How to hire an occupational safety and health manager

How to hire an occupational safety and health manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step occupational safety and health manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an occupational safety and health manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new occupational safety and health manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an occupational safety and health manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an occupational safety and health manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an occupational safety and health manager that fits the bill.

   This list presents occupational safety and health manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Occupational Safety And Health Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Occupational Safety And Health Manager	Occupational health and safety specialists analyze many types of work environments and work procedures. Specialists inspect workplaces for adherence to regulations on safety, health, and the environment... Show more	$27-56
   Safety Representative	A safety representative is responsible for reiterating safety protocols and regulations in the workplace to prevent potential hazards and operational delays. Safety representatives facilitate training and programs for the employees and inform them of any communications related to their safety and wellbeing... Show more	$15-37
   Safety Supervisor	A safety supervisor is responsible for monitoring the overall operations of a production, ensuring the safety and security of everyone, and enforcing strict regulations and protocols. Safety supervisors organize safety orientations and training for the workers, as well as reiterating disciplinary measures and policies and procedures during meetings... Show more	$20-47

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Occupational Health
   • Safety Program
   • Oversight
   • Infection Control
   • Safety Standards
   • Risk Management
   • Occupational Safety
   • OSH
   • Health Programs
   • Safety Procedures
   • CPR
   • EHS
   • Regulatory Compliance
   • Training Programs

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead management teams that maintain and continually improve systems that ensure process efficiencies and compliance with OHSAS 18001 and ISO14001 requirements.
   • Supervise on site nurses and physicians, develop and manage disability management program to include EAP referrals.
   • Develop safety training programs conduct audits and inspections as per OSHA, NFPA, and USDA.
   • Maintain OSHA and CPR require reporting and record keeping.
   • Develop and present EHS training, to include site orientation.
   • Educate employees on FMLA approval process and procedures once approve.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your occupational safety and health manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An occupational safety and health manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, occupational safety and health managers' average salary in florida is 40% less than in nevada.
   • Seniority. Entry-level occupational safety and health managers earn 51% less than senior-level occupational safety and health managers.
   • Certifications. An occupational safety and health manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an occupational safety and health manager's salary.

   Average occupational safety and health manager salary

   $82,258yearly

   $39.55 hourly rate

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   Entry-level occupational safety and health manager salary

   $57,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 27, 2026

4. Writing an occupational safety and health manager job description

   An occupational safety and health manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an occupational safety and health manager job description:

   Occupational safety and health manager job description example

   Under the direct supervision of the Clinical Director, Enterprise Occupational Health, the Manager Occupational Health is responsible for managing daily oversight of operational activities and supervising and training clinical staff on Occupational Health programs, monitors performance, and ensures compliance with regulatory agency standards. Manages and provides for Onboarding services, Compliance services and Substance Abuse Prevention services.
   
   Maintains knowledge of current regulatory requirements for agencies such as CDC, OSHA, CMS, JC, ODH and monitors and updates changing laws.
   
   Develops quality metrics and prepares reports based on analysis on a regular basis, and as directed or requested.
   
   Participates in hospital committees; e.g., Infection Prevention, Environment of Care, Leadership council, as appropriate.
   Demonstrates ability to be effective in a fast paced, continually evolving environment. Works independently, able to multitask, able to delegate and change priorities quickly. Demonstrates managerial skills, and implements managerial functions using knowledge of organizational and business principals; responsible for hiring, evaluating, disciplining, terminating employees as required. Identifies and develops plan to meet learning needs of staff. Conducts monthly staff meetings with minutes and attendance records. Oversees staff time and attendance. Onboarding Services: Reviews alternative approaches to occupational health care and administers quality, cost-effective occupational health service delivery. Understands the legal parameters of practice and responds to legislative mandates which govern worker safety. Compliance Services: Collaborates with Cleveland Clinic Occupational Health for program planning and implementation for Occupational Health staff and evaluates care and service delivery for caregivers. Demonstrates good networking skills with colleagues in a wide range of clinical and administrative departments and with internal and external resources. Substance Abuse Prevention Services: Collaborates with departments to complete sample collections in a time efficient manner with the least disruption to patient care. Develops effective working relationships with management and works collaboratively with Caring for Caregivers staff. Maintains visibility among employees as the spokesperson for the program. Develops a process for providing reports and benchmarks. Manages vendor relationships. Other duties as assigned. Completes mandatory education and training in order to maintain organization and department specific competencies and requirements. Maintains applicable certification/licensure. Follows hospital and department policies and procedures or other applicable standards (e.g. HIPAA regulations, PPE) with special attention to attendance and punctuality, confidentiality, dress code and display of ID badge, and safety. Other duties as assigned
   Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required. Master's in Public Health or related field preferred.
   Certifications: Current licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of Ohio. Nursing certification in specialty area in occupational health, mental health/chemical dependency, public health, infection prevention or related health field preferred.
   Complexity of Work: Maintains competencies specific to patient population served. Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision. Must be able to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action. Excellent communication and listening skills, highly detail oriented.
   Work Experience: Four years of clinical nursing experience required with experience in an occupational health setting, infection prevention, or public health preferred. A minimum of two years of management experience preferred.
   Physical Requirements:
   
   Personal Protective Equipment: Follows standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find occupational safety and health managers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your occupational safety and health manager job on Zippia to find and recruit occupational safety and health manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit occupational safety and health managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new occupational safety and health manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the occupational safety and health manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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