Process Safety Engineer

Laminex New Zealand; Taupo; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Laminex New Zealand is commissioning a new Taupō production facility and seeks a Process Safety Engineer to embed critical risk management from day one.

Based at Taupo, you will lead the technical development of a risk-based safety framework, roll out governance, and coach site leaders to achieve safer operations during commissioning and beyond.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Engineering or related technical discipline.
• Experience in process safety or operational risk within manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of BowTie, HAZOP and FMEA risk methods.
• Experience implementing governance frameworks or technical standards.
• Ability to translate complex technical requirements into practical operations.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Proven ability to influence without direct authority.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of critical risk and process safety systems in Taupo facility.
• Develop and roll out Laminex NZ's Critical Risk and Process Safety Management System, including procedures, standards, training and verification processes.
• Design and maintain auditing, assurance and deviation management frameworks.
• Facilitate hazard identification and risk assessment workshops using BowTie, HAZOP and FMEA.
• Establish and maintain the critical risk and process safety risk register.
• Analyse incident, verification and assurance data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Support investigations into process safety incidents and embed learnings across the business.
• Act as Laminex NZ's internal subject matter expert, providing technical advice and practical solutions.
• Coach and support site leaders to strengthen process safety capability and ownership.
• Identify opportunities to utilise technology and digital tools to improve risk management.

Skills

Process safety

Critical risk

BowTie analysis

HAZOP

FMEA

Stakeholder engagement

Influence without authority

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

Description

Laminex New Zealand is investing in the future of manufacturing, with a significant new production facility currently being commissioned in Taupō. We're looking for a Process Safety Engineer to play a critical role in ensuring process safety and critical risk management are embedded from day one.

This newly created role offers a unique opportunity to help shape the way we manage critical risks across our manufacturing operations. Your initial focus will be supporting the successful commissioning and operationalisation of our new Taupō plant, before partnering with our Hamilton manufacturing to drive consistency, capability and best practice in process safety.

If you're passionate about risk management, process safety and influencing operational leaders to achieve better safety outcomes, this role offers the chance to make a lasting impact on a nationally significant manufacturing business.

About The Role

Reporting to the National Manufacturing Manager and initially based at our Taupo plant, in this 12-18 month fixed term contract role you'll be the technical lead for critical risk and process safety across Laminex New Zealand.

Working alongside plant leadership teams, engineers, operational managers and EH&S professionals, you'll develop and implement a practical critical risk and process safety management system that aligns with Fletcher Building's overarching framework while meeting the unique needs of our manufacturing operations.

Success in this role will come through influence, coaching and collaboration rather than direct authority.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of critical risk and process safety systems within our new Taupō manufacturing facility.
• Develop and roll out Laminex NZ's Critical Risk and Process Safety Management System, including procedures, standards, training and verification processes.
• Design and maintain auditing, assurance and deviation management frameworks.
• Facilitate hazard identification and risk assessment workshops using methodologies such as BowTie, HAZOP and FMEA.
• Establish and maintain the critical risk and process safety risk register.
• Analyse incident, verification and assurance data to identify emerging trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Support investigations into process safety incidents and ensure learnings are embedded across the business.
• Act as Laminex NZ's internal subject matter expert, providing technical advice and practical solutions to operational teams.
• Coach and support site leaders to strengthen process safety capability and ownership.
• Identify opportunities to utilise technology and digital tools to improve risk management and operational performance.

About You

You’ll bring a strong technical foundation combined with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders across all levels of the business.

Ideally You'll Have

• A tertiary qualification or trade background in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Experience in process safety, critical risk management or operational risk within manufacturing, processing, industrial or heavy industry environments.
• Strong working knowledge of BowTie analysis, HAZOPs, FMEA or similar risk assessment methodologies.
• Experience implementing management systems, governance frameworks or technical standards.
• Ability to translate complex technical requirements into practical operational solutions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven capability to influence and drive outcomes without direct authority.
• A continuous improvement mindset and a genuine passion for making workplaces safer.

Why Laminex NZ?

Laminex New Zealand is part of Fletcher Building and is one of the country’s leading manufacturers and distributors of decorative surfaces, panel products and building solutions. This is a rare opportunity to help establish critical risk and process safety foundations within a new manufacturing facility while influencing the future direction of safety performance across the wider business.

Want to help shape the future of process safety at Laminex NZ? We'd love to hear from you.