Safety Manager

About the role

Our client, a leading manufacturing company in Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is looking for an experienced Safety Manager to lead the site’s Occupational Health and Safety strategy. The role is hands‑on and focused on building a strong safety culture and continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve the Occupational Health and Safety Management System in line with ISO 45001, corporate standards and local regulations.
• Develop and execute the annual OHS plan, conduct risk assessments and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory and corporate safety requirements and lead internal and external audits.
• Manage incident investigations, injury‑prevention initiatives and emergency preparedness programs.
• Develop, monitor and analyse safety KPIs, driving improvement strategies.
• Oversee fire prevention, contractor safety, machinery safety, ergonomics, industrial hygiene and other critical safety programs.
• Manage the site safety budget, identify cost‑saving opportunities and provide training/coaching for employees, contractors and leaders.
• Lead and develop a team of safety professionals, partnering with plant leadership and cross‑functional teams.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety or a related technical field.
• Minimum 7 years of OHS experience in a manufacturing environment, including leadership of technical or safety teams.
• Strong knowledge of ISO 45001 and OHS management systems.
• Fully bilingual in English and Spanish (written and spoken).

Required skills

• ISO 45001 implementation
• Risk assessments, industrial hygiene, ergonomics
• Contractor management, fire protection, machinery safety
• Confined spaces, work at heights, incident investigations
• Project management