Health and Safety Manager

Health & Safety Manager

The Health & Safety Manager will lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the site Health & Safety Management System. This role is responsible for ensuring compliance with MSHA, OSHA, and company safety standards while fostering a proactive, safety-first culture across all site activities, including project development, construction, mining, processing, maintenance, and contractor operations.

The successful candidate will be a hands-on leader capable of building scalable safety systems, maintaining a strong field presence, and supporting the transition from development-stage project to operating mine.

Key Responsibilities

Safety Leadership & Culture

· Promote a visible and proactive safety culture across all site operations.

· Provide field leadership and coach employees, supervisors, and contractors on hazard recognition, risk assessment, and safe work practices.

· Reinforce company values related to safety, accountability, teamwork, and operational discipline.

· Support open communication regarding hazards, near misses, and improvement opportunities.

Health & Safety Management Systems

· Develop, implement, and maintain the site Health & Safety Management System.

· Establish policies, procedures, training programs, inspections, audits, reporting tools, and compliance processes.

· Develop systems for incident reporting, corrective action tracking, risk assessments, inspections, and training documentation.

· Support operational readiness by integrating safety requirements into construction, maintenance, and operational planning.

MSHA & Regulatory Compliance

· Ensure compliance with MSHA, OSHA, and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

· Manage MSHA training plans, documentation, inspections, audits, and regulatory communications.

· Serve as the primary site contact for MSHA inspections, inquiries, and compliance matters.

· Maintain accurate incident reporting and regulatory recordkeeping.

Contractor Safety Management

· Develop and manage contractor safety programs, onboarding, audits, and performance monitoring.

· Ensure contractor compliance with company standards, MSHA requirements, and site procedures.

· Support safe contractor mobilization, execution, and demobilization activities.

Incident Management & Risk Control

· Lead incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action management.

· Conduct field inspections, job hazard analyses, and critical risk reviews.

· Monitor and verify critical controls related to mobile equipment, energy isolation, confined space, explosives, lifting operations, and emergency response.

· Share lessons learned and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Training & Emergency Preparedness

· Develop and maintain site safety training matrices and competency programs.

· Coordinate safety meetings, onboarding, emergency drills, and refresher training.

· Develop and maintain emergency response plans, evacuation procedures, and crisis management protocols.

· Coordinate with local emergency responders and regulatory agencies as needed.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

· Prepare regular safety performance reports, metrics, dashboards, and management updates.

· Analyze safety trends and recommend improvement initiatives.

· Support annual safety planning, budgeting, and performance target development.

· Benchmark programs against industry best practices to improve safety performance and culture.

Qualifications

· Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, or related field preferred.

· Equivalent combinations of education and relevant mining experience will be considered.

· Minimum 15 years of progressive health and safety experience in mining, construction, or heavy industrial environments.

· Minimum 5 years in a safety leadership role.

· Direct MSHA experience required.

· Experience supporting open-pit mining, heap leach operations, processing plants, or development-stage mining projects preferred.

· Strong contractor safety management experience in multi-contractor environments.

Technical Skills & Certifications

· Strong knowledge of MSHA regulations, inspections, training, and compliance requirements.

· Experience with incident investigations, root cause analysis, audits, and safety management systems.

· Understanding of mining and construction hazards including mobile equipment, blasting, confined space, working at heights, hazardous materials, and emergency response.

· Proficient with Microsoft Office and safety management software.

Preferred certifications include:

· Certified Safety Professional (CSP)

· MSHA Instructor Certification

· First Aid / CPR / AED Instructor

· Incident Investigation or Root Cause Analysis Certification

Leadership & Competencies

· Strong field presence and ability to influence safety performance at all organizational levels.

· Excellent communication, coaching, and leadership skills.

· Ability to balance regulatory compliance with practical field execution.

· Highly organized, self-motivated, and capable of building systems in a fast-paced project environment.

· Strong judgment, professionalism, and problem-solving abilities.

Success in the Role

Success will be measured by the development of a strong site safety culture, effective implementation of scalable safety systems, strong MSHA compliance, improved leading safety indicators, proactive contractor safety management, and successful support of the project's transition into operations