Safety Advisor

South East Water; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 108,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

15 weeks parental leave

Health checks

Job summary

South East Water is seeking a passionate Safety Advisor to embed best-practice safety systems across diverse operations. You’ll coach leaders, identify hazards with frontline teams, and lead ICAM-based investigations to drive meaningful safety improvements.

This role focuses on proactive risk management, audits, and continuous safety system enhancements, while influencing a culture of safe, sustainable practices across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in WHS, Occupational Health, Risk Management or similar.
• Strong knowledge of safety legislation, standards and risk management frameworks.
• Experience in high-risk or operational industries (utilities, construction, manufacturing or similar).
• Proven ability to influence leaders and engage teams to take ownership of safety.
• Confidence leading investigations, audits and assurance activities.
• Ability to translate complex safety concepts into simple, practical actions.
• Strong stakeholder engagement across diverse groups and business units.
• Systems thinking and ability to diagnose gaps and design sustainable solutions.
• Sound judgement, resilience and adaptability in changing environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice and coaching on workplace health and safety.
• Partner with operational teams to identify hazards and implement effective controls.
• Lead incident investigations using ICAM methodology and drive corrective actions.
• Conduct audits, inspections and safety observations across sites and delivery partners.
• Monitor safety performance trends and take proactive steps to prevent incidents.
• Facilitate risk assessments and strengthen critical risk management practices.
• Support and continuously improve safety systems, processes and documentation.
• Influence stakeholders and champion safety as a core organisational value.
• Contribute to emergency response and after-hours safety support when required.

Skills

Influence leaders

Safety audits

Incident investigations

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Systems thinking

Judgement and resilience

Collaborative mindset

Education

WH&S/OHS/ Risk Mgmt qualification

Job description

Who are we?

We’re here to help people live well and create a better and more sustainable future. We support healthy and liveable communities by delivering water, sewerage and recycled water services to 1.77 million people who rely on us every day and every night. At South East Water, we innovate with purpose and act with care to deliver healthy water for life. Fresh thinking and collaboration are at the heart of our organisation. We are constantly learning, embracing the challenges of today and excited by the opportunities that tomorrow will bring.

About the role

If you’re looking to make a real impact where it matters most, then join South East Water, a leading water utility, and play a critical role in keeping people, communities and essential services safe.

As a Safety Advisor, you’ll be at the heart of driving a proactive safety culture across diverse operational environments. Partnering closely with leaders and frontline teams, you’ll embed best-practice safety systems, influence behaviour, and deliver practical solutions that reduce risk and keep everyone safe.

In this dynamic, hands-on role, you will:

• Provide expert advice and coaching on workplace health and safety
• Partner with operational teams to identify hazards and implement effective controls
• Lead incident investigations using ICAM methodology and drive meaningful corrective actions
• Conduct audits, inspections and safety observations across sites and delivery partners
• Monitor safety performance trends and take proactive steps to prevent incidents
• Facilitate risk assessments and strengthen critical risk management practices
• Support and continuously improve safety systems, processes and documentation
• Influence stakeholders and champion safety as a core organisational value
• Contribute to emergency response and after-hours safety support when required

This is a role where you won’t just advise—you’ll shape, influence and make a tangible difference every day.

Who are you?

You’re a passionate safety professional who thrives in complex, operational environments and knows how to turn safety theory into real-world outcomes.

You bring:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in WHS, Occupational Health, Risk Management or similar
• Strong knowledge of safety legislation, standards and risk management frameworks
• Experience in high-risk or operational industries (utilities, construction, manufacturing or similar)
• Proven ability to influence leaders and engage teams to take ownership of safety
• Confidence leading investigations, audits and assurance activities
• A talent for translating complex safety concepts into simple, practical actions
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills across diverse groups and business units
• Systems thinking and the ability to diagnose gaps and design sustainable solutions
• Sound judgement, resilience and adaptability in a changing environment
• A collaborative mindset with a genuine commitment to continuous improvement

Above all, you’re someone who leads by example, builds trust, and is driven to create safer workplaces for everyone.

What's in it for you?

Working at South East Water means you can enjoy a wealth of benefits, starting with the chance to be part of an organisation deeply committed to environmental initiatives and sustainability; one who has been recognised as one of the top 101 Workplaces for Women in Australia by Work180 for the past two consecutive years and a 2026 Finalist in the Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards ‘Flexible Working’ category.

South East Water cultivates a dynamic culture that emphasises collaboration and strong work ethics, supported by career-focused learning and development opportunities. As a SEW employee, you can enjoy the following offerings from our benefits package:

• Access to My Fitness Passport, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), annual flu shots, and health checks.
• Work-life balance with flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work options and leave purchasing.
• 15 weeks paid parental leave and paid superannuation on eligible portions of unpaid parental leave.
• Additional leave offerings, such as cultural and ceremonial leave and study leave.
• Head office with modern facilities and panoramic beachfront views, a separate parents' room, a prayer and meditation room and an onsite cafe.
• Limited free onsite and offsite car parking available, as well as pay-as-you-go parking options nearby.
• Opportunity to be part of great initiatives involving the local community.

A competitive salary range of between $107,748 to $115,820 + super is on offer and offers are commensurate with the successful candidate's skills and experience.

We're for everyone

Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. It makes us better learners, thinkers and collaborators, helping create better outcomes for our customers.

We are deeply committed to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ individuals, people with disability and jobseekers of all ages and cultures. We aim to provide an inclusive, accessible workplace where everyone is welcome, safe, and celebrated. If you need any help with the application process or would like to discuss your reasonable adjustments during interviews, please reach out to our Talent team at [e-mail].

Keen to make an impact?

We're accepting applications for this exciting opportunity until Sunday 18 October 2026!

To be considered for this opportunity, you must hold unrestricted working rights for the period of employment at the time of application. Successful candidates will also be required to undergo a number of pre-employment checks, including a police records check

South East Water operates a 24/7 service environment. Whilst this role does not involve after-hours rostered duty, all employees may be required to provide out of hours support from time to time as required.

Visit southeastwater.com.au to learn more about us and how we serve our customers.