Head of HSEQ

Head of Health, Safety, Environment & Quality (HSEQ)

National Role | Based in Sydney’s Inner West

Safety Leadership Opportunity | Multi-Site Operations

Safety Australia Group is proud to partner exclusively with our client in the search for an exceptional Head of Health, Safety, Environment & Quality (HSEQ) to lead enterprise-wide safety, risk and compliance strategy across a large, nationally dispersed operation.

This is a career-defining opportunity for a contemporary safety manager who is passionate about cultural transformation, leadership capability and building a proactive, risk-intelligent organisation.

Reporting directly to the General Manager – Human Resources, you will play a critical role in shaping the organisation’s future safety direction while influencing operational and strategic outcomes at Executive level.

The Opportunity

This role goes far beyond compliance.
As the Head of HSEQ, you will lead the evolution of safety across the business, embedding a leadership-led safety culture, strengthening governance and risk frameworks, uplifting systems and processes, and driving meaningful behavioural change across a complex operational environment.
You’ll partner closely with senior leaders nationally to ensure safety becomes embedded in decision-making, operational excellence and organisational performance.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Safety Strategy & Culture

• Develop and execute the national WHS, risk and compliance strategy aligned to business growth and operational priorities
• Drive a visible, leadership-led safety culture across all levels of the organisation
• Lead the transition from compliance-focused safety to proactive, risk-intelligent operations
• Champion consultation, engagement and psychological safety across operational and corporate teams

Leadership Capability & Organisational Influence

• Design and embed leadership accountability frameworks for safety
• Coach senior leaders on due diligence obligations, safety leadership and risk-based decision making
• Partner with People & Culture to integrate safety into leadership development, performance and succession planning

Risk, Governance & Executive Reporting

• Lead enterprise risk management frameworks with a strong operational and WHS focus
• Deliver high-quality Executive and Board-level reporting and insights
• Ensure risk considerations are embedded into operational and strategic business decisions
• Provide visibility of emerging risks, trends and performance indicators

ISO, Audit & Compliance Leadership

• Lead ISO management systems including ISO 45001 and associated standards
• Oversee internal and external audit programs and continuous improvement initiatives
• Ensure corrective actions are effectively managed and embedded
• Build strong relationships with regulators, auditors and industry bodies

Systems, Process & Continuous Improvement

• Review and uplift systems, policies and procedures to improve consistency and operational adoption
• Simplify safety processes to ensure practicality and usability across sites
• Leverage technology, reporting and data insights to improve performance and risk visibility
• Ensure systems evolve alongside operational growth and legislative change

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and support the National WHS Manager and broader compliance capability
• Build a trusted, high-performing and commercially aligned safety function
• Foster collaboration between safety, operations and people functions nationally

About You

You are a strategic and influential HSEQ leader with proven experience operating in complex, multi-site operational environments.
You combine strong technical capability with exceptional stakeholder engagement and a practical, people-first leadership style.

To be successful, you will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience across WHS/HSEQ, risk and compliance
• Experience within medium to high-risk operational environments such as logistics, manufacturing, distribution or industrial sectors
• A demonstrated track record leading safety transformation and cultural change initiatives
• Strong knowledge of Australian WHS legislation and officer due diligence obligations
• Extensive experience leading ISO management systems and audit frameworks
• Strong Executive communication and reporting capability
• High emotional intelligence and the ability to influence across all organisational levels

Highly Regarded:

• Experience integrating safety into broader organisational and cultural transformation initiatives
• Exposure to Executive governance and reporting environments
• Experience supporting geographically dispersed workforces
• Tertiary WHS, Quality or Environment Qualifications or equivalent experience

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future direction of safety within a nationally recognised operation undergoing significant cultural and operational evolution.
You’ll join a business genuinely committed to:

• Moving beyond compliance to sustainable safety leadership
• Empowering leaders and operational teams
• Investing in systems, culture and capability
• Building a mature, forward-thinking approach to safety, risk and governance

This role offers genuine influence, national impact and the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy with an Employer of Choice.

Apply Now

If you’re a progressive HSEQ executive ready to lead transformation at scale, we’d welcome a confidential discussion.

Apply now via SEEK or contact Safety Australia Group for more information.