Strategic HSE Manager

INSIDE Recruitment; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure delivery company seeks a Strategic HSE Manager in Christchurch to shape health, safety, and environmental practices. This role includes collaboration with executive teams to drive safety culture and implement training while advising on HSE trends and supporting project planning across New Zealand.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in HSE leadership, ideally in construction/infrastructure.
• Strong understanding of HSWA and PCBU duties.
• Experience engaging at executive/governance levels.

Responsibilities

• Deliver tailored training for Directors and Programme Leads.
• Advise the Board and Chief Executive on emerging HSE trends.
• Support project planning, delivery, and auditing.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical thinking

Curiosity about technology

Education

Tertiary qualification in HSE or Environmental Sciences

Job description

• Strategic HSE leadership with national influence across major projects
• Blend of site presence and board-level engagement
• Shape culture, drive innovation, and lead from the front

Ko wai mātou | About our Company

Crown Infrastructure Delivery (CID), formerly Rau Paenga, is a Crown-owned firm delivering nationally significant infrastructure for central government across Aotearoa, including earthquake recovery and current complex projects. With offices in Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch, we bring leadership, clarity, and delivery excellence to the government’s infrastructure priorities, and we’re expanding our capability and culture to match.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the Role

We’ve created a new Strategic HSE Manager role reporting to the Director of Programme Delivery to shape health, safety, and environmental (HSE) practice across all workstreams: from project sites and construction partners to board-level strategy and long-term culture change. This strategic role offers the opportunity to redefine on-site leadership and embed a proactive safety culture across the organisation, championing safety as a core value, driving innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

You’ll collaborate with the Executive team and delivery leaders to embed our “Living Safely” kaupapa across construction, CIDowned assets, and corporate ops. Responsibilities include delivering tailored training for Directors and Programme Leads, clarifying PCBU duties with site managers and contractors, supporting frontline teams, and bringing to life our safety tools, policies, and strategies.

You’ll also:

• Support project planning, delivery, and auditing (e.g., Te Pae)
• Use tools like Procore to enhance digital HSE maturity—and explore AI/automation
• Advise the Board and Chief Executive on emerging HSE trends
• Build a consistent, high-trust safety culture across dispersed teams
• Align corporate and operational HSE initiatives alongside GM People and GM Te Pae Ops
• Plan for remote site work and future HSE Advisor roles

Ko koe tēnei | About You

You’ll be a seasoned HSE leader with deep technical credibility and pragmatic insight, you’ll champion what good HSE looks like and influence teams from the board to frontline to embed it.

Your background will include:

• Tertiary qualification in HSE or Environmental Sciences
• 10+ years in HSE leadership, ideally in construction or infrastructure
• Experience engaging at executive and governance levels
• Strong understanding of HSWA and PCBU duties
• Contractor management expertise, especially with Tier1 teams
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Experience designing and delivering training and cultural uplift

You’ll also be naturally curious about technology – keen to explore how AI, digital tools and automation might reduce risk and improve performance in HSE.

Ā mātou uara | Our Values and Culture

At CID, we keep things simple, do what’s right, make things happen, and build lasting relationships. We operate with trust, clarity, and a shared commitment to delivering work that will benefit generations of New Zealanders.

Me pēhea te tono | How to Apply

CID is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and warmly welcomes applications from all backgrounds. If you bring the right capability, perspective, and commitment to safety, we want to hear from you – whether your experience comes from the public sector, private sector, or both.

INSIDE Recruitment is assisting with the appointment of this role. To apply, please include a CV and a cover letter outlining your experience. For a confidential discussion, please contact Jeremy McLeod ([e-mail]) or Fraser Leith ([e-mail]). Applications close at 2pm on Thursday, 17th July.

This is a two year fixed term position. We are accepting applications from candidates based in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch. Candidates must be available to travel regularly to project sites across New Zealand (typically monthly).

Please note: You must be eligible to work in Aotearoa and able to pass a Ministry of Justice criminal history check.