Sr. Manager, Safety Compliance

Sr. Manager, Safety Compliance

Job Purpose

The Sr. Manager, Safety Compliance is responsible for developing, maintaining, and continuously improving Panera’s enterprise‑wide safety compliance framework. This role ensures that all Panera cafés operate in full compliance with applicable federal, state, and local safety regulations - including OSHA, state‑plan requirements, environmental health standards, and industry best practices.

This leader designs the policies, processes, tools, and governance mechanisms that create a consistent, defensible safety posture across the system. The role also conducts targeted field audits and on‑site assessments to validate compliance, gather real‑world insights, and ensure that policies are practical and operationally executable.

The Sr. Manager serves as Panera’s internal expert on regulatory safety compliance, translating complex legal requirements into clear, actionable operational standards for café teams.

Duties & Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance Program Development

• Lead the creation, revision, and governance of Panera’s safety policies, procedures, and standards to ensure compliance with federal OSHA, state‑plan OSHA programs, and relevant local regulations.
• Monitor regulatory changes and emerging requirements; proactively update policies and training materials to maintain compliance.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive safety compliance framework, including written programs, SOPs, checklists, and audit tools.
• Ensure all required regulatory programs are current and compliant (e.g., Hazard Communication, PPE, Bloodborne Pathogens, Emergency Action Plans, Ergonomics, Injury/Illness Prevention Programs where required).
• Establish governance mechanisms for policy rollout, version control, and field adoption.

Compliance Assurance & Field Validation

• Conduct targeted field audits to validate compliance with Panera policies and regulatory requirements.
• Perform on‑site assessments following serious incidents, OSHA inquiries, or high‑risk events to ensure corrective actions align with regulatory expectations.
• Evaluate the practical effectiveness of policies in real café environments and refine them based on field insights.
• Support café leadership in preparing for and responding to OSHA inspections, including documentation readiness and corrective action planning.

Incident Response, Investigation & Corrective Action

• Develop and maintain Panera’s incident investigation protocols, ensuring root‑cause analysis and corrective actions meet regulatory standards.
• Coach café and market leaders on proper documentation, evidence preservation, and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Review incident trends and identify systemic compliance gaps requiring policy or process changes.

Training, Education & Capability Building

• Develop compliance‑focused training materials, job aids, and deployment tools for café teams and field leaders.
• Deliver virtual and in‑person training on regulatory requirements, policy changes, and compliance expectations, as required.
• Build safety compliance capability across Operations by simplifying complex regulations into clear, actionable guidance.

Cross‑Functional Leadership & Collaboration

• Partner with Operations, Facilities, Learning & Development, Food Safety, and HR to ensure compliance requirements are embedded into operational processes and equipment standards.
• Provide compliance expertise during new equipment rollouts, process changes, and operational initiatives.
• Support Franchise Operations by providing guidance and best practices (without assuming operational control or liability).

Data, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Use injury data, audit findings, and regulatory trends to prioritize compliance risks and drive continuous improvement.
• Develop compliance metrics and dashboards to provide visibility to Operations and leadership.
• Recommend strategic interventions to reduce regulatory exposure and improve safety performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Professional certifications (CSP, CHST, ARM, ASP) acceptable in lieu of Master’s degree.
• 7+ years of experience in safety compliance, regulatory program development, or occupational safety; multi‑unit or restaurant experience strongly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of OSHA and state‑plan requirements, including written program standards and recordkeeping.
• Demonstrated experience developing safety policies, compliance programs, and reg