Job Description
About Santa Barbara Smokehouse (SBS) Santa Barbara Smokehouse is a leading food manufacturing company known for high-quality, traditional smoked salmon. We are committed to maintaining a safe, compliant, and team-focused work environment where employees can thrive and contribute to operational excellence. Bilingual English/Spanish preferred Position Summary The Safety Specialist is responsible for supporting and maintaining all workplace safety programs within a fast-paced food manufacturing facility. This role plays a hands-on, highly visible part in promoting a culture of safety by working directly with employees and leadership on the production floor. This is a mid-level role ideal for someone who is experienced in plant safety, enjoys coaching others, and is comfortable balancing compliance, training, and day-to-day safety operations. Key Responsibilities Safety Programs & Compliance Maintain and enforce safety policies, procedures, and programs in alignment with Cal/OSHA regulations Maintain all Reporting & Documentation – Cal/OSHA reporting Conduct regular safety audits, inspections, and risk assessments across the facility Ensure vendor/visitor observance to facility safety rules Identify hazards and implement practical corrective actions Act as a key member of the safety committee Training & Coaching Lead safety training for employees and supervisors (new hire, ongoing, and refresher training) Coach frontline employees and managers on safe work practices and accountability Reinforce a strong safety culture through daily floor presence and engagement Injury Management & Workers’ Compensation Respond to and investigate workplace injuries and incidents Manage workers’ compensation cases, including reporting, documentation, and follow-up Partner with HR and management on return-to-work programs and modified duty Floor Presence & Engagement Walk the production floor daily to monitor conditions, behaviors, and compliance Build relationships with employees to proactively address safety concerns Serve as a visible and approachable safety resource Continuous Improvement Track and analyze safety metrics including incidents & near-misses trends, ) Recommend and implement improvements to reduce risk and enhance safety performance Identify and Implement continuous improvement initiatives Qualifications 3–6 years of safety experience in a manufacturing environment (food manufacturing strongly preferred) Working knowledge of Cal/OSHA regulations and compliance requirements Hands-on experience managing workplace injuries and workers’ compensation claims Strong understanding of common manufacturing safety risks and controls Proven ability to train, coach, and influence employees at all levels Comfortable working on the production floor daily in an active, hands-on role Bilingual Spanish/English strongly preferred Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills Why Join SBS? Be a key driver of safety culture in a growing food manufacturing business Highly visible role with direct impact on employees and operations Collaborative environment where your voice and ideas matter Competitive compensation and opportunity to grow