Director Specialist Harm Prevention

SafeWork NSW; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 230,000 - 281,000; Full time

Job summary

SafeWork NSW is seeking a Director Specialist Harm Prevention to lead expert technical teams delivering regulatory responses to harms and hazards, focusing on prevention, early intervention and outcomes for workers and employers across NSW.

You will operate at the intersection of regulation, compliance and stakeholder engagement, exercising sound judgement and building trustworthy relationships in a high‑profile, sensitive environment.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in work health and safety, regulation or compliance.
• Strong understanding of risk-based regulation and evidence-informed harm prevention approaches.
• Ability to operate in high-risk, politically visible environments with integrity.
• Experience influencing diverse stakeholders with competing perspectives and priorities.
• A collaborative leadership style that builds trust and capability across teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead specialist harm functions with a contemporary risk-based regulatory approach.
• Oversee the design and delivery of targeted harm prevention regulatory programs.
• Provide authoritative advice to senior leaders and external stakeholders on regulatory matters.
• Build productive relationships with workers, employers, unions, health professionals and government partners.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams in an inclusive, high-profile environment.

Skills

Senior leadership

Regulation

Stakeholder engagement

Risk-based regulation

Public sector governance

Education

Tertiary qualifications or equivalent

Job description

Lead regulatory responses to harm prevention

• Public Service Senior Executive Band 1
• Parramatta or Sydney (flexible working arrangements available)
• Total Remuneration Package starting from $255,301, commensurate with experience

Make a real impact where it matters most

As Director Specialist Harm Prevention, you will lead expert technical teams in the delivery of SafeWork NSW’s regulatory response to a range of harms and hazards—including how we prevent harm, intervene early and support better outcomes for workers and employers across NSW.

This is a high‑impact senior executive role operating at the intersection of regulation, compliance, and worker and employer engagement, requiring strong judgement, influence and a deep commitment to public value.

What you’ll lead

In this role, you will:

• Lead the delivery of SafeWork NSW’s specialist harm functions, ensuring a contemporary, risk‑based approach to harm prevention and compliance.
• Support the design and delivery of targeted harm prevention regulatory programs addressing harms involving hazardous substances including silica and asbestos and within the occupational health environment, particularly in high‑risk or complex environments.
• Oversee frontline delivery to ensure timely, proportionate and consistent regulatory responses to incidents, reports and service requests.
• Establish strong governance, assurance and operational standards that lift regulatory capability, consistency and confidence across work activities.
• Provide authoritative advice to senior leaders, government and external stakeholders on specialist harm prevention technical and operational safety matters and regulatory practice.
• Build productive relationships with workers, employers, unions, health professionals and government partners to support early intervention, capability uplift and shared solutions.
• Lead and develop high‑performing teams, fostering a positive, inclusive, accountable culture in a sensitive, high‑profile and often contested regulatory environment.

What you’ll bring

We’re looking for a senior leader who combines regulatory expertise, credibility and strong people leadership.

You will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience in work health and safety, regulation or compliance, or a closely related field.
• Strong understanding of risk‑based regulation and the application of evidence‑informed approaches to complex harm prevention challenges.
• Proven ability to operate confidently in high‑risk, sensitive and politically visible environments, exercising sound judgement and integrity.
• Experience influencing and partnering with diverse stakeholders with competing perspectives and priorities.
• A collaborative leadership style that builds trust, capability and consistency across multidisciplinary teams.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications and/or equivalent senior‑level experience.

Experience within a regulator is not essential—what matters is your ability to lead complex regulatory interventions and deliver better outcomes for workers and workplaces.

SafeWork NSW is the state’s work health and safety regulator. Our purpose is to protect workers by preventing and reducing work‑related fatalities, serious injuries and illness and by securing compliance with work health and safety legislation.

As a modern, trusted and standalone regulator this role offers the opportunity to:

• Influence how NSW responds to work health safety risks and hazards
• Shape regulatory practice in an evolving and high‑impact policy area
• Lead meaningful, purpose‑driven work with system‑wide impact
• Be part of an inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve

Interested?