Head of Safety, Quality & Continuous Improvement

at; Council of the City of Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global company in Sydney is looking for a Head of Safety, Quality & Continuous Improvement to drive strategic initiatives and foster a culture of safety and continuous improvement across Australia and New Zealand. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in high-risk industries, with strong leadership skills and a passion for operational excellence. This role involves leading a dedicated team, managing safety and quality processes, and implementing strategic objectives for business impact.

Benefits

Innovative and collaborative working culture

Opportunities for career and personal growth

Qualifications

• 10+ years in senior Safety, Quality and Compliance roles within high-risk industries.
• Proven ability to lead diverse teams and influence at executive and board level.
• Strong knowledge of Safety and Quality legislation, risk management, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategic direction for Safety, Quality, and Continuous Improvement with a people-centric approach.
• Lead a team of Safety and Quality Managers across ANZ.
• Implement and maintain robust safety and quality management systems.
• Develop and manage risk management systems to protect people and assets.

Skills

Strategic decision-making

Stakeholder engagement

Change leadership

Education

Tertiary qualifications in OH&S, Quality, Science, or related discipline

Job description

Head of Safety, Quality & Continuous Improvement

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Lead Strategic Transformation Across ANZ
KONE is a global leader in innovative solutions for elevators and escalators. We are seeking a Head of SQ&CI – ANZ, a senior leadership role responsible for defining and executing the safety, quality, and continuous improvement strategy across Australia and New Zealand. This position offers the opportunity to influence organisational culture, drive operational excellence, and deliver measurable business impact

Purpose of the Role

The Head of SQ&CI will:

• Drive strategic direction for Safety, Quality, and Continuous Improvement (SQ&CI) with a people-centric approach.
• Lead a team of Safety and Quality Managers across ANZ to embed a strong safety and quality culture.
• Establish and maintain standards that deliver operational excellence in risk management and compliance.
• Partner with business leaders to grow capability and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Use data-driven insights to create impactful actions for safety, quality, and CI development.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Culture

• Advocate and drive KONE’s culture of safety, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Lead and inspire the Safety and Quality team to deliver strategic objectives.
• Coach and mentor operational leaders to strengthen health and safety competencies.
• Ensure alignment with KONE’s values and competency frameworks.

Safety & Quality Management

• Implement and maintain robust safety and quality management systems.
• Drive development and execution of quality processes, methods, and KPIs.
• Conduct strategic analysis of performance data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Monitor corrective and preventive actions and ensure timely resolution.
• Lead or support SQ&CI-related change management initiatives.

Safety Assurance

• Develop and manage risk management and reporting systems to protect people and assets.
• Ensure rigorous incident investigation and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Set safety targets and develop annual safety budgets aligned with global guidelines.
• Drive continual improvement through audits, incident reviews, and best practice sharing.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement using LEAN, Six Sigma, and best practices.
• Lead change initiatives and process enhancements across all functions.
• Use data analytics to identify improvement opportunities and implement solutions.
• Build organisational capability through coaching and knowledge sharing.

Executive Profile

• Experience: 10+ years in senior Safety, Quality and Compliance roles within high-risk industries.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead diverse teams and influence at executive and board level.
• Expertise: Strong knowledge of Safety and Quality legislation, risk management, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Education: Tertiary qualifications in OH&S, Quality, Science, or related discipline.
• Skills: Strategic decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and change leadership.

At KONE, we are focused on creating an innovative and collaborative working culture where we value the contribution of each individual. Employee engagement is a key focus area for us and we encourage participation and the sharing of information and ideas. Sustainability is an integral part of our culture and the daily practice. We follow ethical business practices and we seek to develop a culture of working together where co-workers trust and respect each other and good performance is recognized. In being a great place to work, we are proud to offer a range of experiences and opportunities that will help you to achieve your career and personal goals and enable you to live a healthy and balanced life.