Director of Safety and Quality

Reports to: President
Location: Norwalk, Ohio (Travel Required)
Position Type: Full-Time, Executive/Director Level

Company Overview
Since 1983, American Timber and Steel has designed, engineered, and manufactured a variety of wood and metal boundary solutions for use in parks & recreation, agriculture, highway, industrial, and marine industries. From fencing to guardrail to covered bridges, our products are visible everywhere.

We are a family-owned business, employing very dedicated, skilled and innovative people, working at manufacturing facilities located in Norwalk, Ohio and Nacogdoches, Texas, and servicing customers nationwide. We have an energized, engaging, and enthusiastic culture making the workplace environment a pleasant place to be. We are technology oriented, providing the tools required for successful and innovative job performance.

Role Summary
The Director of Safety & Quality is a leadership role responsible for the two most critical pillars of our operation: the safety of our workforce and the integrity of our products. Leading a team across two manufacturing locations (Ohio & Texas), you will standardize safety protocols to ensure zero-harm environments and oversee the Quality Management System to guarantee our Engineered Products, Fencing, and Specialty divisions meet rigorous industry standards.

Key Responsibilities

1. Safety & Environmental Leadership (EHS)

• Strategic Oversight: Develop and enforce a unified safety program across both the Ohio and Texas facilities, ensuring consistent standards despite different state regulations.

• Hazard Prevention: Champion the safety culture around heavy machinery, material handling, and industrial manufacturing risks. Lead proactive audits and Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs).

• Regulatory Compliance: Manage all OSHA and EPA reporting and permitting. ensure full compliance with state-specific environmental regulations in both Ohio and Texas.

• Incident Management: Lead investigations for any incidents or near-misses; focus on root-cause analysis to implement engineering controls that prevent recurrence.

2. Quality Assurance (QA/QC)

• Product Integrity: Oversee quality standards for our three key divisions (Engineered Products, Fencing, Specialty). Ensure all dimensional tolerances and structural specifications are met before shipping.

• System Management: Maintain and improve the Quality Management System (QMS). Manage third-party certifications and audits relevant to the timber/construction industry.

• Customer Satisfaction: Act as the primary point of contact for high-level quality escalations. Analyze customer claims/returns to identify trends and drive upstream process improvements.

• Supplier Quality: Establish standards for incoming raw materials (lumber/timber grades) and hold vendors accountable to specifications.

3. Operational Excellence & Team Development

• Culture Change: Shift the mindset from "safety as a rule" to "safety as a value." Empower plant managers and floor supervisors to take ownership of their team’s safety and work quality.

• Metrics & Reporting: Present monthly executive dashboards to the President, tracking TRIR (Recordable Incident Rate), Scrap/Yield rates, and First-Pass Quality.

• Training: Design robust training programs for new hires and current employees, ensuring competency in both safe equipment operation and quality inspection standards.

Qualifications

• Experience: 7–10+ years of combined experience in Quality and EHS management within a manufacturing environment. Experience with building materials, timber, or heavy industrial manufacturing is highly preferred.

• Multi-Site Leadership: Proven ability to manage programs across multiple geographical locations.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Occupational Safety, Industrial Management, or a related field.

• Technical Skills:

  Strong knowledge of OSHA General Industry standards (1910).
  Experience with Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001 or industry equivalents).
  Data analysis skills for tracking scrap reduction and safety trends.

• Travel: Ability to travel between Ohio and Texas locations regularly (approx. 20–30%).

Preferred Certifications

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Associate Safety Professional (ASP)
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt (for Quality/Process Improvement)

Benefits

• Health, Vision, Dental Insurance, Health Savings Account
• Company Paid Life Insurance, Short/Long-Term Disability
• Paid Time Off – Vacation/Sick, Paid Holidays
• 401K with Company Match
• Relocation Assistance