About the role
Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence and Transparency.
As a Safety Specialist you will be responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of the organization’s safety program. This role will participate in cross-functional efforts identify and control hazards, reduce operational risk, and promote a strong safety culture. This role will be based at the Vulcan Elements R&D facility in Durham, NC. You will ensure health and safety compliance with applicable regulations and existing company standards. This is a full-time, day shift position.
Responsibilities
Field Leadership • Assist in the development and implementation of the site’s safety program in accordance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910. • Drive critical OH&S programs such as incident reporting and investigation, control of hazardous energy, PPE, hot work, fire prevention, etc. to reduce risks and company costs. • Own the weekly tailgate program. Set the rhythm with applicable content and build supervisors' ability to run it independently • Build and run the safety observation and suggestion program — the channel that turns floor-level instinct into trend data leadership acts on. • Lead self-assessments and safety checks across the floor, including the paperwork behind them, evaluating risk and trends to address gaps and establish best in class safety performance. • Provide technical guidance to engineering and operations teams regarding safety requirements, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation strategies. • Perform monthly checks of equipment including but not limited to emergency exit signs, fire extinguisher and eyewash inspections, and ladder inspections. • Monitor safety equipment inventories to ensure supplies such as PPE are readily available for employees. • Provide supplemental environmental compliance support as required by the Environmental department including but not limited to hazardous waste audits and shipping.
Program, Policy & Performance
Own the KPIs that prove safety is working — tailgate completion, observation closure, self-assessment trends, corrective action aging — and use them to drive where attention goes next. • Watch how new processes and equipment shift the risk picture, and keep documentation audit-ready as a matter of course.
Cross-Functional Partnership • Facilitate root cause analysis on safety incidents and higher potential near-misses and bring that same rigor to RCAs led by others. • Partner with R&D and process engineering during scale-up so safety gets designed in before new work ever reaches the floor. • Lead by influence — build the kind of trust with supervisors and area owners that makes them want to own tailgates, self-assessments, and corrective actions themselves.
Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business.
Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent education and/or experience. • 4+ years of job specific experience. • Working knowledge of OSHA standards, JHAs, and incident investigation methodology. • Comfort operating with real authority and autonomy. • Strong communication skills and the ability to build trust and credibility. • Completed OSHA 30-hour training
Preferred Qualifications • Bilingual • First aid/CPR/AED certified
Physical and Environmental Requirements • Must be able to perform activities including climbing ladders and scaffolds, lifting (up to 35 lbs), walking, balancing, and stooping. • The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.
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