Senior Safety Manager – National Operations

• Lead transformational safety initiatives across one of Australia's leading fresh-produce organisations.

About the Company

Our client is a vertically integrated agrifood business operating across growing, packing, distribution, and export. With more than 11 farms and large-scale distribution hubs in Sydney and Brisbane, the company supplies major retailers and international markets year-round. Following a significant investment partnership with a global asset-management firm, the business is undergoing a period of strategic transformation, placing renewed emphasis on governance, safety leadership, and long-term cultural maturity.

The company's people-first culture is reflected in an 80%+ positive safety-engagement rating and strong board and executive support for continuous improvement.

The Role

This newly created leadership role represents a rare opportunity to deliver a two-year national safety transformation program. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and supported by the board and executive team, the Senior Safety Manager will take ownership of the safety strategy, drive critical initiatives, and embed best-practice systems and behaviours across a multi-site, high-volume horticultural workforce.

You'll lead the execution of a structured roadmap focused on critical risk control, leadership capability, governance, and system modernisation — bringing consistency and maturity to the way safety is managed and reported. With an established base of high employee engagement, the challenge is not winning hearts and minds but elevating systems, compliance visibility, and risk-management confidence.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver the organisation's two-year WHS strategy and associated action roadmap
• Lead and mentor one direct report while engaging site-based leaders across Australia
• Partner with consultants to implement a Critical Risk Management Program (bow-tie methodology)
• Oversee rollout of a new digital Safety Management System and governance framework
• Drive safety leadership capability programs, values alignment, and consistent reporting
• Provide strategic, data-driven insights to the COO, CEOs, and board
• Embed risk awareness and operational ownership of safety across the workforce

About You

• Extensive experience in WHS management and operations, including 3–5 years in senior leadership roles
• Proven record of delivering strategic safety programs across multi-site, high-volume or semi-skilled workforces
• Strength in influencing executives and frontline leaders alike
• Strong understanding of critical-risk management and technology-enabled WHS systems
• Skilled communicator with the ability to connect with culturally diverse and vulnerable workforces
• Pragmatic, people-focused safety leader – not compliance-only in approach

Desirable:
Background in horticulture, agriculture, FMCG, or manufacturing; experience working with labour-hire or seasonal workforces; exposure to board-level reporting.

Location and Travel

Sydney preferred, though Brisbane may be considered for exceptional candidates.

National travel approximately one week every four weeks (front-loaded in the first six months).

Remuneration and Benefits

• Total package circa $250K + discretionary bonus (negotiable for the right person)
• Relocation support for the right candidate
• High board and executive sponsorship for safety transformation
• Purpose-driven culture and the opportunity to influence long-term organisational safety maturity
• Flexible working environment with autonomy to plan travel and initiatives

Why This Role Matters

This is a pivotal moment in the company's growth story. You'll have full executive backing to shape a safety function that delivers measurable impact — from governance and systems to cultural leadership and risk control. If you're an accomplished safety professional ready to move beyond compliance and drive meaningful organisational change, this is your opportunity to lead it.