Head of Safety

Join to apply for the Head of Safety role at Energy Queensland

Join to apply for the Head of Safety role at Energy Queensland

• Any Major EQL Location – Newstead (Brisbane), Mackay, Maryborough, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Townsville
• Salary starting from $300,000 TFR + 15% STIP
• Lead our safety division and make a significant impact on the safety culture across Queensland's largest electricity provider

We are looking for a strategic safety leader to oversee a wider team of 25 staff spread across Queensland, Australia. Reporting to the GM of Health, Safety and Environment, the 'Head of Safety' takes overall responsibility for all safety related activities across the business.

This position will oversee our Safety division at the corporate and operational level, with a team of subject matter experts and teams of field based HSE business partners. Most of our operations are conducted in blue-collar field environment involving complex electrical work in metro, regional and remote areas of Queensland. The ideal candidate for this role should have experience managing large teams, working for large organisations (exceeding 1,000 employees) in high-risk blue-collar settings. Additionally, familiarity with working within heavily unionised environments will be crucial for success in this position.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge of Workplace Health and Safety legislation and practices, ideally within the Electricity Supply/Heavy Industry. They should excel in interpersonal communication and negotiation, especially in industrial settings, and have a proven track record of leading and motivating teams to deliver safety services and initiatives. Strategic thinking and critical analysis skills are essential, along with the ability to review and improve programs and services.

About Energy Queensland

Energy Queensland is Australia's largest government-owned electricity provider, with over 9,300 employees and a footprint across Queensland. We're at the forefront of energy innovation. Our network consists of:

• 247,293 km of electricity network (overhead and underground).
• 7 million km2 geographic area covered.
• 33 stand alone power stations, with microgrid solutions.
• An ongoing network battery (BESS) program
• EV Charging Stations, Solar Energy, and the constant growth of our transformative green network

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement safety programs to ensure compliance with laws and mitigate risks.
• Manage teams of HSE Business Partners across Operations, providing tactical support to line leaders.
• Collaborate with Operations Standards Delivery and Asset Safety groups to address health and safety risks.
• Provide leadership and strategic advice for continuous improvement in safety performance.
• Prepare reports and board papers on health and safety performance.
• Lead safety-related training, working with HR and Technical Training Departments.
• Coordinate safety related emergency planning and response support.
• Represent HSE in committees, forums, and management meetings.
• Champion HSE improvement opportunities to operational managers.
• Promote learning from incidents to align behaviours with EQL values.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with legislation, policies, and procedures.

Knowledge, Skills and Ability:

• Degree in health and safety, or related discipline and/or equivalent experience
• >7-10 years in a senior leadership role, preferably in the utilities/heavy industry sector
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, codes, and standards including Workplace Health and Safety Act
• Ability to convey knowledge of legislation and regulations related to Workplace Health and Safety and the Electricity Supply Industry
• High-level interpersonal communication and negotiating skills
• Experience in leading, motivating, and inspiring a team to achieve safety goals
• Strategic focus with critical thinking and change implementation skills
• Ability to review and improve programs and services
• Capacity to challenge and support management for safe operational decisions
• Degree in Project and/or Risk Management
• Cert IV in Training and Assessment
• Lead Investigator Qualification, preferably ICAM
• Lead Auditor Qualification

How to Apply:

If you would like to be considered for this hire, please apply below with an up to date resume and a cover letter which highlights your suitability.

Applications close: 11pm, Sunday 8th June 2025. Please note that we will be assessing candidates in real-time and may close the application process without prior notice.

For further information on this role, or to understand the recruitment process more, please contact Joe Symonds (Recruitment Specialist) via the following channels:

This hire is being recruited for directly via our Energy Queensland recruitment department (Joe Symonds). Speculative CV sends from recruitment agencies will not be accepted and we will not accept candidate ownership of anyone presented.

We value the differences individuals contribute to our workforce and encourage a diverse range of applicants to apply.

Click here to view more information on diversity and inclusion at Energy Queensland.

• Seniority levelMid-Senior level

• Employment typeFull-time

• Job functionFinance and Sales
• IndustriesUtilities

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