Compliance and Safety Manager

Compliance & Safety Manager

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (until Director of Operations is hired; then reports to Director of Operations with escalation authority)

Classification: Full-time, exempt

Salary Band: $75-$90K

Supervises: None

Chairs: Safety Committee

Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois delivers more than 1 million meals annually to nearly 10,000 older adults (aged 60 or better) supporting health, independence, and community connection.

Role Scope

The Compliance & Safety Manager ensures the regulatory integrity and safety systems that support our multi-site nutrition program.

Experience working in regulated environments such as public health, healthcare, government-funded programs, or multi-site compliance systems is strongly preferred.

Position Summary

The Compliance & Safety Manager protects the organization’s regulatory integrity, public health standards, fleet safety practices, monitoring readiness, and incident documentation systems across all service sites.

This role establishes, enforces, and strengthens compliance systems to ensure the organization consistently meets public health, OSHA, funder, and regulatory requirements. The Manager serves as a collaborative compliance partner to Operations while maintaining independent authority to enforce compliance standards and escalate material risk when necessary.

Material risk includes any condition, incident, pattern, or regulatory exposure that poses a significant threat to client health, staff and volunteer safety, regulatory standing, insurance coverage, funding, or organizational reputation.

This position is both preventive and corrective and serves as the organizational lead for compliance infrastructure and risk reduction.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance & Audit Readiness

• Monitor public health, food safety, OSHA, and funder regulations.
• Maintain organization-wide compliance documentation systems.
• Conduct internal compliance audits and monitoring readiness reviews.
• Identify regulatory risks and implement corrective action plans.

Food Safety & Operational Compliance

• Establish and monitor food safety standards across service sites.
• Conduct routine and unannounced site compliance audits.
• Review temperature logs, labeling practices, and inventory controls.
• Coordinate retraining when compliance gaps are identified.

Incident Reporting & Risk Management

• Maintain the organization’s centralized incident reporting system.
• Ensure incident reports are complete, accurate, and timely.
• Identify risk patterns and recommend preventative strategies.
• Track corrective actions to ensure issues are resolved.

Fleet Safety & Organizational Coordination

• Monitor fleet safety practices and telematics data.
• Review fleet-related incidents and coordinate corrective action.
• Work with HR and Finance on workers’ compensation and insurance documentation.
• Chair the Safety Committee and track safety metrics.

Compliance Training

• Identify required regulatory and safety training needs.
• Facilitate training sessions and track completion.
• Reinforce compliance standards through structured education.

Escalation & Authority

Authorized to immediately suspend unsafe practices or service activities when conditions pose imminent risk to client health, staff safety, or regulatory compliance. All such actions must be documented and communicated promptly to Operations leadership and the CEO.

The Manager maintains independent authority within regulatory scope and escalates material compliance risks when necessary.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, safety management, regulatory compliance, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 5–7 years of experience in regulatory compliance, public health, safety management, or oversight of multi-site compliance programs.
• Experience conducting internal audits and compliance walkthroughs required.
• Experience developing or maintaining compliance documentation, audit preparation materials, or regulatory reporting systems required.
• Experience in multi-site or regulated service environments strongly preferred.
• Excellent documentation, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data tracking systems.
• Valid driver’s license issued by the employee’s state of residence required. Must maintain insurability under the organization’s commercial automobile insurance policy.
• Employees using personal vehicles for agency business must provide proof of automobile liability insurance with minimum coverage of $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 (or a combined single limit of $300,000).

Certifications & Training

• Certified Food Protection Manager (e.g., ServSafe Manager) required or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.
• OSHA 30-Hour General Industry training preferred; required within 12 months of hire if not already held.
• Knowledge of OSHA workplace injury and illness reporting requirements and recordkeeping standards preferred.
• First Aid/CPR/AED certification preferred.
• Additional public health, safety, or risk management certifications considered a plus.

Benefits

• 403(b) match
• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off
• Health insurance
• Dental & Vision insurance
• Life insurance

Community Nutrition Network and Senior Services Association (DBA Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois) is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and offers employment opportunities to all qualified persons regardless of actual or perceived race (and traits associated with race including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, work authorization status, age, religion, marital status, disability, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, order of protection status, reproductive health decisions, family responsibilities, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.