Manager, Safety & Security

Lead Safety Excellence. Protect People. Shape Culture.

At Sappi Cloquet, safety is more than a priority. It is a core value that drives every decision we make. We are seeking a strategic and influential Manager, Safety & Security to lead the development, execution, and continuous improvement of health, safety, emergency response, and security programs across a large, complex manufacturing operation employing more than 700 people.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, this role serves as the senior site leader responsible for creating and sustaining a world-class safety culture while protecting our employees, contractors, visitors, assets, and operations. The successful candidate will lead a team of safety and security professionals, including a Health & Safety Supervisor, and partner closely with operational leaders to drive safety excellence, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and organizational performance.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a passionate leader who thrives on influencing culture, developing people, and delivering measurable business results through safety leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Safety Culture

• Serve as the site's senior advisor and subject matter expert on health, safety, emergency response, and security matters.


• Develop and execute the site's strategic Health, Safety & Security roadmap, aligning initiatives with corporate objectives and operational priorities.


• Champion a proactive safety culture that promotes accountability, employee engagement, ownership, and continuous improvement at all levels of the organization.


• Lead transformational safety initiatives that reduce risk, improve performance, and strengthen organizational resilience.

Operational Excellence & Risk Management

• Direct the implementation, effectiveness, and continuous improvement of site-wide safety management systems, programs, and processes.


• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, local, and corporate health, safety, environmental, and security requirements.


• Monitor leading and lagging indicators, analyze trends, and leverage data-driven insights to identify opportunities and drive sustainable improvements.


• Lead significant incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action processes to prevent recurrence.


• Oversee risk assessments and ensure appropriate controls are implemented across operations, maintenance, projects, and contractor activities.

Team Leadership & Organizational Influence

• Provide leadership, coaching, development, and performance management for the Health & Safety Supervisor and broader safety and security personnel.


• Build strong partnerships with operations, maintenance, engineering, human resources, labor representatives, and corporate stakeholders to strengthen safety ownership throughout the organization.


• Influence leaders and employees at all levels to drive behavioral change and embed safety into daily decision-making.


• Foster an environment of trust, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.

Emergency Preparedness & Security

• Lead the site's emergency response, crisis management, fire protection, and business continuity preparedness efforts.


• Oversee site security programs and ensure contracted security personnel effectively execute their responsibilities to safeguard employees, facilities, visitors, and assets.


• Ensure emergency response plans, training programs, drills, and security protocols remain current, effective, and aligned with best practices.

Capital Projects & Regulatory Stewardship

• Provide safety leadership and oversight for capital projects, new equipment installations, facility modifications, and operational changes.


• Ensure safety principles are incorporated into the design, selection, and implementation of equipment, processes, and facilities.


• Maintain strong relationships with regulatory agencies and serve as the primary site contact for OSHA and other applicable authorities.


• Lead site audits, inspections, and compliance activities while driving timely and effective corrective actions.

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Industrial Safety, Environmental Health & Safety, Engineering, or a related field.


• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive health and safety experience in manufacturing, industrial operations, energy or a similarly complex environment.


• Demonstrated success leading safety programs, culture transformation initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts.


• Experience managing direct reports and influencing cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment.


• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local safety and health regulations, including OSHA requirements.


• Experience working within ISO 45001, OHSAS, or similar management systems.


• Excellent communication, presentation, facilitation, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional safety certification such as CSP, ASP, CIH, or equivalent.


• Experience in pulp and paper, heavy manufacturing, chemical processing, mining, energy, or other high-hazard industries.


• Experience partnering with unionized workforces.


• Demonstrated expertise in incident investigation methodologies, risk management systems, and behavioral safety programs.

Leadership Competencies

We're looking for a leader who demonstrates:

• Strategic thinking and business acumen


• Courageous and influential leadership


• Change management expertise


• Strong decision-making and problem-solving capabilities


• Ability to build trust and credibility across the organization


• A passion for developing people and strengthening organizational capability


• A relentless commitment to protecting people and driving operational excellence

Why This Role Matters

This position plays a critical leadership role in shaping the future of safety, security, and operational excellence at Sappi Cloquet. As a member of the site leadership team reporting directly to the Managing Director, you will influence strategic decisions, lead high-impact initiatives, and help ensure every employee returns home safely every day.