Safety Manager

Inland Rail; Sydney; On-site; AUD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Inland Rail is delivering a major 1,600km freight line across Australia. The Safety Manager – Delivery will lead the implementation of the Safety Management System across project teams, ensuring compliance and driving improvements in workplace safety and rail safety performance.

Reporting to the I2S leadership team, you will partner with Project Directors and contractors to promote a strong safety culture, embed risk controls, and provide expert guidance on incident investigations and safety

Qualifications

• Senior safety leadership experience on multidisciplinary projects.
• Strong knowledge of WHS legislation, standards and codes of practice.
• Experience implementing safety management systems in large-scale delivery.
• Knowledge of incident investigation methodologies, including human factors.
• Ability to analyse safety performance data and report insights.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Rail industry or major infrastructure project experience.
• Knowledge of rail safety legislation and network rules.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of workplace health and rail safety frameworks across project delivery teams.
• Provide expert WHS and rail safety advice to Project Directors, leadership teams and delivery partners.
• Coach and mentor project teams to foster a proactive and positive safety culture through observations, inspections and risk management.
• Lead safety assurance, surveillance and audit activities to identify risks and drive corrective actions.
• Ensure contractor management systems align with Inland Rail safety requirements and regulatory obligations.
• Support safety-in-design reviews and assurance processes to manage risks.
• Lead or support incident investigations and implement practical recommendations.
• Oversee WHS and rail safety initiatives with effective action tracking.

Skills

WHS legislation

Senior safety leadership

Incident investigation

Safety culture

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Tertiary qualification in Workplace Health & Safety

Job description

Inland Rail Pty Ltd is delivering a 1,600km freight line that is transforming how goods are moved around Australia. When fully operational, Inland Rail will connect Melbourne to Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. As one of the largest infrastructure projects in Australia, Inland Rail is helping to address the nation's future freight needs and meet the demands of our growing population.

Delivering Inland Rail will help shift more goods onto rail which means safer, less congested roads and fewer emissions and a more resilient and sustainable national freight network.

More information relating to the project can be found here: Inland Rail

About the opportunity

Safety Manager - Delivery

• I2S (Illabo to Stockinbingal) section
• 18 Month Fixed-Term Contract
• Weekly Site Presence Required

Help Deliver One of Australia's Largest Infrastructure Projects

This is a unique opportunity to influence safety outcomes on a complex infrastructure program, ensuring the highest standards of workplace health, safety and rail safety are embedded across project teams and delivery partners.

Reporting to the I2S Leadership team, you will oversee the effective implementation of Inland Rail's Safety Management System across project delivery teams while acting as the key point of contact for project safety support and assurance.

You will partner closely with Project Directors, functional leaders, contractors and delivery teams to promote a positive safety culture, manage critical safety risks and ensure compliance with legislative, regulatory and operational rail safety requirements.

This role requires regular engagement with project teams and contractors, including weekly site presence, to provide visible leadership and drive continuous improvement across safety performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of workplace health and rail safety frameworks across project delivery teams.
• Provide expert WHS and rail safety advice to Project Directors, leadership teams and delivery partners.
• Coach and mentor project teams to foster a proactive and positive safety culture through observations, inspections and critical risk management.
• Lead safety assurance, surveillance and audit activities to identify risks, drive corrective actions and promote continuous improvement.
• Ensure contractor management systems align with Inland Rail safety requirements, regulatory obligations and project-specific needs.
• Support safety-in-design reviews and assurance processes to ensure risks are identified, assessed and managed SFAIRP.
• Lead or support incident investigations, ensuring thorough analysis of contributing and human factors, and the implementation of practical recommendations.
• Oversee WHS and rail safety initiatives, ensuring actions are effectively tracked and completed.
• Champion consistency in the oversight and assurance of safeworking practices across contractor and project teams.
• Drive compliance with Inland Rail's Safety Management System (SMS), Environmental Management System (EMS) and Integrated Management System (IMS).

About you

You are an experienced safety professional who is passionate about creating high-performing safety cultures and influencing positive outcomes across complex project environments.

You will bring:

• Tertiary qualifications in Workplace Health & Safety or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in a senior safety leadership role within a multidisciplinary project or operational environment.
• Strong knowledge of WHS legislation, standards, codes of practice, injury management and return-to-work requirements.
• Demonstrated experience implementing and improving safety management systems in a large-scale delivery environment.
• Knowledge of incident investigation methodologies, including human factors and systemic approaches.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and communicate safety performance data.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships and provide leadership across diverse teams.
• Experience within the rail industry or major infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge of rail safety legislation, network rules, procedures and operational safety requirements.
• Exposure to industry-leading safety initiatives and assurance frameworks.

What you'll be joining

• You will join one of the largest infrastructure programs in Australia.
• This project will generate thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in local investment, boosting regional economies and communities right along the alignment.
• Inland Rail is proud to have over 40% female representation and we would like to see these numbers grow.
• Inland Rail is an Agile working environment in our State-of-the Art office embracing flexible working conditions.

Our Organisation and Culture

The values that drive us and the work we deliver in the program incorporate Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Excellence. We welcome like-minded individuals who value our culture.

At Inland Rail, we celebrate, support, and thrive on attracting people from all horizons and walks of life for the benefit of our employees, our program, and our community. Inland Rail is proud to be an equal opportunity and an affirmative action employer. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to submit their details to us.

All employment is decided based on suitability to the role, cultural fit, merit, and business needs.

As part of the application process, you will be required to undergo pre-employment criminal history, reference and medical checks, including drug and alcohol testing. Inland Rail is a drug and alcohol-free working environment.