horizons Baking Company has been producing high-quality baked goods for some of the nation's most recognized food brands. Today, we proudly serve more than 2,000 quick-service restaurants, retail chains, and sandwich makers across the Midwest. Our Columbus bakery represents an exciting chapter in our growth. This modern facility features state-of-the-art equipment, high-speed production lines, and dedicated pancake production operations. We're a company built on teamwork, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. We value different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives because they make our people, products, and business stronger.
What You'll Do

As our Safety Specialist, you'll help strengthen workplace safety programs, support regulatory compliance, and promote a culture where every employee takes ownership of safety. You'll work closely with plant leadership, Human Resources, Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, and Quality Assurance to identify hazards, deliver safety training, investigate incidents, and implement improvements that protect employees and support efficient operations.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Champion Workplace Safety: Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) programs, policies, and procedures.
• Ensure Regulatory Compliance: Help maintain compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, company safety standards, and established workplace procedures.
• Identify & Prevent Hazards: Conduct facility inspections, safety audits, job safety analyses, and risk assessments to identify unsafe conditions and recommend corrective actions.
• Lead Safety Training: Coordinate and deliver new hire safety orientation, classroom instruction, hands-on training, and refresher programs for employees across multiple shifts.
• Support Critical Safety Programs: Reinforce safe practices involving Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Hazard Communication, Machine Guarding, Fall Protection, Confined Space Entry, Electrical Safety, and Powered Industrial Trucks.
• Investigate & Prevent Incidents: Assist with workplace injury, illness, incident, and near-miss investigations; identify root causes; and help implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Monitor Safety Performance: Track safety trends, training completion, incident reports, and other key safety indicators to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain Accurate Records: Manage safety documentation, training records, certifications, inspection reports, and regulatory compliance materials.
• Promote Employee Engagement: Facilitate safety meetings, toolbox talks, safety committee activities, and employee education initiatives that encourage safe work behaviors.
• Collaborate & Communicate: Partner with department leaders and employees to address safety concerns, strengthen accountability, and integrate safe work practices into daily operations.
• Support Emergency Preparedness: Assist with emergency response planning, evacuation procedures, safety drills, and employee emergency response training.
• Drive Continuous Improvement: Recommend improvements to safety procedures, employee training, and operational practices that reduce workplace risks and improve efficiency.

What You'll Bring

We're looking for a dependable, detail-oriented, and solutions-focused safety professional who combines technical knowledge with strong communication, training, and problem-solving skills.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED required; associate degree or certificate in Occupational Safety and Health, Environmental Health and Safety, or a related field preferred.
• Previous experience supporting workplace safety programs, preferably in manufacturing or an industrial environment.
• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations and general industry safety requirements.
• Experience conducting employee safety training, workplace inspections, and hazard assessments.
• Familiarity with LOTO, PPE, Hazard Communication, Machine Guarding, and Powered Industrial Truck safety programs.
• Ability to identify workplace hazards, investigate safety concerns, and recommend effective corrective actions.
• Strong communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to develop and deliver engaging classroom and hands-on safety training.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to maintain accurate safety records, reports, and training documentation.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and collaborate with employees at all organizational levels.
• Commitment to maintaining a visible, hands-on presence throughout the manufacturing facility.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety and Health, Environmental Health and Safety, Industrial Safety, or a related discipline.
• Experience in food manufacturing, commercial baking, or high-volume manufacturing.
• OSHA 10-Hour or OSHA 30-Hour General Industry training.
• HACCP certification or working knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and food safety requirements.
• Forklift trainer certification or experience conducting Powered Industrial Truck training.
• First Aid, CPR, or AED certification.
• Experience with incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action programs.
• Familiarity with safety management systems, regulatory reporting, and continuous improvement processes.
• Experience supporting safety programs across multiple manufacturing locations.

Work Environment & Schedule Requirements:

• Work in an active bakery manufacturing environment with production equipment, moving machinery, varying temperatures, and elevated noise levels.
• Maintain a regular presence on the production floor and interact with employees and operational leadership.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and move throughout manufacturing areas for extended periods.
• Follow established safety and sanitation procedures and wear required personal protective equipment.
• Flexibility to adjust work hours to support safety training, incident investigations, and operational needs across multiple shifts.

Competitive Pay. Great Benefits. Real Opportunities.

We believe our employees are essential to our success, and we're committed to offering competitive compensation, valuable benefits, and opportunities to grow.

Our benefits include:

• Medical insurance
• Company-paid dental and vision insurance
• Disability and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Paid vacation
• Employee appreciation lunches and recognition events
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities

Why Join New Horizons?

At New Horizons Baking Company, you'll be part of a growing organization with more than 50 years of baking excellence and a commitment to building a strong future. Our Columbus facility offers the opportunity to work with advanced manufacturing technology, strengthen your safety expertise, and contribute to the success of a modern bakery operation. As a Safety Specialist, you'll play an essential role in protecting employees, preventing workplace injuries, strengthening safety programs, and helping create a culture where safety is everyone's responsibility. You'll have the opportunity to share your ideas, solve meaningful challenges, develop employees, and help create a workplace where safety, respect, accountability, quality, and teamwork come first. Ready to take the next step in your workplace safety career? Apply today and grow your future with New Horizons Baking Company!
Equal Employment Opportunity

New Horizons Baking Company is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants in every aspect of employment, without regard to race, color, religion or creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

This posting describes the general nature of the position and is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities or qualifications. Employees may be assigned additional duties as business needs require.