National Contractor Safety Lead

The Safe Step; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Safe Step is seeking a contractor management specialist to lead governance, assurance and compliance across a national, high‑risk operating environment. You will partner with operational leaders to strengthen safety performance and drive consistent contractor standards.

You will bring extensive experience in contractor management across complex sites, a thorough understanding of governance frameworks, and the ability to influence leaders to ensure legislative and site obligations are met.

Qualifications

• Experience in contractor management across large, high‑risk environments.
• Strong knowledge of contractor assurance, governance and compliance.
• Experience onboarding, verification, and performance monitoring of contractors.
• Deep understanding of contractor risk management and critical controls.
• Ability to influence operational leaders and drive accountability.
• Solid knowledge of Australian WHS legislation and contractor obligations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of the Contractor Management Framework.
• Drive contractor prequalification, onboarding, assurance and compliance programs.
• Conduct contractor audits, reviews and verification activities.
• Support operational leaders to manage contractor related risks.
• Strengthen contractor safety capability and performance across the business.
• Analyse contractor performance data and identify improvement opportunities.
• Participate in major incident investigations involving contractors.
• Ensure contractor activities meet governance and legislative requirements.

Skills

Contractor management

Governance & compliance

Audits & verification

Risk management

Stakeholder influence

WH S knowledge

Job description

The Organisation

As an ASX listed industry leader with operations across Australia, this organisation delivers essential services through a diverse operational network and contractor workforce. Safety is a core business priority, with significant investment being made in systems, governance and capability to support operational excellence and effective risk management.

About the Opportunity

This is not a traditional safety leadership role.We are seeking a contractor management specialist with deep expertise in contractor governance, assurance and compliance across large, operationally complex environments.

Working as part of a national HSE team, you will be responsible for leading and continuously improving the organisation's contractor management framework. You will partner with operational leaders across a diverse national footprint to strengthen contractor safety performance, improve assurance activities and drive consistent contractor management standards.

This role will suit someone who has spent a significant part of their career building, implementing or governing contractor management programs within sectors such as infrastructure, utilities, transport, resources, industrial services, construction, logistics or other contractor intensive environments.

What you will be doing

• Lead the ongoing development and implementation of the Contractor Management Framework
• Drive contractor prequalification, onboarding, assurance and compliance programs
• Conduct contractor audits, reviews and verification activities
• Support operational leaders to effectively manage contractor related risks
• Strengthen contractor safety capability and performance across the business
• Analyse contractor performance data and identify improvement opportunities
• Participate in major incident investigations involving contractors
• Ensure contractor activities meet legislative, governance and business requirements

What we are looking for

This role requires someone who is genuinely recognised for their contractor management expertise.You may currently be working in a contractor management, contractor assurance, contractor governance, contractor safety or critical risk role and have extensive experience managing complex contractor workforces across multiple sites.

You will likely bring

• Extensive contractor management experience within large, high risk or operationally intensive environments
• Strong knowledge of contractor assurance, governance and compliance frameworks
• Experience managing contractor onboarding, verification, performance monitoring and audits
• A deep understanding of contractor related risk management and critical controls
• The ability to influence operational leaders and drive accountability
• Strong working knowledge of Australian WHS legislation and contractor obligations

Why This Role Is Different

Many organisations talk about contractor management as part of a broader safety role.In this position, contractor management is the role. You will be the recognised subject matter expert, helping shape how contractor risks are managed across a large and geographically dispersed operation while influencing the standards, systems and behaviours that support safe contractor performance nationwide.