About the Role 

The Safety Manager is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of workplace health and safety strategies, systems, and programs across Sydney Water operations. The role ensures compliance with Australian WHS legislation, industry standards, and internal policies while promoting a proactive and positive safety culture. The successful candidate must be highly skilled and experienced in managing health and safety within complex operational environments, ideally including utilities, infrastructure, construction, or water services.

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead the development, implementation, and review of safety policies, procedures, and management systems.
• Ensure compliance with relevant Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation, regulations, codes of practice, and organisational requirements.
• Provide expert safety advice and guidance to leadership, managers, employees, and contractors across operational and project environments.
• Conduct risk assessments, workplace inspections, safety audits, and compliance reviews to identify hazards and drive corrective actions.
• Investigate incidents, injuries, hazards, and near misses, and ensure root cause analysis and preventive measures are effectively implemented.
• Monitor contractor safety performance and ensure contractors comply with Sydney Water safety expectations and site requirements.
• Develop and deliver safety training, toolbox talks, awareness campaigns, and emergency preparedness exercises.
• Support operational teams in identifying safety risks associated with water treatment, wastewater, field services, construction, maintenance, and infrastructure projects.
• Maintain accurate safety records, reports, investigation findings, audit outcomes, and compliance documentation.
• Track and analyse safety performance indicators and provide regular reports, insights, and recommendations to senior management.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen workplace safety systems and safety culture.
• Promote employee engagement and accountability in health and safety practices across all levels of the business.
• Participate in emergency management planning and response coordination where required.

Qualifications & Experience 

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Health, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5–8 years of demonstrated experience in a senior safety role, preferably within utilities, water, construction, infrastructure, engineering, or other high-risk operational environments.
• Strong working knowledge of Australian WHS legislation, regulations, and codes of practice.
• Sound understanding of safety risks relevant to water utilities, field operations, maintenance, construction, confined spaces, hazardous substances, and plant/equipment safety.
• Excellent hazard identification, risk assessment, and incident investigation skills.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, and influencing capability.

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