Manager, RS Safety and Quality

Help shape the future of safety and quality on Melbourne's tram network.

At Yarra Trams, we're proud to operate the world's largest tram network and play a vital role in keeping Melbourne moving. We're committed to delivering safe, inclusive, and reliable transport services—and we're looking for a safety and quality leader to help us do just that.

Your role in the journey

As the Lead Safety & Quality Partner - Rolling Stock, you'll lead a dedicated team to ensure our Safety Management System (SMS) and Quality Management System (QMS) are not only compliant with legislation but also continuously improving to meet the needs of our people, passengers, and partners.

You'll play a key role in embedding a proactive safety culture, supporting operational teams, and driving quality outcomes across our engineering and maintenance functions.

What you'll be doing

• Leading the Safety & Quality team to apply and enhance the SMS, ensuring compliance with rail, energy, and OH&S legislation
• Supporting process owners with expert advice to strengthen safety systems and improve performance
• Overseeing safety assurance activities including risk assessments, audits, inspections, investigations, and corrective actions
• Championing a positive safety culture through initiatives such as Just & Fair reporting, toolbox talks, and life-saving rules
• Developing and implementing processes that support the effective use of the SMS by operational leaders
• Establishing and managing the Rolling Stock QMS in line with ISO 9001 and Yarra Trams' quality standards
• Defining and maintaining quality standards for maintenance, repairs, and refurbishment activities
• Managing non-conformance and CAPA processes, ensuring timely root cause analysis and effective resolution
• Leading internal and external quality audits across suppliers and contractors
• Ensuring traceability of maintenance activities through accurate documentation and CMMS (e.g., Maximo)
• Monitoring supplier and contractor quality performance and driving continuous improvement
• Reporting on key quality metrics and identifying opportunities for improvement

What success looks like

• Safety and quality systems are embedded, understood, and actively used across Rolling Stock
• Third-party and contractor activities are delivered safely and in line with accreditation requirements
• Safety assurance activities are proactive, effective, and lead to measurable improvements
• The team is high-performing, engaged, and continuously developing
• Monthly reporting provides clear insights and drives action across the business
• Stakeholders are informed, engaged, and confident in the safety and quality of our operations

What you'll need to bring

To be successful in this role, you'll bring a combination of relevant qualifications and deep industry experience, including:

• Tertiary qualifications in Safety, Engineering, Quality, Risk Management, or a related discipline
• Extensive experience working within complex safety-critical environments, ideally in rail, transport, or infrastructure
• A strong understanding of integrated Safety and Quality Management Systems, and how to apply them in operational settings
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply relevant legislation, including Occupational Health & Safety and Rail Safety requirements
• Proven experience leading investigations, audits, and risk assessments in technical or engineering environments
• A track record of driving cultural change and continuous improvement in safety and quality performance
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach, develop and inspire a team
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant systems (e.g., Maximo or other CMMS platforms)