Health and Safety Advisor

Palmerston North City Council; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 94,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

Long service leave

Paid parental leave

Onsite cafe & staff gym

Study leave and memberships

Flu vaccinations

Wellbeing space

Job summary

Palmerston North City Council is seeking a Health and Safety Advisor to join its team in Palmy. You will provide expert, practical guidance to strengthen health, safety and wellbeing across the Council and support leaders and staff in managing risk.

The role requires collaboration, credible communication and a proactive safety culture. With a focus on policy improvement, incident investigations and rehabilitation, you'll contribute to a safer workplace while enjoying learning opportunities,

Qualifications

• A relevant tertiary qualification in occupational health and safety, or equivalent relevant experience.
• At least five years’ experience in a health and safety advisor role.
• Strong working knowledge of New Zealand health and safety legislation and contemporary practice.
• Experience advising leaders and employees on health and safety risks and responsibilities.
• The ability to build effective relationships and influence across diverse teams and stakeholder groups.
• Experience designing or delivering health and safety training, workshops or presentations.

Responsibilities

• Providing specialist advice and supporting the continuous improvement of Council’s health, safety and wellbeing policies, processes and systems.
• Guiding leaders and employees to identify, assess and manage health, safety and wellbeing risks.
• Supporting incident, near-miss and injury reporting and investigations, including leading investigations where appropriate.
• Supporting effective rehabilitation and sustainable return-to-work arrangements.
• Strengthening employee engagement and participation in health, safety and wellbeing.
• Advising Council’s Health and Safety Committees and supporting reporting, audits and recommendations.
• Supporting leaders and contract managers to manage health and safety requirements involving contractors and other PCBUs.

Skills

Health and safety advisory

Training design

Stakeholder influence

Incident investigations

Policy guidance

Education

Tertiary qualification in occupational health and safety

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Palmerston North City Council – Palmerston North, North Island

$94,024 - $110,617 a year

Full time

1d ago , from Palmerston North City Council

• Make a Difference: Help strengthen health, safety and wellbeing across Council, supporting our people to thrive at work.
• Professional Growth:Elevate your career through a range of Learning and Development opportunities at Palmerston North City Council.
• Benefits: We do more than just pay you a salary too. We have awesome benefits to support you including 5 weeks annual leave.

As a key member of our Health and Safety team, you’ll provide practical, trusted advice and support across Council. Working collaboratively with leaders and employees, you’ll help build a proactive and enduring safety culture where people understand their responsibilities and manage risk effectively.

This is a full-time role, 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday. The position may be required to work outside normal working hours during a Civil Defence emergency or exercise and to participate fully in associated training.

Your focus in this role will include:

• Providing specialist advice and supporting the continuous improvement of Council’s health, safety and wellbeing policies, processes and systems.
• Guiding leaders and employees to identify, assess and manage health, safety and wellbeing risks.
• Supporting incident, near-miss and injury reporting and investigations, including leading investigations where appropriate.
• Supporting effective rehabilitation and sustainable return-to-work arrangements.
• Strengthening employee engagement and participation in health, safety and wellbeing.
• Advising Council’s Health and Safety Committees and supporting reporting, audits and recommendations.
• Supporting leaders and contract managers to manage health and safety requirements involving contractors and other PCBUs.

You’re a pragmatic and credible health and safety professional who builds trusted relationships and provides practical, risk-based advice. You communicate complex information clearly, use sound judgement and can influence people at all levels of an organisation.

What you will bring:

• A relevant tertiary qualification in occupational health and safety, or equivalent relevant experience.
• At least five years’ experience in a health and safety advisor role.
• Strong working knowledge of New Zealand health and safety legislation and contemporary practice.
• Experience advising leaders and employees on health and safety risks and responsibilities.
• The ability to build effective relationships and influence across diverse teams and stakeholder groups.
• Experience designing or delivering health and safety training, workshops or presentations.

Palmerston North (or as we like to call it, Palmy) is a growing, innovative and exciting city. With small city benefits and big city ambition, Palmy has secured its place on the map as a creative and exciting city, with leading innovation and developments! We’re proud to be a city that includes, supports, connects and uses the talents of the whole community in our pursuit to provide a connected and safe community. We’re also a future-focused city who cares about enhancing our natural and built environment. Our future looks bright, it looks vibrant and progressive.

• Competitive salary between $94,024 (85%) and $110,617 (1000%), plus a 3.5% Kiwisaver employer contribution (where eligible)
• 5 weeks annual leave and a community service day
• Long service leave after qualifying periods
• Paid parental leave benefits
• Supportive work environment that values work-life balance
• Annual flu vaccinations and subsidised health and eye checks
• Onsite café, staff gym and wellness space
• Study leave, professional memberships, and fees support
• The opportunity to make a real difference in the future of a vibrant, growing city

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and welcome applications from all those suitably qualified for this position.

Job Profile