Senior Manager, Health, Safety and Wellness

The University of Queensland; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 141,000 - 149,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Queensland seeks a senior leader to head Health, Safety and Wellness for the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences. You will drive safety strategy, build a high‑performing team, and partner with central HSW to translate university policy into practical services across multiple campuses.

This full‑time, fixed‑term parental leave backfill starts January 2027 at HEW Level 9. Salary is AUD 140,766 to 148,862 plus 17% super, with flexible work arrangements across St

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualifications and extensive management experience in OH&S.
• Proven track record delivering safety and wellness outcomes in a large, complex organisation.
• Experience leading organisational change to strengthen safety culture.
• Ability to provide strategic advisory to senior leaders on safety issues.
• Strong collaboration with regulators and diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice to senior leaders on health, safety and wellness responsibilities, legislative requirements and the Faculty’s safety risk position.
• Lead a high‑performing HSW team and build collaborative partnerships with central HSW colleagues and stakeholders across the Faculty and University.
• Lead responsive and consistent HSW services, programs and projects, including annual HSW management planning, monitoring and auditing of local systems.
• Strengthen a positive safety culture by coaching and mentoring staff and managers, managing hazards and supporting effective engagement with regulators.

Skills

Health & safety leadership

Regulatory compliance

Strategic advisory

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Education

Postgraduate qualifications

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the Health, Safety and Wellness function within the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences. Working in a collaborative and purposeful environment, you will provide expert leadership that strengthens safety culture, supports the Faculty Executive and helps ensure health, safety and wellness practices meet the highest practicable standards. You will lead a high-performing team and work closely with central HSW colleagues to translate University strategy into responsive, practical and continually improving HSW services.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice to senior leaders on health, safety and wellness responsibilities, legislative requirements and the Faculty’s safety risk position.
• Lead a high-performing HSW team and build collaborative partnerships with central HSW colleagues and stakeholders across the Faculty and University.
• Lead responsive and consistent HSW services, programs and projects, including annual HSW management planning, monitoring and auditing of local systems.
• Strengthen a positive safety culture by coaching and mentoring staff and managers, managing hazards and supporting effective engagement with regulators.

About You

• Postgraduate qualifications and extensive relevant experience, extensive management experience and proven expertise managing occupational health and safety in a complex, multi-site setting, or an equivalent combination of relevant education, training and experience.
• Demonstrated achievement through personal involvement in delivering significant positive health, safety and wellness outcomes within a large and complex organisation.
• Demonstrated experience leading organisational change, particularly initiatives that strengthen safety climate and culture.
• Proven capability to lead teams constructively, with a clear focus on outcomes, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with management, peers, team members, divisional stakeholders and client groups.
• Experience engaging effectively with a range of regulators.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills.
• The ability to provide credible, strategic advice and build collaborative relationships that support a positive and sustainable safety culture.

This is a full-time, fixed-term parental leave backfill position for 12 months at HEW Level 9, commencing January 2027. The position will be required to work flexibly across the St Lucia, Herston and Dutton Park campuses. The full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $140,766 - $148,862 + 17% super.

Pre-employment checks may include: verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications, and criminal history checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ, and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criteria but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity.
• We’re also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process.
• We are particularly interested to hear from people who bring diversity to UQ – whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability.

Applications close Sunday 29th November 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-70659).

The University of Queensland (UQ) acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which UQ is situated. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country.

At the University of Queensland, we are proud to be one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions, consistently ranking among the top 50 universities worldwide. As a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities, UQ is widely recognised for its intensive focus on research and teaching excellence – evidenced by our numerous accolades including more teaching awards than any other Australian University and reflected in UQ being the number one recipient of ARC Fellowships and Awards nationally across all scheme years (totalling 452 awards worth $339 million).

Our state-of-the-art facilities, libraries, and cutting-edge research centres offer unparalleled opportunities for academic and professional growth. With five faculties, a number of globally recognised research institutes, and over 100 research centres, we attract an interdisciplinary community of more than 7000 staff, supporting more than 55,000 current students from over 137 countries.

UQ is dedicated to supporting the career aspirations of our students and staff. Our comprehensive career services provide personalized guidance, skills development, and networking opportunities to help you achieve your professional goals.

Whether you are a student seeking internships and job placements or a staff member looking for career advancement, UQ is here to support you every step of the way.

UQ values equity, diversity and inclusion and seeks to reflect the broader community by attracting and retaining high-quality staff from a range of backgrounds. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion aims to ensure that everyone at UQ feels valued and empowered to achieve their full potential.

We are particularly interested to hear from people who bring diversity to UQ – whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability.

Whether you are a recent graduate, an Academic, or an experienced professional, UQ offers a wide range of opportunities to help you grow and succeed.

Explore our current job openings, discover our programs, and become part of a community that is dedicated to creating lasting, meaningful impact for the communities in which we live and work.

For more information about working at UQ and our employee benefits (such as generous leave provisions, 17% superannuation, flexible working arrangements, and health and wellness discounts) please visit Why Work at UQ.