Safety Manager - Runnings Distribution Center, Sioux Falls, SD

Runnings is excited to announce a rare career opportunity for a Safety Manager at our Distribution Center in Sioux Falls, SD.

 

FUNCTIONS OF THE ROLE

The Safety Manager is responsible for leading and supporting safety programs across all Runnings operating locations, including retail stores, distribution centers, and the Retail Support Center. This role serves as the primary owner of companywide safety compliance and partners closely with Operations, Human Resources, insurance partners, and leadership teams to strengthen safety culture, reduce risk, and drive measurable improvements in safety performance across a multi‑state environment. This role has the authority to recommend immediate corrective actions, including suspension of unsafe operations, when imminent hazards are identified.

This role uses a practical, field-focused, coaching approach to help teams work safely while supporting efficient operations and great service to customers and communities. It has the authority to recommend immediate corrective actions, including pausing work or operations when imminent danger exists, until hazards are mitigated and serve as the company representative for OSHA/state-plan interactions, including inspections, responses, and abatement tracking.

 

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

1. Reports directly to the Director of Human Resources
2. Partners closely with Store Managers, Distribution Center Managers, Retail Support Center Leadership, HR, unit-level communities, and insurance/claims partners

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Enterprise‑Wide Safety Leadership
  1. Promote and create a proactive, consistent safety culture across stores, distribution centers, and the Retail Support Center
  2. Serve as the primary safety resource across all operating locations and creates and delivers executive level safety reports and dashboards (injury trends, leading indicators, audit performance, corrective action closures and claim metrics)
  3. Partner with Operations and HR teams to ensure safety expectations are understood, supported, and consistently applied companywide
  4. Support and strengthen unit‑level safety efforts, including store, distribution center, and Retail Support Center safety committees, by providing guidance, training, resources, and best practices
  5. Establish consistent processes for hazard identification, reporting, corrective action, and verification of completion across all operating locations

 

• Safety Programs & Training
  1. Develop, implement, and maintain safety policies, programs, and procedures applicable to retail, warehouse, and office environments aligned with best practices
  2. Create and deliver safety training for team members and leaders, including onboarding, refresher training, and role‑specific education
  3. Support ongoing safety communication, lead safety meetings, and the unit-level safety committee initiatives to reinforce expectations and safe work behaviors
  4. Ensure programs and training address retail and distribution hazards including slips/trips/falls, material handling/ergonomics, seasonal operations, dock safety, PIT, conveyors, machine guarding, and lockout/tagout (as applicable)

 

• Compliance & Risk Management
  1. Ensure compliance with OSHA and other federal, state, and local safety regulations; represent the company during OSHA/state-plan inspections and abatement and reporting of sever incident reporting and regulatory notifications
  2. Serve as the primary owner of safety programs address retail‑specific and distribution hazards including material handling, slips/trips/falls, powered equipment, seasonal operations, and customer‑facing incidents and related injury and illness recordkeeping
  3. Support OSHA compliance and reporting, including recordkeeping, regulatory reporting, inspections, and corrective action follow‑up across all operating locations
  4. Manager multi-state OSHA/state plan requiring and conduct frequent routine audits/risk assessments across retail, DCs and the Support Center.
  5. Maintain safety programs/documentation, contractor controls, and safety review support for all new stores, acquisitions, and operational changes.

 

• Incident, Claims & Performance Management
  1. Oversee the reporting, investigation, and follow‑up of incidents, injuries, and near misses across all locations
  2. Analyze injury, claim, and near miss trends to identify root causes and prevention opportunities
  3. Partner with HR and Operations to support workers’ compensation claims management and return‑to‑work efforts
  4. Leverage data and findings to help reduce claim frequency and severity, improve loss ratios, and positively impact the company’s Experience Modification Rate (EMR)
  5. Track and report leading indicators such as near-miss reporting, audit completion, safety observations, and corrective action closure performance

 

• Partnership & Continuous Improvement
  1. Partner closely with Operations leadership to address safety risks while supporting efficient business operations
  2. Collaborate with Human Resources on training, employee relations considerations, and claims‑related activities tied to workplace safety
  3. Provide ongoing consultation and support to unit‑level safety committees, helping ensure local safety concerns are identified, documented, and addressed consistently
  4. Partner directly with insurance brokers and safety consultants to proactively identify risks, implement recommendations, and continuously drive safety improvements across stores, distribution centers, and the Retail Support Center
  5. Track safety metrics and key indicators, including claims trends, loss performance, and EMR, and provide insights and recommendations to leadership
  6. Support company growth by scaling safety programs while maintaining consistency, practicality, and alignment with Runnings’ culture

 

• Emergency Preparedness & Response
  1. Develop, implement, and maintain Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) and Fire Prevention Plans (FPPs) where required for stores, DCs, and the Retail Support Center.
  2. Coordinate and document emergency training and drills/tabletop exercises (evacuation, severe weather, other foreseeable emergencies).
  3. Ensure EAPs include required elements: reporting emergencies, evacuation routes/assignments, employee accountability after evacuation, rescue/medical duties, and designated contacts.
  4. Partner with Operations/Facilities to ensure emergency alarms/notifications and site readiness processes are effective and maintained.

 

• Onsite Support
  1. Frequently travel to all operating states, including air and road travel on a frequent basis, to perform audits, assist with compliance issues, training, safety committees, and team members, and to investigate to get to root cause

 

ESSENTIAL MENTAL AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Maintain a high level of confidentiality and professionalism 
•  Ability to develop written policies/procedures
• Significant air and street travel
• Able to work weekends and evenings when circumstances require it
• Ability to solve complex problems
• Ability to perform assigned duties under frequent time pressures in an interruptive environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 20 lbs. during onsite inspections, trainings and investigations, walk, stand, sit, kneel, bend, and stoop on a regular basis

 

PAY & BENEFITS

• Total Compensation Range: $90,000 - $115,000 (base plus bonus), based on experience and performance
• Employee Discount: Save big on everything from apparel to tools to pet supplies
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Multiple options
• Paid Time Off: Vacation, Holidays, Sick Time
• 410(k): Generous Company Match

 

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• Five years of progressive safety experience in a retail and/or distribution centers or similar multi-site environments or equivalent education and/or experience
• Preferred: Professional certification (CSP, CHST) and OSHA 30; and multi-state experience

 

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND CONDITIONS

• Valid Driver License and/or identification and flexibility to travel within assigned areas.
• Office environment
• Retail store environment
• Distribution Center environment
• High stress environment at times

 

EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS

Computer                                             Automobile/motor vehicle                                             

Telephone                                             Fax                                         

PC software and network                Tools necessary to conduct safety inspections and calibration          

 

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive.  They represent typical elements and criteria considered necessary to perform the job successfully.  The company recognizes that an individual with a disability may require an accommodation to enable him/her to successfully perform a job function.  Consideration will be given to reasonable accommodations.