National Safety Manager

edenfx HSE; Whakatāne; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

edenfx HSE is seeking a National Safety Manager in New Zealand to shape safety strategy across a geographically dispersed business. You will lead a team of safety professionals, collaborate with field leaders, and translate safety priorities into practical action across a wide operation in the electricity sector.

The role demands senior health and safety leadership, strong governance and the ability to coach leaders, influence change and build safety capability while maintaining rigorous

Qualifications

• Senior safety leadership in energy sector.
• Knowledge of high-risk, field-based energy ops.
• Experience leading dispersed safety teams.
• Strong incident investigation capability.
• Governance, reporting and assurance experience.
• Ability to coach leaders and drive change.
• Pragmatic strategy and operations approach.
• Relevant health and safety qualification.
• Full, clean NZ driver’s licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead national safety team and governance.
• Coordinate regional safety practices and reporting.
• Translate data trends into operational priorities.
• Lead risk initiatives and investigations.
• Develop training and competency programmes.
• Improve contractor performance, prequalification and audit practices.

Skills

Senior safety leadership

Energy operations knowledge

Team leadership

Incident investigation

Governance & reporting

Coaching & change

Strategic & operational pragmatism

HSE qualification

NZ driver’s licence

Education

Health & safety qualification

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.

Work Visa required: All applicants will be required to provide proof of their eligibility to work in New Zealand.

Are you an experienced safety leader who combines strategic thinking with strong technical knowledge and a genuine connection to operational teams?

We’re partnering with an established electricity-sector organisation to recruit a National Safety Manager. This influential role will shape national safety strategy, strengthen governance and support a consistent approach across a geographically dispersed business.

Leading a team of safety professionals, you will provide direction, support and assurance while building safety capability across the wider organisation.

About the role

This is a visible, hands-on leadership position. You will work across the business, building strong relationships with field teams and leaders, understanding regional challenges and turning safety priorities into practical action.

Key areas of focus include:

• Guiding and developing the national safety team
• Bringing regional safety practices, governance and reporting together
• Turning safety data and trends into clear operational priorities
• Leading critical risk initiatives and complex investigations
• Shaping practical training and competency programmes
• Strengthening contractor performance, prequalification and audit practices

About you

You will bring the credibility to operate at senior leadership level, together with the practical approach needed to engage effectively with field teams and operational leaders.

• Senior health and safety leadership experience within the energy sector
• Strong knowledge of high-risk, field-based energy operations
• Experience leading and developing a geographically dispersed team
• Sound technical capability across critical risk and incident investigation
• Experience improving governance, reporting and management assurance
• The ability to coach leaders, influence change and build safety capability
• A pragmatic approach across both strategy and operations
• A relevant health and safety qualification
• A full, clean New Zealand driver’s licence

Energy-sector experience is essential – preferably electricity sector. You will understand the risks, regulatory requirements and operational realities of working within this environment.