Senior Range Safety Manager at ARA in Albuquerque, NM

The Test Technology Division (TTD) of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking an experienced Senior Range Safety Manager. In this role you will lead TTD’s safety program - providing oversight and leadership for R&D testing on Department of War (DoW) ranges, ARA-operated facilities, and commercial proving grounds. You will create, mature, and continuously improve safety programs for the division, then implement these programs on the test bed. You will work closely with ARA engineers, scientists, technicians, and client stakeholders to design and execute safety measures, verify safe conditions, ensure regulatory adherence, and maintain operational excellence.

As Senior Range Safety Manager, you will serve as the lead safety interface for the ARA test team, providing clear guidance to our test staff and conducting collaborative problem-solving while upholding safety requirements. In addition, you will also be the primary safety representative to TTD’s clients - conducting direct client communication, safety coordination, and negotiation to ensure safety requirements are clearly understood and integrated into test plans. You will conduct professional communication between multiple customers, maintain composure under time-sensitive test schedules, and de-escalate operational tension.

ARA’s test range programs include operations involving heavy equipment, concrete structure fabrication, surface and subterranean testing, permit required confined spaces (PRCS), chemical hazards, environmental compliance, electrical work, and close coordination with explosive energetics operations. Note that energetics safety is managed by our dedicated explosives safety team. Work is primarily conducted at Kirtland Air Force Base, White Sands Missile Range, and ARA’s test range in Moriarty, NM. Our programs operate under OSHA 29 CFR 1910 (General Industry) guidelines.

Due to the nature of work performed, candidates must be U.S. citizens eligible for a Department of Defense Secret or higher security clearance.

Key Responsibilities

Division Safety Program Development

• Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive EHS programs, policies, and procedures aligned with OSHA and national consensus standards (ANSI, NEC, NFPA, MSHA, DOT, NIOSH).
• Monitor regulatory updates and ensure compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local requirements.
• Hazard & Risk Documentation: Perform Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) using quantitative data and translate technical engineering, hazard, and environmental information into clear safety briefs and analysis documents.
• Author and maintain the division's comprehensive Health and Safety Plan that includes all safety aspects pertaining to test operations and environmental considerations.
• Procedural Review: Review and modify Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for test operations, ensuring strict adherence to safety plans.

Strategic Safety Leadership

• Lead multi-disciplinary safety readiness reviews to verify that all required controls are in place before testing begins.
• Authority and responsibility to immediately pause operations if a test procedure deviates from safe protocols.
• Draft formal written safety variance requests, incident investigation reports, and safety justifications tailored for a wide audience, including technical clients, regulatory auditors, and executive leadership.
• Work with customers and our test team to safely adjust test procedures when technical conditions change, ensuring mission data needs are met without compromising safety.

Risk Management & Incident Oversight

• Oversee the full range of hazard and risk management activities for test operations.
• Define, verify, and enforce exclusion zones to maintain safe operating boundaries.
• Develop and implement safety protocols for diverse testing environments, including heavy equipment, structural, chemical, and confined space activities.
• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments and hazard analyses across all operational areas.
• Lead and document investigations of incidents, accidents, and near misses, ensuring root cause analysis and corrective actions are completed.
• Maintain accurate safety and incident data, preparing professional written reports for senior leadership and customers.

Safety Culture & Training

• Champion a proactive safety culture by engaging employees at all levels.
• Develop and deliver in-person safety training programs covering procedures, emergency protocols, life-saving skills. Designate and train ARA staff for OSHA Competent Person, and qualified for heavy equipment, hot work, and permit required confined space (PRCS) operations.
• Support employee involvement through safety committees and related initiatives.

Regulatory Liaison & External Relations

• Serve as the point of contact for regulatory agencies during inspections, audits, and investigations.
• Manage safety relationships and oversight for external consultants, contractors, and service providers.

Team Leadership & Specialized Functions

• Mentor, coach, and develop Safety Officers.
• Manage the EHS budget and resources effectively.
• Oversee environmental compliance and industrial hygiene monitoring strategies.
• Maintain safety inventory, equipment, and testing devices.

Required Qualifications

• Accredited degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Safety Management, Engineering, Science, or related field.
• Strong professional background in Defense or Aerospace testing environments (DoW ranges, energetics or related testing, commercial aerospace, etc.).
• 10+ years of supervisory experience with proven ability to mentor and lead staff.
• Experience acting as a primary safety representative, managing direct client communication, safety coordination, and negotiation for safety plan integration.
• High-Pressure Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to remain composed under tight testing schedules while de-escalating workplace tension.
• Ability to leverage data and professional judgment to accurately define and document safety requirements. Demonstrated ability to implement safety management systems and conduct incident investigations.
• Industrial Hygiene experience with proven ability to lead the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of workplace environmental stressors. Includes in-depth knowledge of OSHA, NFPA, NEC, MSHA, DOT, and ANSI regulations.
• Environmental compliance experience (RCRA hazardous waste, SWPPP, NEPA).
• Strong analytical, communication, technical writing, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work extensively in field environments, including active construction and test ranges.
• Proficiency with hazardous materials handling, SDS compliance, electrical, and construction safety.
• Current First Aid and CPR certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• CSP, CIH, or equivalent certification.
• HAZWOPER training.
• Experience working at DoD/DOE test ranges or proving grounds.
• Experience with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) safety.
• Knowledge of MSHA and NEPA requirements.
• Experience with atmospheric monitoring and respiratory protection programs, including fit testing.

About ARA:

ARA is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs more than 2,200 professionals and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in civil technologies, computer software and simulation, defense technologies, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for pavement analysis, environmental site characterization, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience.