Health & Safety Senior Business Partner

RMIT University Employees, Location, Alumni; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Hybrid work

17% Superannuation

Job summary

RMIT University seeks a Health & Safety Senior Business Partner to lead complex OHS consultancy, risk management and program development. You will develop training, report on health and safety performance, and partner with senior leaders to embed safety into strategy, operations and culture.

The role requires strong legislative knowledge, a tertiary OH&S qualification, and experience in complex environments. Hybrid work is available in Melbourne.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of health and safety legislation, risk management and incident investigation.
• Experience in higher education, research, clinical or similarly complex environments.
• Ability to analyse complex OHS issues and develop practical solutions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven experience leading H&S projects and training initiatives.
• Ability to produce clear reports and documentation.
• Collaborative, flexible and able to work independently within a client-focused team.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert OHS advice, complex consultancy and risk management guidance.
• Lead incident investigations and regulatory interventions using ICAM.
• Partner with senior leaders to embed health and safety into strategy, operations and culture.
• Develop and maintain H&S procedures, tools and plans aligned with legislative requirements.
• Analyse H&S data and provide insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Conduct audits and inspections to identify and address compliance and performance risks.
• Monitor H&S metrics, data quality and regulatory requirements.
• Support regulatory engagement, external audits and compliance assessments.
• Advise executives on OHS legislation, policies and responsibilities.
• Facilitate consultation with HSRs, safety committees and governance groups.
• Build organisational H&S capability through coaching and training sessions.
• Lead cross-functional H&S projects and enterprise-wide campaigns.
• Analyse H&S data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.

Skills

OHS compliance

Incident investigation

Stakeholder management

Training delivery

Data analysis

Auditing

Education

Tertiary qualification in occupational health and safety

Tools

ISO 45001

Job description

Overview:

• Full-time, Continuing position
• Hew 8+ 17% Superannuation and Flexible Working Arrangements
• Based at the Melbourne CBD & Brunswick campus, and hybrid ways of working

About the role

The Health & Safety Senior Business Partner is a specialist role responsible for managing a range of complex health and safety consultancies covering a wide range of legislation and risks. The role will encompass the management of key projects as identified by clients and legislative changes as well as the review, development and implementation of innovative health and safety strategies, policies and programs.

The development and delivery of health and safety training packages and information sessions as well as regular reporting, analysis and monitoring of health and safety performance are also key aspects of the role.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide expert OHS advice, complex consultancy and risk management guidance.
• Lead incident investigations and regulatory interventions using structured methodologies such as ICAM.
• Partner with senior leaders to embed health and safety into strategy, operations and culture.
• Develop and maintain H&S procedures, tools and plans aligned with legislative requirements.
• Analyse H&S data and provide insights and recommendations to senior leadership
• Conduct audits and inspections to identify and address compliance and performance risks.
• Monitor H&S metrics, data quality and emerging legislative/regulatory requirements.
• Support regulatory engagement, external audits and compliance assessments.
• Advise executives and managers on OHS legislation, policies and responsibilities.
• Facilitate consultation with HSRs, safety committees and governance groups.
• Build organisational H&S capability through coaching, training and targeted information sessions.
• Provide H&S expertise across cross-functional initiatives, new facilities, equipment and processes
• Lead and contribute to H&S projects, initiatives and enterprise-wide campaigns.
• Analyse H&S data to identify trends, emerging risks and improvement opportunities.

To be successful in this position, you’ll have:

• Strong knowledge of health and safety legislation, risk management, hazard identification and incident investigation (e.g. ICAM).
• Experience in higher education, research, clinical or similarly complex environments.
• Proven ability to analyse complex H&S issues and develop practical, effective solutions.
• Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to drive change and build a positive safety culture.
• Experience leading H&S projects, continuous improvement initiatives, training and safety communications.
• Ability to produce clear, high-quality reports, policies, proposals and investigation/audit documentation.
• Collaborative, flexible and able to work independently within a client-focused team.
• Relevant tertiary qualification in occupational health and safety, or equivalent experience.
• Desirable: Experience with ISO 45001/digital safety systems, psychosocial safety and ergonomics, plus training or qualifications in facilitation, auditing, investigations or coaching.

Note: Appointment to this position is subject to passing a Working with Children and National Police Check.

About the Portfolio

The Health, Safety & Risk (HSR) team are a team of strategic professionals providing outstanding, client focused, proactive and effective solutions and services for all RMIT staff. Our success is achieved by understanding our business and operating as a business partner to our clients. We deliver responsive, innovative and practical solutions and services. The HSR team operate in a manner that supports the RMIT values and achievement of the business objectives. By providing tailored, quality services and products and ensuring a high level of expert support and advice, the HSR team will enhance College/Portfolio and Groups ability to meet their business objectives. Thisin turn will allow the University staff to better support the current and future student population at the University.

Position Description

Applications Close:

7 Nov 2026 11.59 pm

RMIT is an equal opportunity employer committed to being a child safe organisation. We are dedicated to attracting, retaining and developing our people regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and age. Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community, and we strongly encourage applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

In line with RMIT University’s commitment to a safe, respectful and inclusive environment, from 1 January 2026, the University will also consider gender-based violence (GBV) risk factors as part of our recruitment processes. All applicants will be required to complete a gender‑based violence declaration in accordance with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence. Preferred candidates will also be required to undertake relevant pre‑employment background checks, including Working With Children Checks. Information provided will be treated confidentially and considered only for its relevance to the role and RMIT’s safety obligations.

At RMIT, we are committed to supporting adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, as well as during employment. We actively support and encourage people with disability to apply to RMIT (including alternate formats of application forms). To discuss adjustment requirements, please contact Dani, via [e-mail] or visit our Careers page for more contact information - https://www.rmit.edu.au/careers.

We are a Circle Back Initiative Employer – we commit to respond to every applicant.