The Safe Step is partnering with a large, complex education and research organisation with an exceptionally diverse risk profile spanning laboratories, research environments, fieldwork, campuses and regional operations. The organisation is investing in a contemporary, risk based approach to health and safety, with a strong focus on simplification, clarity and measurable performance uplift.
This newly created role sits at the centre of a major transformation program and will play a critical role in shaping how health and safety systems, risk and assurance operate across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities:
The Head of Health and Safety – Performance and Improvement will:
- Lead the design and governance of a contemporary, ISO aligned health and safety management system
- Shape and optimise safety systems, technology and data to lift performance and insight
- Own the critical risk framework, assurance model and performance reporting
- Lead delivery of the health and safety program of work, ensuring clear priorities and measurable outcomes
- Ensure safety content, systems and resources are simple, user centred and accessible
- Provide strategic risk and performance advice to executive leadership
- Partner with operational teams on assurance activity, audits and control effectiveness
- Drive continuous improvement through benchmarking, innovation and emerging technology
- Build capability, professional standards and a high performing team culture
- Contribute to crisis management and emergency response as required
You are a senior health and safety leader with strong experience across systems, risk and assurance. You are comfortable operating in complexity and are known for simplifying frameworks, modernising systems and delivering large scale transformation. You bring credibility, sound judgement and the ability to influence across diverse and highly technical stakeholder groups.
You’ll Bring
- Strong experience designing and improving health and safety management systems and digital platforms
- Deep understanding of critical risk frameworks and second line assurance
- Ability to translate data into insight and performance uplift
- Experience leading complex transformation programs
- Confidence engaging across occupational hygiene and high risk technical environments
- Proven leadership of multidisciplinary teams
- A practical, outcomes focused approach with strong communication and influencing skills
This is a rare opportunity to shape the engine room of health and safety within a complex environment. The role offers genuine scope to modernise how health and safety works, lift performance at scale and leave a lasting legacy through systems, risk and assurance uplift. Strong executive support and significant investment underpin the transformation agenda.
About Applying
Click “Apply for this job” to submit your application.
For a confidential discussion, please contact Jai Catrios at jcatrios@thesafestep.com.au