Environmental, Health & Safety Specialist

Environmental, Health & Safety Specialist

Location: 2577 AR-59, Decatur, AR
Job Type: Full-Time, On-Site

About United Petfood

United Petfood is a private label producer of high-quality dry & wet pet food, biscuits and snacks. We are a Belgian family business with 25 high-tech pet kitchens in Europe and the US.

Joining us, means joining an international, passionate and driven team with one common goal: a healthy planet filled with healthy pets! But it doesn’t stop there: we truly care about building encouraging, supportive, long-lasting partnerships, both inside as well as outside of our fast-growing family company. By only working with the very best ingredients and most innovative technology available, we ensure a spot in which you can grow, bloom and make thousands of pets happy worldwide!

Position Summary

The Workforce Development & Safety Specialist is responsible for coordinating and supporting employee training, workforce development, environmental compliance, and workplace safety programs at United Petfood's Decatur, Arkansas manufacturing facility.

This position serves as the primary on-site resource for day-to-day safety initiatives, regulatory compliance activities, employee training, and workforce development. The Specialist works closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Human Resources to identify workplace hazards, implement effective safety practices, strengthen employee capabilities, and promote a culture of safety and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, highly engaged professional who combines manufacturing safety knowledge with strong training, communication, and organizational skills. This role requires regular interaction with employees across all production shifts and the ability to balance safety compliance responsibilities with workforce training and development initiatives.

Duties & Responsibilities

Workplace Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Coordinate and administer site-level environmental, health, and safety programs to support compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Support implementation and maintenance of company safety policies, procedures, and established safety standards.
• Conduct routine workplace safety inspections, Job Safety Analyses (JSAs), hazard assessments, and safety observations.
• Monitor compliance with Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), confined space entry, machine guarding, electrical safety, hazard communication, personal protective equipment (PPE), and powered industrial truck requirements.
• Support combustible dust safety practices, including housekeeping inspections, hazard identification, and established prevention and mitigation procedures.
• Identify unsafe conditions and behaviors, communicate concerns to appropriate leadership, and follow up to ensure corrective actions are completed.
• Maintain OSHA injury and illness records, including OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 documentation, and assist with required regulatory reporting.
• Support regulatory inspections, internal audits, and external compliance assessments.
• Assist with safety reviews for new equipment installations, process changes, and facility improvement projects.
• Maintain accurate safety documentation, inspection records, and compliance reports.

Incident Investigation & Corrective Action

• Coordinate and participate in investigations involving workplace injuries, near misses, unsafe conditions, and property damage.
• Assist with root cause analysis and the development of corrective and preventive actions.
• Track corrective actions to ensure timely completion and verify the effectiveness of implemented solutions.
• Review incident trends and safety observations to identify recurring concerns and opportunities for improvement.
• Partner with Operations and Human Resources on injury prevention, return-to-work coordination, and workers' compensation-related safety initiatives.
• Support emergency preparedness activities, including evacuation procedures, emergency response training, and drills.
• Communicate incident findings and preventive measures to employees and leadership as appropriate.

Environmental Compliance

• Support environmental compliance activities involving waste management, hazardous materials, air emissions, stormwater, wastewater, and other applicable environmental requirements.
• Conduct routine environmental inspections and identify conditions requiring corrective action.
• Maintain environmental records, inspection documentation, and required reporting information.
• Coordinate with plant leadership and external environmental service providers as needed.
• Support proper storage, labeling, handling, and disposal of hazardous and nonhazardous waste.
• Assist with environmental permit compliance, monitoring requirements, and regulatory inspections.
• Identify opportunities to reduce environmental risks, prevent spills, and improve resource efficiency.

Employee Training & Workforce Development

• Develop, coordinate, and maintain site-wide employee training programs covering safety, compliance, production processes, and operational requirements.
• Partner with department leaders to identify employee skill gaps and establish appropriate training and development plans.
• Coordinate new employee orientation and onboarding training in collaboration with Human Resources and department leadership.
• Ensure employees receive required safety, GMP, and job-specific training before performing assigned responsibilities.
• Develop and maintain annual training calendars, including required refresher training and certifications.
• Prepare training materials, presentations, job aids, and other resources to support employee learning.
• Deliver instructor-led training, safety meetings, toolbox talks, and employee development sessions.
• Maintain accurate employee training records, completion documentation, and qualification tracking within applicable learning management systems.
• Monitor overdue training and coordinate with department leadership to ensure timely completion.
• Support cross-training, employee upskilling, and career development initiatives in partnership with Human Resources and Operations.
• Evaluate training effectiveness through employee feedback, observations, and operational performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve training consistency, employee engagement, and workforce capability.

