Head of WHSE

Our Pact Packaging division is pioneering a whole of product life cycle approach to sustainable packaging. Partnering with global brands to local dairy producers, we integrate supply chain efficiencies and sustainable practices into everything we design and manufacture.

About this opportunity

We specialise in the manufacture and supply of rigid plastic and metal packaging servicing for the consumer and industrial sectors.

As the Divisional Head of Workplace Health, Safety and Environment you will be responsible for the implementation of the Group health, safety and environmental strategy, management system and programs within Pact's packaging division. The role requires close collaboration with senior leaders, site managers, and WHSE teams to instil a culture of safety excellence, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive continuous improvement.

Your key responsibilities will be:

-Strategic Leadership: Responsible for developing and executing the Division's WHSE program aligning it with overarching objectives and values.

-Acting as the subject matter expert for the Group for assigned WHSE elements and leading the development and deployment of associated policy, procedures, systems and programs.

-Safety Culture: Promoting and nurturing a strong safety culture through heightened awareness, engagement, and continuous improvement efforts. Coaching and influencing the Division Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the WHSE personnel to be effective safety leaders.

-Risk Management: Identifying, assessing, and mitigating workplace hazards specific to the Division's activities.  Ensuring all sites have a current risk assessment and regular site inspections and observations are conducted to ensure effective hazard control measures are in place with a focus on critical risk areas, including machinery safety, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures, traffic management, chemical safety, and working at height protocols.

-Compliance Assurance: Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of health, safety and environmental regulations and ensure Division-wide compliance through a program of audits and compliance checks.  Act as the interface with regulatory authorities when necessary

-Incident Reporting and Investigation: Responsible for the comprehensive management of high-risk events and notifiable incidents, ensuring they are reported within the required timeframes and providing support to sites in incident investigations and corrective actions.

-Training and Education: Oversee the development and delivery of tailored WHSE training programs at all levels within the Division. This encompasses employees, contractors, and visitors to ensure comprehensive education on WHSE matters.

-Procedural Development and Improvement: Create and maintain all Division-specific health and safety procedures and guidelines. These protocols should complement the Group procedures and continually reflect industry best practices and legal requirements.

-Coaching: Provide "on the ground" support within the Division for specialised WHSE tasks, such as risk assessments and complex solutions identification. The approach should focus on enhancing the WHSE capability of the site WHSE personnel and leadership teams.

-Reporting: Prepare and present monthly reports on WHSE performance

Your skills and experience

To be successful in this role, you'll have:

• Extensive knowledge of Australian WHS and environmental legislation
• Proven experience in a senior WHSE role within manufacturing or industrial sectors
• Strong leadership and change management skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities
• Analytical skills for incident investigation and risk assessment
• Experience with WHSE management systems (e.g., ISO 45001, ISO 14001)
• Ability to influence and drive cultural transformation

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, or related field
• Postgraduate qualifications in HSE or Risk Management (desirable)
• Certification in Lead Auditing (e.g., ISO 45001, ISO 14001)
• First Aid and Emergency Response Training
• Membership with professional bodies (e.g., AIHS, EIANZ) is advantageous

About us

Our vision is to lead the circular economy through packaging, reuse and recycling solutions. It's a future-driven group commitment, designed to create lasting value.

We're the largest plastics recycler in Australia and New Zealand and one of the region's biggest user of recycled materials. We have 6,000+ team members, operate 110 manufacturing facilities across 15 countries, and our customers include some of the world's largest brands that consumers know and trust.

As a global leader in circular and sustainable packaging solutions, we've committed to lead the circular economy through a $500 million investment plan. 

For us, it's about finding new and better ways of doing things. Ways to grow business, to give back to the environment and to enrich people's lives every day.

Our promise is to create a better and more prosperous world all round.

That's our future Pact. Let's lead the way together.