Head of HSE

Company Overview
A leading provider of diverse services across Australia and New Zealand including industrial services, maintenance, and facility management operating in a highly diversified, complex environment serving clients in social infrastructure, resources, energy, industrial, and property markets.
 
Role Context
A newly created position, the Head of HSE will lead safety strategy execution for a combined Facilities Maintenance and Property Services division – with a broad range of client contracts, and a large subcontractor workforce.

The two divisions are being integrated under a single leadership structure, where the integration aims to realise efficiency gains and better leverage embedded safety resources.

Reports to a Divisional CEO.

Direct safety team: ~40 Safety FTE embedded across contracts with matrixed support from Group HSE.

Peer relationships: Divisional HSE Leaders, HR, Operations leaders, Group safety (systems, programs, innovation), and Client stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership – Develop and execute a unified divisional safety strategy aligned to the three-year plan and safety philosophy.
• Integration & Change – Lead the safety function through the merger, creating synergies and leveraging resources across both businesses.
• Influence & Engagement – Build credibility with senior executives, site leaders, and client representatives; foster strong safety culture and engagement at all organisational levels.
• Governance & Compliance – Ensure compliance with diverse state and federal safety legislation and client-specific requirements across a wide variety of contracts and risk profiles.
• People Leadership – Coach, develop, and retain a highly capable, geographically dispersed safety team in a lean, low-margin environment.
• Client Interface – Act as the key safety contact for major clients, balancing commercial demands with people-first values.

• The successful candidate will demonstrate:
  Senior Safety Leadership Experience – Proven track record leading safety in large, complex, multi-site organisations with dispersed workforces working across a broad range of client sites and contracts.
• Change & Integration Capability – Experience driving cultural and operational change across diverse workforces and contract structures.
• Executive Presence & Gravitas – Ability to influence and build trust with executive teams, boards, clients, and frontline employees.
• Commercial Acumen – Understanding of low-margin, contract-based businesses where resources are lean and outcomes must be achieved efficiently.
• People Orientation – Exceptional relationship skills; visible and approachable leader who engages teams and clients alike.
• Strategic Mindset & Sound Judgement – Able to balance high-level strategy with hands-on execution, making clear decisions in a complex stakeholder environment.
• Values-Driven Approach – Alignment with a people-first culture and commitment to positive safety behaviours.

• Opportunity to design and lead the safety function for a $2 billion division with scale, complexity, and strategic significance.
• Work directly with a CEO who values outcomes and entrusts senior leaders with autonomy.
• Be part of a values-led, people-centric organisation with strong culture and long-standing client relationships.