Critical Safety Risk Lead

New Zealand Post; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Post is seeking a dedicated Critical Safety Risk Lead to drive the management of our most significant safety risks across operations. The role is based in Highbrook, Auckland, and is a 12-month fixed-term position reporting to safety leadership.

You will facilitate critical risk workshops, partner with frontline teams, and translate risk insights into practical controls that protect people and our business.

Qualifications

• At least five years' experience in a health and safety, critical risk or assurance role within a high-risk operational environment.
• Experience facilitating risk assessments, workshops or learning teams with frontline employees and leaders.
• Knowledge of Bowtie methodology or other critical risk management frameworks.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex risk concepts into practical actions.
• Experience working across complex operational environments, ideally within unionised workforces.
• A relevant qualification in Health & Safety, Risk Management, NEBOSH or a related discipline.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to influence and challenge constructively.

Responsibilities

• Leading critical risk assessments and Bowtie workshops across NZ Post's operational environments.
• Partnering with frontline teams and leaders to identify, understand and manage critical safety risks.
• Developing, measuring and monitoring critical controls that help prevent serious incidents.
• Designing and delivering assurance activities to validate the effectiveness of critical controls.
• Analysing findings, identifying improvement opportunities and driving corrective actions.
• Providing meaningful insights and reporting to leaders on risk exposure and control health.

Skills

Health & safety leadership

Bowtie risk modeling

Risk assessments

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

NEBOSH or equivalent

Health & Safety qualification

Tools

Bowtie software

Job description

Critical Safety Risk Lead

Lead NZ Post's approach to managing our most critical safety risks

Partner directly with frontline teams to strengthen safety outcomes across the business

Influence decision-making at all levels through risk expertise, assurance and continuous improvement

12 month fixed term role

Based in Highbrook, Auckland

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

At NZ Post, Safety Always underpins everything we do. As our Critical Safety Risk Lead, you'll play a pivotal role in helping us better understand, manage and monitor the risks that have the potential to cause serious harm across our operations. You'll lead the development and ongoing improvement of our critical risk management approach, ensuring we have effective controls in place to protect our people and our business.This is a highly visible role that combines technical expertise with strong relationship building. Working closely with frontline employees, operational leaders and subject matter experts, you'll facilitate critical risk workshops, strengthen our understanding of key controls, and provide assurance that the controls we rely on are effective. You'll be comfortable spending time in operational environments, asking questions, challenging assumptions and translating complex risk concepts into practical actions that make sense for our people.

You'll do that by:

• Leading critical risk assessments and Bowtie workshops across NZ Post's operational environments
• Partnering with frontline teams and leaders to identify, understand and manage critical safety risks
• Developing, measuring and monitoring critical controls that help prevent serious incidents
• Designing and delivering assurance activities to validate the effectiveness of critical controls
• Analysing findings, identifying improvement opportunities and driving corrective actions
• Providing meaningful insights and reporting to leaders on risk exposure and control health

Mōu - About you

You're an experienced health and safety professional who understands the realities of frontline operational environments. You know how to build credibility with people at all levels, from delivery agents and transport drivers through to senior leaders, and you're equally comfortable facilitating a workshop, leading Learning Teams or HOP (Human and Organisational Performance) discussions, as you are having a conversation on the worksite floor.Naturally curious, you look beyond what's in front of you to understand root causes and underlying risks. You're confident enough to challenge constructively when needed, while bringing empathy, pragmatism and a genuine interest in helping people stay safe. You'll enjoy working independently, taking ownership of your programme of work and building strong relationships that enable positive change.

You’ll combine that with:

• At least five years' experience in a health and safety, critical risk or assurance role within a high-risk operational environment
• Experience facilitating risk assessments, workshops or learning teams with frontline employees and leaders
• Knowledge of Bowtie methodology or other critical risk management frameworks
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts into practical, easy-to-understand language
• Experience working across complex operational environments, ideally within unionised workforces
• A relevant qualification in Health & Safety, Risk Management, NEBOSH or a related discipline
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to influence and challenge constructively

Hiahia? - Interested? Come and join the whanau!

There's a story in every parcel. And wrapped up in every parcel, is the people of NZ Post. Our mahi is different, but we share the same goal - to contribute to the growth and prosperity of our beautiful Aotearoa. Whether you're a number-crunching data analyst, a parcel processing whizz, a marketing maven, or a sales superstar, we've got a spot for you in our dynamic team.

Applications for this position close on 20 September 2026

All successful applicants will be required to provide proof of their eligibility to work in NewZealand and will be subject to a security check and reference checks. Some of our roles may also require a credit check and/or a drug test.

There's something really special about being part of the team here at NZ Post - Tukurau Aotearoa, who we are and what we stand for is grounded in our values. NZPost proudly stands as a Gold Supporter of Pride Pledge - because building an inclusive workplace where everyone can bring their authentic self to work is core to who we are.