Director & Chief Safety Engineer

Queensland Government; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 200,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Queensland Government seeks a Director and Chief Safety Engineer to lead the Engineering Services unit, a multidisciplinary team that supports high‑risk plant design, major amusement parks, safety investigations and regulatory compliance. The role requires tertiary engineering qualifications, professional registration eligibility, and a proven leadership track in safety‑critical environments.

You will develop strategies, oversee complex investigations and licensing decisions, and engage with

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in mechanical, civil or structural engineering or a closely related discipline is mandatory.
• Registration or eligibility to register as a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland is mandatory.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing professional or technical teams in a regulated or safety‑critical environment will be highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coordinate and monitor the Engineering Services unit, setting priorities and ensuring resources align with strategic objectives.
• Provide expert technical advice on complex occupational safety and engineering matters.
• Oversee incident investigations involving structural, electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and other systems and prepare expert reports.
• Oversee design registration of high‑risk plants and licensing of major amusement parks, assess applications against standards, and contribute to reviews.
• Develop prevention, enforcement and intervention strategies in response to workplace risks and emerging technologies.
• Represent the organisation at government, industry and standards forums and build relationships with stakeholders.

Education

Tertiary qualification in mechanical, civil or structural engineering or a closely related discipline

Job description

The Director and Chief Safety Engineer leads the Engineering Services unit, a multidisciplinary team with expertise across construction, mechanical, civil, electrical and electronic systems engineering.Underpinned by a strong culture of collaboration and professional support, the engineering unit provides technical advice, training, auditing and regulatory support in relation to high-risk plant design applications, major amusement parks, plant and construction safety, incident investigations and emerging technologies.As the Director and Chief Safety Engineer, you will:- Lead, coordinate and monitor the Engineering Services unit, setting priorities, managing competing demands and ensuring its people and resources are aligned with OlR's strategic objectives.- Provide expert technical advice on complex occupational safety and engineering matters.- Oversee technical aspects of incident investigations involving structural, material, electrical, electronic, mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, prepare expert reports and appear as an expert witness where required within your area of expertise.- Oversee the regulatory requirements for the design registration of high-risk plant and licensing of major amusement parks, assess applications against relevant technical standards and contribute to licensing and incident notification reviews.- Develop prevention, enforcement and intervention strategies in response to workplace risks and emerging technologies.- Represent OIR and Work Health and Safety Queensland at government, industry, professional and standards-development forums.- Build effective relationships with manufacturers, contractors, professional engineering bodies, regulatory organisations and internal stakeholders including the Electrical Safety Office.About youMandatory qualifications/conditions include:- Tertiary qualification in mechanical, civil or structural engineering or a closely related discipline.- Registration or eligibility to register as a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland with the Board of Professional Engineers Queensland.We are looking for an experienced engineering leader with a strong record of applying technical expertise to improve safety outcomes across a complex, regulated or safety-critical environment. A working knowledge of workplace health and safety legislation and regulatory processes will be highly regarded.Your experience will include leading and developing high-performing professional or technical teams, managing competing priorities and operating effectively at both strategic and operational levels. Your leadership style is collaborative, approachable and consultative. You build trust, encourage contribution and create a positive culture in which experienced professionals can perform at their best.Highly developed communication skills are essential, including the ability to explain complex matters to senior public officials, courts, industry leaders, professional peers and other stakeholders. You will be able to interpret technical evidence, research, policy, legislation and standards and translate them into practical strategies and clear advice.Please see the position description for further information.Applications to remain current for 12 monthsThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License.