Safety and Wellness Manager

Animal Welfare League QLD; Gold Coast City; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fleet vehicle for site travel

Discounts on veterinary services

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Opportunity to build safety function

Job summary

Animal Welfare League of Queensland (AWLQ) on the Gold Coast seeks a Safety and Wellness Manager to shape the new WHS function, leading strategy, coaching managers, and building systems to protect people and animals. Location is Coombabah with travel to SEQ sites.

Reporting to the Head of Human Resources, you will drive governance, training, risk analytics, audits, and emergency planning, embedding safety across AWLQ.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Advanced Diploma in Work Health & Safety or equivalent.
• Fire Safety Advisor Qualification.
• Demonstrated experience in a WHS leadership role, ideally five years or more.
• Strong knowledge of WHS legislation, regulation and Codes of Practice.
• Excellent communication, advisory, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and WHS management software systems.
• A valid driver's licence and willingness to travel regularly across SEQ.
• Experience in the not-for-profit sector.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Governance and Systems Leadership: Develop and continuously improve the AWLQ Work Health & Safety Strategy and Management System ensuring compliance.
• Culture and Capability Building: Design training frameworks, awareness campaigns, and WHS committee initiatives.
• Enterprise Risk and Analytics: Own high-level risk frameworks and deliver dashboards and predictive analytics for KPIs.
• Compliance, Auditing and Assurance: Direct internal audit programs and proactive risk assessments.
• Organisational Resilience and Integration: Lead emergency planning, incident governance and alignment with safety initiatives.

Skills

WHS leadership

Knowledge of WHS legislation

Communication

Advisory skills

Negotiation

Interpersonal skills

Driver's licence & willingness to trav

Not-for-profit sector experience

Education

Diploma or Advanced Diploma in Work Health & Safety

Fire Safety Advisor Qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

WHS management software

Job description

NFP | Permanent Full-Time | Animal Welfare League of Queensland

Located in Coombabah on the Gold Coast, with travel to other AWLQ sites across South East Queensland.

About Us

At Animal Welfare League of Queensland (AWLQ), our vision is for every companion animal to have a safe and caring environment where their needs are met. We are driven by a commitment to integrity, compassion, innovation, and optimism. As a leader in the animal welfare sector, we're dedicated to a brighter future for both animals and our community.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Head of Human Resources, our new Safety and Wellness Manager will be the driving force behind a proactive safety culture at AWLQ. This is the first dedicated safety and wellness role in the organisation, so you'll be shaping it from the ground up: leading our WHS strategy, coaching managers across every site, and building the systems that protect our people while they protect our animals. If you're a safety leader who can influence, collaborate and bring people with you, this is a genuine opportunity to make your mark.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Governance and Systems Leadership: Spearhead the development and continuous improvement of the AWLQ Work Health & Safety Strategy and Management System, ensuring full compliance with legislation and industry standards.
• Culture and Capability Building: Design and drive organisation-wide training frameworks, awareness campaigns, and WHS committee initiatives that foster proactive worker consultation, safety consciousness, and leadership coaching.
• Enterprise Risk and Analytics: Own high-level risk identification frameworks and leverage data-driven reporting suites, dashboards, and predictive analytics to monitor KPIs and inform executive decision-making.
• Compliance, Auditing and Assurance:Direct internal audit programs and proactive risk assessment initiatives, partnering with line management to implement robust, enterprise-wide control measures.
• Organisational Resilience and Integration: Guide overarching emergency planning, high-level incident governance, and strategic alignment with injury prevention, rehabilitation, and workplace agreements.

Essential Skills and Attributes

• Diploma or Advanced Diploma in Work Health & Safety, or equivalent professional experience.
• Fire Safety Advisor Qualification
• Demonstrated experience in a WHS leadership role, ideally five years or more
• Strong knowledge of WHS legislation, regulation and Codes of Practice
• Excellent communication, advisory, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and WHS management software systems
• A valid driver's licence and willingness to travel regularly across SEQ (fleet vehicle provided)
• Experience in the not-for-profit sector

We Offer

• Fleet vehicle for site travel
• Discounts on veterinary services
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• The chance to build a safety function from the ground up, with genuine executive support

Equity

Diversity and inclusion are the principles guiding how we build our teams, cultivate our leaders and build a culture of belonging where differences are valued.