Work Health and Safety Manager

The University of Newcastle; Newcastle City Council; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% super

Salary packaging

Additional university holiday days

Wellbeing programs

Discounts on health and memberships

Job summary

The University of Newcastle – Callaghan NSW is seeking an experienced Work Health and Safety (WHS) Manager to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across the College of Engineering, Science and Environment. You will lead a dedicated WHS team, drive safety culture, and ensure compliance with NSW legislation across teaching, research, and operations.

Key responsibilities include leading WHS strategy, implementing safety systems, delivering training, and partnering with executives

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of NSW Work Health and Safety Legislation and its application in complex operations.
• Demonstrated leadership and management capability for technical and professional staff.
• Advanced knowledge of best-practice safety systems and risk management across diverse environments.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships across disciplines.
• Strategic thinking and change management to sustain a safe, compliant culture.
• Understanding of workplace obligations and responses to incidents, reports and issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of WHS across the College.
• Act as subject matter expert on WHS legislation and best practices.
• Lead implementation and continuous improvement of safety systems, risk management, audits, and SOPs.
• Oversee safety requirements for staff, students, facilities and equipment in high-risk environments.
• Develop and deliver training, induction, and capability-building initiatives.
• Establish and manage audit, review and continuous improvement programs; drive corrective actions.
• Lead and develop the College WHS team and foster a high-performing, service-focused culture.
• Collaborate with College Executive, Schools and University stakeholders to align WHS with strategic priorities.

Skills

WHS leadership

NSW WHS legislation

stakeholder engagement

training & capability building

audit & continuous improvement

Job description

The University of Newcastle – Callaghan NSW

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Work Health and Safety (WHS) Manager to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across the College of Engineering, Science and Environment. This critical role is responsible for driving a strong safety culture, ensuring compliance, and delivering high-quality WHS outcomes across diverse teaching, research and operational environments. Leading a dedicated team of WHS professionals, you will work closely with stakeholders across the College and University to support continuous improvement and safety excellence.

Your role will involve:

• Providing strategic leadership and management oversight of WHS requirements across the College, ensuring compliance with legislation, policies and standards.
• Acting as the College's subject matter expert on WHS legislation and best practice, providing trusted advice and guidance to leaders and key stakeholders.
• Leading the implementation and continuous improvement of safety systems and processes, including risk and hazard management, incident reporting, audits and standard operating procedures.
• Overseeing safety requirements for staff, students, facilities and equipment, with a strong focus on high-risk environments and compliance outcomes.
• Developing and delivering effective training, induction and capability-building initiatives that promote safe work practices across the College.
• Establishing and managing robust audit, review and continuous improvement programs, ensuring corrective actions are identified and implemented.
• Leading and developing the College WHS team, fostering a high-performing, collaborative and service-focused culture.
• Building strong partnerships with College Executive, Schools and University stakeholders to align WHS initiatives with strategic priorities and support ongoing organisational improvement.

This ongoing position is full time and will be located at the Callaghan Campus (Awabakal land).

How will you inspire us?

You will have:

• Demonstrated extensive knowledge of NSW Work Health and Safety Legislation and experience in leading the implementation and review of these requirements within a complex operating environment.
• Demonstrated leadership and management capability including the ability to lead and inspire a team of technical and professional staff to deliver exceptional performance and outcomes.
• Advanced knowledge of best practice systems for effectively managing health and safety of users including demonstrated ability to actively engage staff and students.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills including the capacity to build relationships and an interdisciplinary way of working.
• Demonstrated capacity to act strategically, problem solve, commit to the application of quality assurance processes and cultivate change within a team, focusing on maintaining a positive culture.
• Demonstrated knowledge of workplace obligations, and experience in leading and cultivating workplace practices and behaviours that promote, support and maintain a safe, healthy, equitable, diverse and respectful workplace; including responding appropriately to adverse accidents, incidents, behaviours, issues, reports and the like.

About our University

The University of Newcastle stands as a global leader distinguished by a commitment to equity and excellence. Our vision is to be a world-leading University for our regions and creating a better future for our regions and the globe. Underpinned by this vision are our values of excellence, equity, engagement and sustainability.

About the Unit

The College of Engineering, Science and Environment (CESE) at the University of Newcastle is home to some of the university's most dynamic and high-risk environments. From state-of-the-art laboratories to engineering spaces, our work is at the forefront of innovation, and with that comes the responsibility to ensure the highest standards of safety.

What we offer

The remuneration for this position is Higher Education Worker Level 7 +17% superannuation and is commensurate with skills and experience.

In addition to working for a university that is breaking boundaries, discovering new ways of thinking and cementing a place as a global leader, we offer a range of benefits to our employees to ensure you balance your commitments, stay healthy and work effectively.

• 17% super and salary packaging.
• Additional University Holiday days, generous personal, life, and parental leave, annual leave loading, and additional purchased leave scheme.
• Discounts on private health insurance, gym memberships, software, travel and more.
• A range of support and wellbeing programs.

Our assessment process

Typical candidates that progress beyond the shortlist stage can expect to undertake the following (minimum) assessment activities as part of the recruitment process:

• Interview (an ‘in person’ interview will be conducted as part of the process)
• Referee checks
• Pre-employment checks as appropriate to the role

Our University is committed to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for every member of our community. This commitment is central to our values and our efforts to build a diverse workforce where everyone can thrive.

As part of this, and in alignment with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence 2025, from 1 January 2026, the University will also consider gender-based violence risk factors as part of our recruitment processes.

The completion and return of the University’s Gender-based Violence Declaration Form will form part of the pre-employment checks for this position and any offer of employment will be conditional upon review by the University.

Our adherence to the Code is about more than compliance – it’s about living our values. Together, we can ensure our University remains a place where respect, safety, and inclusion are non-negotiable.

Contact Us

For specific position enquiries, please contact Chris Neenan, Senior Manager, Technical Services via email ************@newcastle.edu.au

Having technical difficulties? Please reach out to us: **********@newcastle.edu.au Please note, we do not accept email applications.

Closing date:Thursday, 8th October 2026 at 11.59pm

We are excited to be Looking Ahead with you

We provide opportunities for all people regardless of their background and experience, and this philosophy is reflected across all that we do.

The University of Newcastle is an equal opportunity employer committed to equity, diversity, and social inclusion. Women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

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