Senior Safety Business Partner, Aviation

Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne); City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading airport management firm in Melbourne seeks a proactive Senior Safety Business Partner to enhance safety culture in aviation operations. This critical role involves leading improvement programs, engaging with senior stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with safety legislation. Candidates should have a robust background in Occupational Health & Safety and experience in high-risk environments. The position offers flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Free access to Fitness Club & Wellness Hub

Airport car parking access

Hybrid flexible working arrangements

Additional leave days

Discounted onsite childcare

Employee Assistance Program

Professional development opportunities

Social culture and activities

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in OHS, with strong high-risk, regulated environment background.
• Demonstrated experience in senior stakeholder engagement and people leadership.
• Strong working knowledge of aviation safety legislation.

Responsibilities

• Provide assurance and oversight of the implementation of the APAC Safety Management System.
• Lead targeted improvement programs focused on systemic learnings.
• Analyze aviation safety performance data and identify trends.

Skills

Occupational Health & Safety knowledge

Root cause analysis

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

People leadership

Education

Degree or Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety

Job description

Overview

We currently have an exciting new opportunity for seasoned and proactive Senior Safety Business Partner, Aviation to join our Corporate Safety team. Reporting to the Senior Safety Manager, the newly created Senior Safety Business Partner (Aviation) role is a key leadership role within the Safety Team, responsible for partnering with Aviation leadership to embed a proactive and mature safety culture across airside and aviation operations. This role provides strategic guidance, ensures compliance with legislation and standards, and delivers insights that shape operational decision-making and long-term safety outcomes.

Explore how we are thinking big with exciting projects like the Third Runway, state-of-the-art terminals, and thriving business park developments. You can also learn more about life at Melbourne Airport – our culture, values, and what makes us unique. Join us in shaping the future of aviation as we propel Melbourne Airport towards becoming Australia\'s favourite Airport destination.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities:

The role\'s duties and accountabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide assurance and oversight of the implementation and continuous improvement of the APAC Safety Management System (SMS) within Aviation.
• Act as a trusted advisor to Aviation leadership, influencing decisions to ensure safety is a core business priority.
• Partnering with the Airfield Operations Safety Manager to identify emerging risks and systemic issues through data, observation, and stakeholder engagement, and translate these into actionable strategies.
• Lead targeted improvement programs focused on systemic learnings and governance ensuring alignment with the Safety Enhancement Program.
• Provide oversight and assurance of the effective application of the APAC SMS within Aviation, while supporting Aviation Leaders to embed alignment with MOS 139, ICAO, and ISO 45001 requirements.
• Lead the review, endorsement, and continuous improvement of Aviation-specific safety documentation, policies, and procedures.
• Ensure Safety in Design (SiD) is embedded into aviation infrastructure and capital projects from inception to delivery.
• Manage and oversee OHS audits, and OHS assurance activities across Aviation, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Own responsibility for compiling and delivering the Aviation Safety Risk and Compliance Report, drawing on inputs from the Airfield Operations Safety Manager and other stakeholders.
• Analyse aviation safety performance data, identifying trends and providing systemic insights to the ELT and Aviation leadership.
• Provide oversight of incident investigation quality and root cause analysis, while supporting Aviation leaders to ensure systemic learnings and trends are addressed operationally.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and coaching to Safety Business Partners and managers across Aviation.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have:

• Degree or Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety / WHS (postgraduate qualification desirable).
• Formal accreditation in root cause analysis methodology (ICAM, TapRoot, or equivalent).
• 7+ years’ experience in OHS, with a strong background in high-risk, regulated environments.
• Demonstrated experience engaging at senior stakeholder and leadership levels.
• Demonstrated experience in people leadership, including mentoring and performance management.
• Proven record of delivering systemic safety improvements and cultural change initiatives.
• Strong working knowledge of OHS.Advanced incident investigation, safety data analysis, and reporting skills.
• Experience in the aviation or transport sector is desirable
• Strong working knowledge of aviation safety legislation, including MOS 139 and ICAO requirements is desirable.
• Knowledge of contract management and service provider engagement in high-risk environments.

We understand that not everyone will feel they meet all of these 100%. However, if you feel you have the attitude and aptitude to grow within our team, we invite you to apply and have a conversation with us about this position.

About the Company

Melbourne Airport (Australia Pacific Airports Corporation) is proud to be one of Australia\'s premier transport hubs and Victoria\'s gateway to the world, connecting us to the global marketplace. We are committed to creating connections that matter and enhancing the traveller experience across every aspect of our organisation to deliver our vision of becoming Australia\'s favourite Airport destination. Currently, in an exciting phase of change, we are delivering rewarding career opportunities, making Melbourne Airport a dynamic and fast-paced place to work for our people.

APAC is a majority Australian-owned private company that also operates Launceston Airport, the tourism gateway to Tasmania and an industry multi-award-winning airport.

Culture and Values

By joining the team at Melbourne Airport, you will work within a friendly, high-performance culture with a focus on our people and their development.

Our vision is to become Australia\'s favourite Airport destination and our people are paramount to achieving this success. We provide a supportive environment, with values that encourage all of our employees to Be You, Think Big, Own it and Work Together.

Benefits

• Free access to Higher State, our state-of-the-art Fitness Club & Wellness Hub at Novotel & ibis Styles Airport hotel.
• Airport car parking 24 hours/365 days a year for both business and personal use
• Hybrid flexible working arrangements
• Airport Holiday, an additional day of leave
• Wellness Day, a further additional day of leave
• Discounted onsite childcare at Creative Garden Early Learning
• Mental health and well-being initiatives, including Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Long-term career and professional development opportunities
• Active social culture and participation in a range of social impact days and activities
• Signature Experiences including an airfield family day
• Access to an employee benefits scheme including access to corporate rates and airport retailer discounts (including SkyBus)

APAC is committed to weaving Diversity into our DNA. We believe that Diversity and Inclusion will help us realise our greatest potential as a company, and maximise the potential of all our team members. We strive to create a culture where our team members understand that each individual is unique and that embracing diversity makes us more flexible, productive, and creative.

APAC provides equal opportunity and advancement in employment regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, cultural background, caring responsibilities, disability or socioeconomic background. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds who share our workplace values of Being You, Thinking Big, Owning It and Working Together.