Senior Advisor Health Safety and Security (x2)

Department of Conservation; Dunedin; On-site; NZD 94,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Conservation is seeking experienced health and safety practitioners to provide trusted advice, practical support, and strategic guidance across a diverse organization. We're looking for experts who can lead risk management, investigations, learning, and regulator engagement across portfolios.

Imagine delivering training, strengthening capability, and shaping safety outcomes while collaborating with leaders at all levels.

Qualifications

• A Level 4 qualification in Occupational Health and Safety (or equivalent) and significant health and safety practitioner experience.
• Strong knowledge of the Health and Safety at Work Act and contemporary risk management practices.
• Experience leading or supporting investigations, learning teams and assurance activities.
• Expertise in critical risk management and implementation of effective controls.
• Ability to influence, coach and build trusted relationships with leaders at all levels.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate technical information into practical advice.
• Experience developing and improving systems, programmes or organisational practices.
• A collaborative approach and commitment to continuous improvement and organisational learning.
• Full NZ drivers licence and ability to travel for work as required.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert health, safety and wellbeing advice and support to assigned business portfolios and leaders.
• Lead and support critical risk management, verification activities, assurance reviews and bowtie analysis.
• Support incident management, investigations, organisational learning and regulator engagement.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of health, safety and security systems, standards and programmes.
• Deliver training, workshops, learning activities and leadership engagement to strengthen organisational capability.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Risk management

Incident management

Communication

Leadership coaching

Regulator engagement

Training delivery

Education

OH&S Level 4 (or equivalent)

Job description

Partner with leaders across DOC to strengthen critical risk management, build capability, and help create safer outcomes for people working to protect Aotearoa's natural heritage$93,656.00 - $126,500.00X2 permanent full time opportunities, Dunedin or Invercargill or Rotorua or Palmerston North location preferred - flexible work location options across Aotearoa

Our vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Tūroa DOC is strengthening its Health, Safety and Security function to better support our people, manage critical risks, and build organisational resilience with a risk-informed and people-centred approach that focuses on learning, prevention, system stewardship, and partnership. These roles offer a unique opportunity to help shape how DOC supports its people, safeguards its operations, and delivers conservation outcomes across Aotearoa.

About the role

Protecting Aotearoa's unique natural places starts with protecting the people who work in them. We're looking for experienced health and safety practitioners who can provide trusted advice, practical support, and strategic guidance across a diverse and operationally complex organisation.

The position will be focussed on:

• Provide expert health, safety and wellbeing advice and support to assigned business portfolios and leaders
• Lead and support critical risk management, verification activities, assurance reviews and bowtie analysis
• Support incident management, investigations, organisational learning and regulator engagement
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of health, safety and security systems, standards and programmes
• Deliver training, workshops, learning activities and leadership engagement to strengthen organisational capability

Click here for the Role Description

Skills and experience

• A Level 4 qualification in Occupational Health and Safety (or equivalent) and significant health and safety practitioner experience
• Strong knowledge of the Health and Safety at Work Act and contemporary risk management practices
• Experience leading or supporting investigations, learning teams and assurance activities
• Expertise in critical risk management and implementation of effective controls
• Ability to influence, coach and build trusted relationships with leaders at all levels
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate technical information into practical advice
• Experience developing and improving systems, programmes or organisational practices
• A collaborative approach and commitment to continuous improvement and organisational learning
• Full NZ drivers licence and ability to travel for work as required

What's in it for you?

DOC is committed to a culture where everyone can participate, thrive, and grow. We're driven by our values and behaviours, and are working towards being an organisation that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive by default. We also support flexible working arrangements for our kaimahi across Aotearoa, with options considered based on the role and in discussion with your leader. Want to know more?

Eligibility

Eligibility: You must hold a valid NZ work visa that covers the duration of employment.

Applications close at 11:59 pm on Sunday, 15 November 2026.

This advert may close early, so please apply promptly.

For further enquiries

For further enquiries, please contact Emily Blokker, Senior Recruitment Advisor [e-mail].