Safety Culture & Employee Engagement

• Promote a proactive safety culture through employee engagement, coaching, and regular communication.
• Facilitate safety committee meetings, safety discussions, and employee feedback opportunities.
• Encourage employee participation in hazard identification, near-miss reporting, and continuous improvement activities.
• Partner with supervisors and team leads to reinforce safe work practices and accountability.
• Develop and communicate safety awareness materials, updates, and employee education initiatives.
• Support leadership in addressing recurring safety concerns and reinforcing workplace expectations.
• Maintain a visible presence on the production floor to provide guidance and support to employees.

Auditing, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Conduct scheduled safety inspections, weekly audits, and monthly compliance reviews in accordance with established requirements.
• Track safety observations, incident data, training completion, and corrective action progress.
• Prepare routine safety and workforce development reports for plant leadership.
• Assist with internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, and corrective action follow-up.
• Maintain organized and accurate records of safety programs, training activities, environmental inspections, and compliance documentation.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Human Resources to identify opportunities to improve workplace safety and employee performance.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen operational efficiency, employee capability, and regulatory compliance.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in workplace safety, employee training, workforce development, or a related function within a manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of OSHA general industry safety regulations and common manufacturing safety programs.
• Experience coordinating employee training, safety meetings, or compliance-related activities.
• Ability to conduct workplace inspections, identify hazards, and support corrective action processes.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, including maintaining accurate training and safety records.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present information to employees and leadership.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and collaborate effectively across departments.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and ability to learn training, safety, and documentation systems.
• Ability to work in an active manufacturing environment and support safety and training activities across production shifts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health & Safety, Human Resources, Training & Development, or a related field.
• OSHA 30-Hour General Industry training.
• Professional safety certification or relevant occupational safety credentials.
• Previous experience in food, pet food, beverage, or other continuous-process manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting environmental compliance programs, inspections, and regulatory reporting.
• Familiarity with combustible dust safety, confined space entry, LOTO, and machine guarding requirements.
• Experience with learning management systems (LMS), employee qualification tracking, and training program development.
• Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), HACCP, FSMA, and GFSI-recognized food safety standards.
• Experience supporting safety audits, incident investigations, and corrective action programs.
• Experience developing employee cross-training or workforce development initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of workplace safety principles and manufacturing hazard identification.
• Ability to interpret and apply safety procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Effective training, presentation, coaching, and facilitation skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and influence employees at all levels.
• Ability to recognize safety concerns and communicate appropriate corrective actions.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to maintain accurate compliance and training documentation.
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities and respond effectively to changing operational needs.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Human Resources.
• Commitment to employee safety, professional development, and continuous improvement.

Workplace Safety

• Demonstrate consistent compliance with company safety policies, procedures, and applicable regulations.
• Maintain accurate safety records and ensure required inspections, training, and corrective actions are completed.
• Promote immediate reporting and appropriate response to safety concerns, near misses, and workplace injuries.
• Participate in required safety training and use appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Support the continuous improvement of workplace safety programs and employee awareness.

Quality & Food Safety

• Follow applicable Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), sanitation procedures, and food safety requirements.
• Support employee training related to GMPs, food safety awareness, and applicable operational procedures.
• Collaborate with Food Safety & Quality Assurance personnel to ensure safety and training activities support product quality and contamination prevention.
• Participate in mandatory food safety and quality training.
• Follow applicable food safety management system requirements and established company procedures.
• Identify and report conditions that could impact food safety or product quality.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Work is performed in office and active manufacturing environments at the Decatur facility.
• Regular presence on the production floor is required to conduct inspections, deliver training, and support employees.
• Exposure to noise, dust, moving machinery, chemicals, and varying temperatures.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb stairs and ladders, and access production areas as needed to conduct inspections and assessments.
• Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment while in designated manufacturing areas.
• Ability to use computers and training equipment for documentation, reporting, and employee instruction.
• Flexibility to support training, inspections, and safety activities across multiple production shifts, including occasional overtime or after-hours response.

Why Join Us?

At United Petfood, we believe in investing in our employees and providing opportunities for growth and development. As our Workforce Development & Safety Specialist, you will play an important role in protecting employees, strengthening safety practices, and developing the skills and capabilities of our Decatur workforce.

This position offers the opportunity to combine workplace safety, employee training, and continuous improvement within a growing international manufacturing organization.

We offer competitive pay, benefits, and a supportive work environment where your contributions are valued.

Equal Opportunity Employer: United Petfood Producers USA Inc. is an equal opportunity workplace. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.