Head of Workplace Health and Safety

Questas Careers; Australia; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work

Culture focus

Learning academy

Parental leave

Fitness passport

Novated leasing

Impactful role

Job summary

Questas Group is seeking a capable Head of WHSE to lead a safety reset across a large, decentralised portfolio of 37 sites. You will report to the Chief People Officer and chair the National WHSE Committee, driving measurable safety improvements and executive accountability.

You are a transformation leader with hands-on shop floor credibility, able to influence at Board level and mentor leaders to embed a culture of safety, risk reduction and compliance across the group.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in WHS across industrial, manufacturing or engineering services, including 5+ years leading a national team.
• Proven record of reducing TRIFR through risk and leadership programs.
• Experience leading a safety reset in a multi-site, decentralised business.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead the safety reset: set the national standard, build the change plan and deliver the FY27 Safety Plan.
• Actively manage safety performance every week through live data, site presence and firm follow-up.
• Hold EGMs, GMs and Branch Managers to account for safety performance.
• Get on the floor: visit priority sites, walk the floor with Branch Managers and reps, and coach leaders on safety leadership and investigation quality.
• Oversee serious incidents and ICAM investigations, and manage regulator notifications and relationships.
• Own Board and Executive safety reporting.
• Build the capability of your team and the Group’s leaders so that safety ownership sits with the people who run the work.
• Sponsor key system upgrades, including our safety management system, culture transformation and upskilling the safety training across the group.

Skills

Data-driven safety leadership

Executive presence

Stakeholder influence

Change management

Safety reporting

Education

WHS qualification (Graduate diploma or higher)

Job description

About us

Questas Group is one of Australia’s leading diversified industrial services groups, delivering hydraulic, engineering and industrial solutions to the mining, construction, energy, agriculture and transport sectors. Our portfolio of respected brands combines strong local capability with the strength and scale of a national organisation, with more than 1,100 people across 37 locations.

We are owned by private equity, which makes us a high-growth, performance-focused environment. We move quickly, set clear targets and back people who deliver.

The opportunity

Safety First, Always is the first of our values, and we are resetting how safety is led across the Group.

We are looking for a capable, hands-on and change-focused Head of WHSE to lead that reset. This is a large and complex portfolio: multiple brands, 37 sites and a decentralised operating model. You will be unafraid of that scale and energised by the challenge.

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, you will lead the WHSE function, chair the National WHSE Committee and be accountable to the Executive for the result.

What you’ll do

• Design and lead the safety reset: set the national standard, build the change plan and deliver the FY27 Safety Plan
• Actively manage safety performance every week through live data, site presence and firm follow-up
• Hold EGMs, GMs and Branch Managers to account for safety performance
• Get on the floor: visit priority sites, walk the floor with Branch Managers and reps, and coach leaders on safety leadership and investigation quality
• Oversee serious incidents and ICAM investigations, and manage regulator notifications and relationships
• Own Board and Executive safety reporting
• Build the capability of your team and the Group’s leaders so that safety ownership sits with the people who run the work
• Sponsor key system upgrades, including our safety management system, culture transformation and upskilling the safety training across the group

About you

You are a safety transformation leader who has done this before and can show the results. You are hands-on, visible and credible on the shop floor, and just as confident influencing and challenging at Board and Executive level. You drive change with persistence, follow up relentlessly and genuinely care about sending everyone home safe.

You will bring:

• A tertiary qualification in WHS (graduate diploma or higher)
• 10+ years in WHS across industrial, manufacturing or engineering services, including 5+ years leading a national team
• A proven record of reducing TRIFR through critical risk and leadership programs
• Experience leading a safety reset in a multi-site, decentralised business
• Experience managing regulators across multiple states
• Strong data and reporting skills, and the confidence to hold senior leaders to account with data
• Executive presence and a direct, constructive communication style

Highly regarded: ICAM lead investigator, ISO 45001 lead auditor, a change management or coaching qualification, and experience moving to a centre of excellence model.

What we offer

• Flexibility in how and where you work (note at least 40% of time will be spent across various sites)
• A strong focus on culture, with supportive, close-knit branches across our national network
• Growth and learning through Elevate Academy and our LMS
• Access to paid parental leave
• Fitness Passport
• Novated leasing
• The chance to make a lasting impact in a high-growth, performance-focused business

Ready to lead the reset?

If you’re ready to take on a large, complex portfolio and make a measurable difference to safety across a national business,