Safety & Quality Partner (HSE Focus)

Airbus; Richmond; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Employee Assistance Program

Parental leave

Corporate travel discounts

On-site parking

Professional development

Job summary

Airbus in Richmond, NSW, is seeking a Safety & Quality Partner to champion on-site health, safety and environmental culture. You will embed iSMS, drive risk management across maintenance and engineering, and collaborate with site leaders, operations, and customers to ensure WHS and environmental compliance.

The role requires knowledge of Australian WHS legislation, incident investigations, and audits against ISO 45001/14001/9001, with strong communication and organisational skills.

Qualifications

• Diploma or higher in Work Health & Safety, Occupational Health & Safety, or a related discipline (or equivalent practical experience).
• Demonstrated background in operational HSE partnering, ideally within aviation, defence sustainment, heavy engineering, or complex industrial environments.
• Sound practical knowledge of Australian/NSW WHS legislation, hazard management, and risk mitigation principles.
• Experience leading incident investigations and auditing against structured management systems (e.g., ISO 45001, ISO 14001, or ISO 9001).
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport, influence constructively, and explain technical safety concepts clearly.
• A proactive, resilient approach with strong organisational skills to manage competing priorities with composure.

Responsibilities

• Act as the direct, approachable point of contact for hangar and workshop teams, engineers, and site leadership, fostering an open and positive Safety First culture.
• Facilitate hazard identification, conduct operational risk assessments, lead incident triage, and implement practical corrective controls.
• Conduct on-site safety, environmental, and quality audits, ensuring alignment with Airbus iSMS standards, customer requirements, and regulatory benchmarks (ISO 45001 / ISO 14001 / ISO 9001).
• Lead investigations, identify root causes with human factors principles, and share lessons learned across sites.
• Guide the business on safe work procedures, lead site emergency preparedness, and champion wellbeing initiatives.
• Partner with internal departments and customer assurance representatives to resolve safety matters constructively and transparently.

Skills

WHS legislation knowledge

Incident investigations

Audit & compliance

Stakeholder engagement

Safety culture promotion

Education

Diploma or higher in WHS

Job description

Airbus is a global pioneer in aeronautics, space, and related services, dedicated to making the world a safer, smarter, and more connected place. Across Australia and New Zealand, our teams deliver world-class engineering, maintenance, and sustainment capabilities.

From our Richmond facility, we proudly support critical Defence platforms, including the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) C-130J Hercules fleet. At the heart of our mission is a genuine care for our people and a steadfast commitment to high-standard safety, quality, and operational integrity.

About the Role

We have an exciting opportunity for an energetic and approachable Safety & Quality Partner to join our team based on-site in Richmond, NSW. Reporting operationally to the Manager Safety & Quality Australia, you will serve as the trusted on-site HSE-focused specialist championing a proactive health, safety, and environmental culture across daily operations.

In this hands-on, collaborative role, you will embed our Integrated Safety Management System (iSMS) and drive preventative risk management across maintenance and engineering activities. You will work side-by-side with site leaders, operational crews, and customer interfaces to ensure our workplaces are safe, supportive, and fully compliant with Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation and environmental standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the direct, approachable point of contact for hangar and workshop teams, engineers, and site leadership, fostering an open and positive "Safety First" culture.
• Facilitate hazard identification, conduct operational risk assessments, lead incident triage, and implement practical, fit-for-purpose corrective controls.
• Conduct on-site safety, environmental, and quality audits, ensuring alignment with Airbus iSMS standards, customer requirements, and regulatory benchmarks (ISO 45001 / ISO 14001 / ISO 9001).
• Lead thorough, objective HSE event investigations, identifying root causes, applying human factors principles, and sharing key lessons learnt across sites.
• Guide the business on safe work procedures, lead site emergency preparedness, and champion targeted safety, health, and wellbeing initiatives.
• Partner closely with internal departments and customer assurance representatives to resolve safety matters constructively and transparently.

About You

You are a warm, pragmatic, and values-driven safety professional who excels at engaging with people across the hangar floor, technical workshops, and management offices. You understand how to strike the right balance between robust compliance and practical operational efficiency, always keeping people's safety and wellbeing front and centre.

Qualifications & Experience:

• A Diploma or higher in Work Health & Safety, Occupational Health & Safety, or a related discipline (or equivalent practical experience).
• Demonstrated background in operational HSE partnering, ideally within aviation, defence sustainment, heavy engineering, or complex industrial environments.
• Sound practical knowledge of Australian/NSW WHS legislation, hazard management, and risk mitigation principles.
• Experience leading incident investigations and auditing against structured management systems (e.g., ISO 45001, ISO 14001, or ISO 9001).
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport, influence constructively, and explain technical safety concepts clearly.
• A proactive, resilient approach with strong organisational skills to manage competing priorities with composure.
• Experience working within an aviation Safety Management System (SMS) or familiarity with Defence aviation environments is advantageous, though not essential.

Please note: Applicants must be eligible to obtain and maintain an Australian Government Baseline Security Clearance. Pre-employment medical screening, including drug and alcohol testing, may apply.

What's on Offer?

At Airbus, we value our people as our greatest strength and provide an inclusive environment where you can develop both personally and professionally.

• Flexible working arrangements.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program, corporate health plans, and free on-site physiotherapist and confidential counselling services.
• Generous parental leave, corporate travel discounts (flights, hotels, and car hire), extensive retail shopping discounts, and novated car leasing options.
• Free on-site parking at our Richmond facility.
• Continuous professional development through dedicated mentoring, online programmes, and structured learning pathways.

Airbus is committed to creating an inclusive, diverse workplace. Female applicants, people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, and ex-defence personnel are encouraged to apply.