Workplace Health and Safety Manager

The Royal Zoological Society of SA Inc; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Zoological Society of SA Inc is hiring an experienced Workplace Health & Safety professional to lead our WHS function across Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park. You will drive safety across diverse operations from animal care to maintenance and visitor services, embedding safety into every activity.

Reporting to the Director of People and Performance, you will champion a proactive safety culture, develop strategies, and provide expert guidance to senior leaders and site teams.

Qualifications

• Certificate IV or higher WHS qualification required.
• Experience leading a WHS function and developing safety strategies, policies and frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of WHS legislation, regulations and best practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead the WHS function across Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park.
• Develop and implement WHS strategies, frameworks, policies and systems.
• Provide expert WHS advice to the Executive Team and leaders.
• Oversee incident management, investigations, risk assessments, audits and inspections.
• Lead emergency management and incident preparedness.
• Represent Zoos SA with regulators and external bodies.
• Oversee WHS education, training and awareness initiatives.

Skills

WHS leadership

Strategic planning

Regulatory compliance

Incident investigations

Risk assessment

Emergency management

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Data analysis

MS Office

Education

Certificate IV in Workplace Health and Safety or higher

Tools

Safety management systems

MS Office

Job description

Lead safety across two unique zoological environments

Zoos SA is looking for an experienced Workplace Health & Safety professional to lead our WHS function across Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of WHS across a diverse organisation where no two days are quite the same. From animal care and horticulture to maintenance, visitor operations, conservation, construction and corporate teams, you will work across a wide range of operational environments.

Reporting to the Director of People and Performance, you will lead the WHS environment for Zoos SA, while working closely with operational leaders and employees to ensure safety is embedded into the way we work.

What you'll do

As WHS Manager, you will:

• Lead the WHS function across Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park.
• Develop and implement WHS strategies, frameworks, policies and systems.
• Provide expert WHS advice to the Executive Team, managers and operational leaders.
• Lead and support the WHS Advisor and Zoo Safe Committees.
• Oversee incident management, investigations, risk assessments, audits and inspections.
• Analyse and report on WHS data and trends to identify organisational risks and improvement opportunities.
• Provide advice on complex WHS matters, emerging risks and compliance requirements.
• Lead emergency management, crisis response planning and incident preparedness.
• Represent Zoos SA with regulators, external auditors and relevant industry bodies.
• Oversee WHS education, training, engagement and awareness initiatives.
• Ensure WHS requirements are considered in projects, procurement and operational planning.
• Manage WHS budgets and resources.
• Build a proactive safety culture where safety is understood as a shared responsibility across the organisation.

What we're looking for

We are looking for an experienced WHS professional who can combine strategic thinking with practical, operational safety leadership.

You will bring:

• A Certificate IV or higher qualification in Workplace Health and Safety, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated experience leading a WHS function and developing safety strategies, policies and frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of WHS legislation, regulations and best practice.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage complex and varied risks.
• Excellent communication, consultation and negotiation skills.
• The confidence to advise senior leaders while also engaging directly with operational teams.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to prioritise competing demands.
• Solid computer skills, including Microsoft Office and safety management systems.
• It would be great if you also have:
• Experience working in an outdoor, conservation, environmental, zoological or similarly complex operational environment.
• Experience working across multiple sites.
• Experience engaging with regulators, auditors or external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of emergency management, fire safety and first aid.
• Experience with WHS budgeting and resource management.
• A background in conservation, science or research.

Why Zoos SA?

This is not a traditional office-based WHS role.

You will work across two very different sites and a workforce with an equally diverse range of roles. You could work with an animal care team one day, discuss a complex operational risk with a manager the next, and then review organisational WHS systems or lead an incident investigation.

You will have the opportunity to shape the future of WHS at Zoos SA by building on our existing systems and working with leaders and employees to strengthen safety across the organisation.

Zoos SA is passionately committed to equal employment opportunity. We believe diversity, inclusion and reconciliation are fundamental to our rich organisational culture and values, and we demonstrate this commitment through all our employment practices so that our people continue to reflect the local communities in which we work. If you are unable to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or require reasonable adjustments, please contact Genesse via 08 8230 1211 [e-mail].a