Senior Safety Leader – Civil Construction, Multi-Site

Eirecon-Constructions; Newcastle; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Eire Constructions is a family-owned civil construction company delivering infrastructure across water, roads, bridges, and major projects in Australia. We are seeking a Safety Manager to lead the SHEQ function, develop a high-performing team and drive meaningful safety improvements on multiple projects nationwide.

You will report to the General Manager, SHEQ, and partner with Project Managers, Engineers and operations leaders to embed safety into delivery while maintaining ISO 45001 compliance

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in a Safety/WHS leadership role within civil construction, infrastructure or a similarly high-risk environment.
• Experience leading and developing Safety/WHS professionals.
• Strong knowledge of WHS legislation, construction safety requirements and risk management.
• Proven experience managing significant incidents, investigations and escalations.
• Strong understanding of high-risk construction activities and project delivery.
• Experience working collaboratively with Project Managers, Engineers, Supervisors and senior leadership.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, with the ability to turn safety data into meaningful insights and action.
• Experience working across multiple projects and geographic locations.
• Working knowledge of OFSC requirements and the Federal Safety Commissioner framework.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 45001 and safety management systems.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• A current driver's licence and ability to travel regularly between project sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of Safety Advisors across multiple regions.
• Drive a strong, proactive safety culture across Eire's projects and operational teams.
• Provide practical safety leadership and advice across high-risk civil construction activities.
• Act as the key escalation point for significant and complex safety matters.
• Lead the triage, investigation and management of significant incidents and ensure effective corrective actions and lessons learnt.
• Support the mobilisation and establishment of new projects, ensuring appropriate safety systems, controls and processes are in place.
• Undertake regular site-based safety assurance activities and verify critical risk controls are effective in the field.
• Identify safety trends, systemic risks and opportunities for improvement and translate these into practical business initiatives.
• Provide meaningful safety reporting, analysis and insights to the CEO and Operations leadership team.
• Lead operational safety initiatives aligned with Eire's business objectives and risk profile.
• Work closely with the Assurance & Systems Specialist to maintain alignment with ISO 45001, OFSC and Eire's Integrated Management System.
• Support audit readiness, corrective action close-out and continual improvement across the business.
• Build strong relationships with clients, regulators, auditors, subcontractors and internal stakeholders.

Skills

Safety leadership

Team development

Incident investigations

Stakeholder management

Visionary leadership

Education

WHS/OHS qualification

Certificate IV in WHS

White Card (NSW)

Driver's licence

Job description

Job Category: Health, Safety & Environment (Construction)

Lead safety. Develop people. Make an impact.

Eire Constructions is a family-owned and operated civil construction company with a proud history dating back to the late 1970s. We deliver civil infrastructure solutions across water, roads, bridges, treatment plants and major infrastructure projects, with a strong focus on building the communities we want to live in.

We are looking for an experienced Safety Manager to lead our Safety function across Eire's growing project portfolio.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who is equally comfortable leading a team, walking a project site, managing complex incidents and working with senior leaders to drive meaningful safety improvement!

Job Description

About the Role

Reporting to the General Manager, SHEQ, you will lead and develop a team of Safety Advisors working across our projects in Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle and the Mid North Coast.

You will provide technical leadership, coaching and support to the Safety team while partnering closely with Project Managers, Engineers, Supervisors and operational leaders to ensure safety is practical, consistent and embedded into project delivery.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of Safety Advisors across multiple regions.
• Drive a strong, proactive safety culture across Eire's projects and operational teams.
• Provide practical safety leadership and advice across high-risk civil construction activities.
• Act as the key escalation point for significant and complex safety matters.
• Lead the triage, investigation and management of significant incidents and ensure effective corrective actions and lessons learnt.
• Support the mobilisation and establishment of new projects, ensuring appropriate safety systems, controls and processes are in place.
• Undertake regular site-based safety assurance activities and verify critical risk controls are effective in the field.
• Identify safety trends, systemic risks and opportunities for improvement and translate these into practical business initiatives.
• Provide meaningful safety reporting, analysis and insights to the CEO and Operations leadership team.
• Lead operational safety initiatives aligned with Eire's business objectives and risk profile.
• Work closely with the Assurance & Systems Specialist to maintain alignment with ISO 45001, OFSC and Eire's Integrated Management System.
• Support audit readiness, corrective action close-out and continual improvement across the business.
• Build strong relationships with clients, regulators, auditors, subcontractors and internal stakeholders.

Desired Skills and Experience

About You

We are looking for an experienced safety professional who understands that effective safety leadership is about more than compliance.

You will be a credible and visible leader who can build strong relationships with operational teams, challenge unsafe practices and provide solutions that work in the real world of construction.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated experience in a Safety/WHS leadership role within civil construction, infrastructure or a similarly high-risk environment.
• Experience leading and developing Safety/WHS professionals.
• Strong knowledge of WHS legislation, construction safety requirements and risk management.
• Proven experience managing significant incidents, investigations and escalations.
• Strong understanding of high-risk construction activities and project delivery.
• Experience working collaboratively with Project Managers, Engineers, Supervisors and senior leadership.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, with the ability to turn safety data into meaningful insights and action.
• Experience working across multiple projects and geographic locations.
• Working knowledge of OFSC requirements and the Federal Safety Commissioner framework.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 45001 and safety management systems.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• A current driver's licence and ability to travel regularly between project sites.

Qualifications

You will ideally hold:

• Tertiary qualification in WHS/OHS, Safety Management or a related discipline; or
• Certificate IV in Work Health & Safety with substantial relevant industry experience.
• Current NSW White Card.
• Current driver's licence.

Desirable qualifications and experience include:

• ICAM, TapRooT or equivalent incident investigation training.
• Cert IV in Training & Assessment.
• Experience supporting OFSC accreditation and ISO 45001 audits.
• Root cause analysis and corrective action training.
• Relevant professional membership, such as AIHS.

At Eire, safety is not simply a function of the business — it is fundamental to how we deliver our work and look after our people.

As Safety Manager, you will have the opportunity to make a genuine impact across a diverse civil construction business, develop a high-performing safety team, influence operational decision-making and shape the future of safety at Eire.

You will join a family-owned business where people, communities and doing the right thing matter.

If you're an experienced safety leader looking for a role where you can lead from the front, influence at every level and make a tangible difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now with your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your experience and suitability for the role.