Safety Manager

Position: Manager/Assistant Manager Quality & EHS Reporting To: Chief Operating Officer

Location: Chennai

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated professional to lead our Quality and Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) functions. This role requires expertise in implementing and maintaining world-class standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001, along with a proven ability to drive a strong culture of quality, safety, and continuous improvement. The candidate must be hands-on, proactive, and capable of influencing change across diverse teams to ensure compliance, efficiency, and excellence in operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Develop Standards

•Collaborate with Project, Construction, and Service Managers to establish company-wide safety and quality standards.

•Partner with the Engineering team to review and enhance solar product safety and quality parameters, addressing risks at the design and production stages.

•Lead the Quality & Safety Committee to establish best-in-class policies, processes, and systems aligned with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, OSHA, and other applicable regulations.

2. Lead Implementation

•Develop and implement programs to promote a world-class safety and quality culture.

•Drive certification and compliance processes including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, OSHA, Six Sigma.

•Deliver training and awareness programs to enhance employee competency on safety and quality.

•Monitor industry trends, analyse risk factors, and prepare improvement plans for management review.

3. Maintain & Improve

•Lead investigations of workplace incidents/accidents, ensuring timely reporting, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation.

•Conduct internal audits, inspections, and risk assessments to identify hazards, non-conformities, and improvement opportunities.

•Establish strong systems for tracking and maintaining safety and quality records.

•Manage budgets for Quality and EHS initiatives effectively.

4. Quality Management

• Lead quality assessments and audits for projects, suppliers, and in-house operations.

•Develop quality manuals, checklists, and standard processes for execution teams.

•Conduct inspections of raw materials, fabricated structures, solar modules, inverters, pumps, controllers, and related components.

•Generate reports (dimensional, equipment/component testing, process audits).

•Document field complaints, ensure root cause analysis, and integrate learnings into continuous improvement initiatives.

• Train employees, contractors, and channel partners on quality standards and compliance processes.

5. Safety Management

•Ensure compliance with ISO 45001, OSHA, and national statutory requirements for health and safety.

•Develop and implement safety policies, procedures, and safe work practices across all operations.

• Conduct Job Safety Analysis (JSA), Risk Assessments, Permit-to-Work (PTW) audits, and implement effective hazard control measures.

•Organize toolbox talks, mock drills, emergency response exercises, and awareness campaigns.

•Monitor contractors and partners compliance with company and legal safety standards.

•Implement programs for behaviour-based safety (BBS) and proactive hazard identification.

•Oversee fire safety, electrical safety, lifting operations, working at height, and confined space compliance.

•Promote a zero accident culture through continuous improvement and employee engagement.

Qualifications & Experience

•Education: Diploma/bachelors degree in engineering fire and industrial safety Management.

•Experience: Minimum 5 to 7 years of proven experience in Quality and EHS management, preferably in the Solar/Power/Energy sector.

•Strong knowledge and implementation experience in ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, OSHA, and Six Sigma standards.

•Demonstrated success in project management, quality assurance, and safety leadership.

•Proven ability to deliver business improvements, cost reduction, and risk mitigation.

•Strong skills in data collection, analysis, reporting, and presentation.

•Strategic thinker with the ability to influence at both operational and leadership levels.

•Proficiency in English; Hindi or other regional languages is an added advantage.

•Willingness to travel (minimum 40%).

Desired Skills

•Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.

•Ability to influence cultural change and build accountability at all levels.

•Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

•Deep understanding of solar industry processes, components, and EHS challenges.

•Passion for continuous improvement and operational excellence.