HSE Project Manager

Vector; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Hybrid working

Career growth

Job summary

Vector is seeking an experienced HSE Project Manager to lead the transformation of our HSE strategy into practical, lasting changes across the business in New Zealand. You will embed a proactive safety culture, drive priority initiatives from problem to programme, and deliver tools that strengthen safety across high-risk operations.

The role is hands-on and requires facilitation, stakeholder engagement and the ability to translate strategy into actionable work plans.

Qualifications

• Senior HSE leadership with 5+ years in high-risk, regulated environments.
• Tertiary qualification in OH&S or related discipline; auditing qualifications advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of NZ health, safety and environmental regulatory framework and ISO standards.
• Proven track record delivering HSE improvement and learning programmes.
• Excellent written communication for senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Facilitative, collaborative and hands-on in a senior IC role.

Responsibilities

• Translate Vector's HSE strategy into practical programmes across the business.
• Lead safety initiatives from identified problem through planning and implementation.
• Facilitate workshops and stakeholder groups to drive decisions, action and accountability.
• Develop practical systems, processes and resources to embed safe work practices.

Skills

HSE leadership

Regulatory knowledge NZ

Stakeholder facilitation

Communication

Safety systems

Education

Bachelor in OH&S or related

Tools

ISO 45001

NZS 7901

ISO 14001

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.

Vector: Powering Auckland. Shaping the future.

Life at Vector means being part of something bigger.

Here, your work matters. We keep the lights on across Auckland, and each of us plays a key role in the future of the energy industry, building a legacy of clean power for future generations.

We’re embracing opportunities to innovate, collaborating with leading names globally to develop, adopt and share cutting-edge technologies that drive energy sustainability and efficiency.

And while we shape the future, we prioritise yours. Enjoy a comprehensive salary and benefits package, hybrid working and flexibility with hours, and be part of a diverse, inclusive culture that values fresh thinking and career growth.

Culture that powers progress

Hear from our people on what they enjoy most about Vector, why they joined and why they stay.

The role

As HSE Project Manager, you’ll play a key role in turning Vector’s HSE strategy into practical, lasting change across our business by embedding a proactive, learning-focused safety culture to shape the future of HSE performance for New Zealand’s largest electricity distribution board. You’ll take priority safety initiatives from an identified need through to a clear programme of work, bringing together the right people and driving delivery through to implementation.

This is a hands-on role for someone who can both think and do. You’ll be equally comfortable facilitating engaging workshops and stakeholder groups as turning insights into action. You’ll take pride in creating practical systems, processes and resources that strengthen capability, encourage shared learning and help our people work safely and confidently. You’ll bring a practical, solutions-oriented approach to translating strategy, risk insights and operational needs into useful tools and ways of working that can be embedded across the business.

You’ll work closely with operational leaders, technical specialists, contractors and other internal experts to make sure solutions are credible, useful and suited to the way our business operates. The role is not site-based and has no direct reports, but it requires visibility, sound judgement and the ability to influence across a complex, high-risk environment. It’s an opportunity to add real bench strength to the HSE function, lift capability across teams and leave a visible imprint on how modern safety practice is brought to life at Vector.

Who are we looking for?

• A senior HSE professional with at least five years’ experience in a senior health and safety leadership or equivalent role within a high-risk, regulated environment, such as energy, utilities, construction or civil infrastructure
• A tertiary qualification in Occupational Health and Safety, Risk Management, or a related discipline. Auditing qualifications and/or lead auditor experience is highly advantageous
• A passion for modern safety practice and proactive learning cultures, underpinned by strong working knowledge of New Zealand’s health, safety and environmental regulatory framework, industry codes of practice and ISO-based management systems, including ISO 45001, ISO 14001 and NZS 7901
• Proven experience taking complex HSE improvement, capability uplift or organisational learning programmes from an identified problem through planning, stakeholder engagement and implementation to an embedded outcome
• Excellent written communication skills, with experience personally drafting clear papers, reports, presentations, guidance, standards, training resources or other material for senior leaders, executives and wider business audiences
• A genuine facilitator who can draw out different perspectives, structure productive workshops, build shared ownership and move stakeholder groups towards decisions, action and accountability
• A practical, solutions-oriented creator and problem-solver who is comfortable working where systems, processes and resources are still being developed, and who can translate business needs into useful, fit-for-purpose solutions that make safe work easier
• Self-motivated, highly organised and delivery-focused, with a warm, collaborative and low-ego style, plus the willingness to remain hands-on in a senior individual-contributor role

Why Vector?

• Enhance your wellbeing, protect your future and empower your personal and professional growth through our extensive benefits package
• Supercharge your career through internal opportunities, own your own development plan and drive your learning and growth
• Join a company embracing innovation and collaborating with leading names worldwide to develop and adopt cutting-edge technologies, like X The Moonshot Factory
• We value diverse perspectives, which drive innovation and creativity. We encourage everyone to bring their full selves to work, embracing ideas that challenge and inspire
• Build a legacy doing work that matters – we’re keeping the lights on across Auckland, and driving a sustainable energy future for New Zealand.

Vector values diversity in all its forms and welcomes people of all backgrounds, experiences, identities and abilities to be part of our team.