Critical Safety Risk Lead

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

Job summary

New Zealand Post is seeking a Critical Safety Risk Lead based in Highbrook, Auckland. You will help understand, manage and monitor risks that could cause serious harm across our operations, developing and improving our critical risk approach with strong controls and assurance.

This highly visible role combines technical risk expertise with relationship building, facilitating workshops and translating risk concepts into practical actions for frontline teams and leaders.

Qualifications

• At least five years of experience in health and safety, critical risk or assurance in high‑risk operations.
• Experience facilitating risk assessments, workshops or learning teams with frontline staff and leaders.
• Knowledge of Bowtie or other critical risk management frameworks.
• Strong stakeholder management with the ability to influence and challenge constructively.
• A relevant qualification in Health & Safety, Risk Management, NEBOSH or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead critical risk assessments and Bowtie workshops across NZ Post's operations.
• Partner with frontline teams and leaders to identify, understand and manage critical safety risks.
• Develop, measure and monitor critical controls to prevent serious incidents.
• Design and deliver assurance activities to validate control effectiveness.
• Analyse findings, identify improvements and drive corrective actions.
• Provide insights and reporting to leaders on risk exposure and control health.

Skills

Strong communication

Stakeholder management

Facilitation of risk assessments

Bowtie methodology

Education

Health & Safety qualification (NEBOSH or similar)

Job description

New Zealand Post – East Tamaki, North Island

• 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

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

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

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 New Zealand 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 inour values.

NZ Post 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.