Principal Workplace Health and Safety Advisor

DFP Recruitment; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

DFP Recruitment is seeking an experienced Principal Workplace Health and Safety Advisor for a government department in Cairns, at the RAAC facility. You will lead WHS initiatives on site and partner with management to promote a strong safety culture across construction and lean manufacturing environments.

You will audit, investigate, and advise on legislation compliance, SWMS, and safety systems while engaging stakeholders at all levels to ensure proactive risk management.

Qualifications

• Experience in Workplace Health and Safety roles within construction, manufacturing, industrial or similar environments.
• Strong knowledge of WHS legislation and safety management systems.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• The ability to influence and educate teams at all levels.
• Strong investigation, auditing and risk management capabilities.
• Intermediate to advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support workplace health and safety initiatives across the RAAC facility.
• Partner with site forepersons to conduct daily pre-start meetings.
• Ensure SWMS, hazards and high-risk activities are clearly communicated and understood.
• Facilitate monthly Talksafe meetings and workforce safety engagement activities.
• Conduct comprehensive site safety audits across construction delivery lines.
• Investigate incidents, hazards and near misses.
• Provide expert WHS advice and guidance to managers and operational teams.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, Codes of Practice and organisational safety management systems.
• Build positive working relationships that drive a proactive and high-performing safety culture.

Skills

WHS knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Investigation

Auditing

Risk management

Education

Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety

Construction Industry White Card

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

DFP Recruitment is seeking an experienced Principal Workplace Health and Safety Advisor to join This government department in Cairns. This is an exciting opportunity to play a critical role at the Rapid Accommodation and Apprentice Centre (RAAC), a specialised facility delivering innovative modular housing solutions across Queensland.

This unique environment combines the structured discipline of lean manufacturing with the practical realities of the construction industry, making it ideal for WHS professionals from either sector.

About the Role

Working autonomously on site while remaining connected to a broader regional WHS team, you will become the dedicated WHS authority for the facility. You will partner closely with management, forepersons and workers to promote a strong safety culture through education, engagement and practical compliance support.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support workplace health and safety initiatives across the RAAC facility.
• Partner with site forepersons to conduct daily pre-start meetings.
• Ensure Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS), hazards and high-risk activities are clearly communicated and understood.
• Facilitate monthly Talksafe meetings and workforce safety engagement activities.
• Conduct comprehensive site safety audits across construction delivery lines.
• Investigate incidents, hazards and near misses.
• Provide expert WHS advice and guidance to managers and operational teams.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, Codes of Practice and organisational safety management systems.
• Build positive working relationships that drive a proactive and high-performing safety culture.

About You

• Demonstrated experience in Workplace Health and Safety roles within construction, manufacturing, industrial or similar environments.
• Strong knowledge of WHS legislation and safety management systems.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• The ability to influence and educate teams at all levels.
• Strong investigation, auditing and risk management capabilities.
• Intermediate to advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Mandatory Requirements

• Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety.
• Construction Industry White Card.
• Current Driver Licence.
• Proven WHS experience in a comparable environment.

If you're a proactive WHS professional looking for your next contract opportunity in Cairns, we'd love to hear from you.

DFP welcomes applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and people with disability. In addition, DFP will provide reasonable adjustments for individuals with disability throughout the recruitment process. If you identify as a person with disability and require adjustments to the application, recruitment, selection and/or assessment process, please advise [e-mail]1300 337 000and indicate your preferred method of communication (email, phone, text) so we can keep in touch and meet your accessibility needs.