Assistant Manager, Whs, Executive Level 1, Chief

**Job no**: 513378

**Employment type**: Ongoing

**Location**: Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane

**Categories**: Executive Level 1, Human Resources (HR) and People

**About the department**:
The department plays a key role in the Australian Government’s agenda to create jobs and build a stronger, more resilient and competitive economy. Our work builds on Australia’s existing strengths, supports businesses to grow, and drives new opportunities for long-term productivity growth and prosperity. The success of the department helps Australia recover from the economic consequences of COVID‑19 and adapt to its ongoing effects. Through our work, we support the government’s economic recovery plan and help to deliver a better future for all Australians.

**About the team**:
The Safety, Wellbeing and People Support team is responsible for policies, strategies and projects designed to protect and maintain the health and wellbeing of department employees. The team deliver WHS strategy and advice to manage operational hazards, including psychosocial hazards, across the department. The team also support the department to achieve compliance with health and safety related legislation, policies, and guidance established by regulatory bodies, and the department’s WHS and psychosocial programs align with the Whole of Government reforms. Members of the team coordinate rehabilitation services for individuals who have experienced injury or illness. Team members also provide advice and strategies to managers when handling underperformance, including during probation, by working with managers and employees on strategies with the aim of improving performance, or advising on other administrative action when required in line with policy and legislation where necessary. The team manages preliminary enquiries and investigations into breaches of the Code of Conduct and review of action requests.

The key areas of knowledge, skill and ability for this position are:

- a detailed understanding of work health and safety policies, practices, standards and legislation
- the ability to lead, mentor and develop others to build an effective, positive, and collaborative team
- the ability to deliver high quality project outcomes, on time and in line with expectations
- the ability to build and nurture relationships based on trust and credibility with internal and external stakeholders

Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety is desirable.

**What you will do**:
The Assistant Manager, WHS drives continuous improvement in the management of WHS matters throughout the department. In collaboration with the Manager, the role is responsible for designing and delivering projects and broader strategies that build a culture of safety and to improve the department’s maturity in managing physical and psychosocial risks. The Assistant Manager liaises with individuals across the department engaged in safety critical activities to provide high-level advice on risk management. The role also oversees a team that conducts risk assessments and internal health and safety investigations in conjunction with the business area. Highly developed verbal and written communication skills are required to negotiate appropriate safety actions and in preparing reports and briefs to be presented to WHS committees and senior executives.

The Assistant Manager will:

- lead and manage the work of the team, including establishing expectations, allocating and reviewing work, managing improvement initiatives and resources, giving effective feedback and mentoring and developing employees
- be responsible for the development and delivery of WHS policies, strategies, programs and interventions drawing on current best practice and innovations in the field to improve safety and wellbeing
- continually assess, evaluate and develop WHS systems and policies to identify gaps and improvements, with reference to the future needs of the organisation
- drive safety culture and continuous improvement within the department, including through projects delivered under the Safety Health and Wellbeing Strategy
- develop and deliver health and safety strategies to improve the safety and wellbeing of employees based on best practice
- provide WHS advice to stakeholders across the department on the effective management of complex and high-risk operational activities drawing on policy, legislation and guidelines,
- engage with internal and external stakeholders to identify and manage risks and hazards
- prepare and deliver briefs on health and safety activities to key stakeholders
- provide oversight for investigations where safety-related incidents or breaches have occurred
- support WHS networks (health and safety representatives, First Aid Officers, Workplace Contact Officers) across the department to address issues and concerns.

**Eligibility**:
**Notes**:
A merit pool may be established and used to fill future vacancies within 18 months from the date the vacancy was first advertised in the Ga