[Hiring] Senior Manager, Safety Compliance @Panera Bread

Role Description

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 regulatory documentation.
• Strong ability to interpret regulations and translate them into practical, operationally realistic processes.
• Experience conducting field audits and compliance assessments.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to travel nationally as needed.

Working Conditions

• This is a field‑based/remote role that will require occasional business travel (up to 30%).
• Field visits include exposure to a fast‑paced foodservice environment with typical café conditions such as hot surfaces, wet floors, cleaning chemicals, and active kitchen operations.
• May require presence during early mornings, evenings, or occasional weekends to support investigations, training, or operational needs.
• Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision, manage multiple priorities, and maintain productivity in a remote setting.
• Interaction with regulatory agencies (e.g., OSHA, state‑plan inspectors) during inspections or compliance reviews.
• Role involves periods of computer‑based work, policy development, and documentation review.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, and move throughout café environments, which may have allergens, chemicals, heat or cold exposure, for extended periods during audits, assessments, and investigations.
• Ability to bend, reach, kneel, crouch, climb short ladders or step stools.
• Must be able to travel by air and ground transportation, as required.
• Must be able to communicate clearly in person and virtually, including delivering training and coaching to groups of varying sizes.

Compensation

Competitive Pay: $145,305 - $174,366. The actual pay offered will be determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s relevant experience, job-related knowledge, skills, and geographical location. Individual compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.