Senior Safety Advisor – Rail & Infrastructure

Heaton Rail; Adelaide; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Heaton Rail is seeking a Senior Safety Advisor to provide practical HSE leadership across rail infrastructure maintenance, construction, and project operations. The role is based in Adelaide with flexible working arrangements and a strong focus on site-based engagement.

You will work with operational leaders and frontline teams to strengthen safety performance, manage risk and drive continuous improvement across projects and operations.

Qualifications

• Experience providing practical HSE advice to operational leaders.
• Strong knowledge of WHS legislation, safety management systems, risk assessments and SWMS.
• Experience engaging frontline personnel and implementing practical safety improvements in high‑risk environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert health, safety and environment (HSE) advice to operational leaders across infrastructure maintenance, construction and project delivery.
• Identify and manage operational risks through site inspections, safety audits, risk assessments and safe work planning.
• Lead and support incident investigations, root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Partner with frontline teams, contractors and management to improve safety practices, compliance and safety culture.
• Mentor safety personnel and support development of safety management systems and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

HSE leadership

WHS knowledge

Incident investigation

Job description

We're currently recruiting for a Senior Safety Advisor to provide practical safety leadership across rail infrastructure maintenance, construction and project operations. You'll work closely with operational leaders and frontline teams to strengthen safety performance, manage risk and drive continuous improvement.

This is a full-time, permanent position based in Adelaide, offering flexible working arrangements and a strong focus on operational and site-based engagement.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide expert health, safety and environment (HSE) advice to operational leaders across infrastructure maintenance, construction and project delivery.
• Identify and manage operational risks through site inspections, safety audits, risk assessments and safe work planning.
• Lead and support incident investigations, root cause analysis and the implementation of corrective actions.
• Partner with frontline teams, contractors and management to improve safety practices, compliance and safety culture.
• Mentor safety personnel and support the ongoing development of safety management systems, procedures and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills and Requirements

• Demonstrated experience providing practical HSE advice, managing operational safety risks and driving continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of WHS legislation, safety management systems, risk assessments, Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) and incident investigation processes.
• Ability to engage with frontline personnel, influence operational leaders and implement practical safety improvements.
• Prior experience working within a high-risk or safety-critical industry such as Rail, Transport, Mining, Defence, Construction, Infrastructure, Manufacturing or Heavy Industry.

About Us

Heaton Rail undertakes work both locally and internationally for some of the world's best rail and heavy industry organisations that make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day.

We help our clients do more, faster and better by connecting them with bright and passionate engineering, management and specialist talent in the fastest way possible.