Director - Work Health And Safety

Who we are
People Division, led by the Chief People Officer (CPO), provides human resources (HR) functions for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the department) with a clear focus on the department's most valued asset:
its staff. Alongside contemporary HR functions, projects and strategies People Division is also responsible for:

• enhancing the department's focus on safety,
• enterprise bargaining,
• cultural and change management, and
• the department's response to Australian Public Service (APS) reforms.

People Safety and Remote People Services Branch (PSRPS) is responsible for leading the department's approach to providing a safe and respectful workplace, including health, safety and wellbeing strategies and change management practices. The PSRPS Branch also provides a strategic partnership offering for Parks Australia and the Australian Antarctic Division, working with these divisions to develop and deliver a suite of HR strategies to manage complex risks associated with these operational areas. The PSRPS Branch is responsible for:

• Work, Health and Safety.
• Change Management.
• Parks Australia Division HR Support.
• Australian Antarctic Division HR Support.
• People Support and Wellbeing.

The Work Health and Safety (WHS) function is part of a 'Hub and Spoke' model - recognising the critical and interdependent nature of each team within the function to achieving successful health, safety, and wellbeing solutions, keeping our people safe, and ensuring that safety is at the centre of all we do. The WHS function (the Hub) designs and manages the department's enterprise WHS Management System (WHSMS) to minimise the risk of injury and illness. We support our unique workforce by coaching and guiding our people on WHS matters and providing specialist advice to each division in line with their operating context. We support the WHS Australia Antarctic Division (AAD) and Parks Australia Division (PAD) team (Spoke) to be in alignment with the departments WHSMS and Strategy and work together to ensure the safety of our workforce in remote and isolated environments.
The key duties of the position include
The Job

• Leading and overseeing the Section and its program of work, including the delivery of the WHS Strategy.
• Working in partnership with People Division Directors to ensure that WHS systems and programs are understood and implemented across the department.
• Uplifting WHS leadership capability across the WHS Section through coaching and technical support.
• Overseeing the WHS governance arrangements and Employee Assistance Program contract.
• Driving the development, implementation, and continued improvement of the departments' WHS Management System.
• Directing the delivery of timely communication across the department in relation to new and updated documentation, systems and processes for WHS.
• Driving the development and adoption of initiatives and programs such as National Safe Work Month, annual influenza vaccination program, or events related to building the department's safety culture and leadership.
• Owning the co-ordination and management of corporate roles (Health and Safety Representatives, First Aid Officers and Workplace Contact Officers).
• Providing updates and reports to departmental committees and senior executives.
• Provide specialist and technical advice and guidance to senior executives, managers and workers on WHS risk management in various operating contexts including operational and office/policy-based roles.
• Overseeing the preparation of complex and sensitive correspondence, briefs, and documentation in a timely manner for senior executives.

What we are looking for
Knowledge and experience

• Technical expertise and experience interpreting and applying Commonwealth WHS legislation.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, whilst remaining on track to achieve agreed deliverables.
• Practical experience in a comparable role, with experience leading others (at least 2 years in a comparable role is highly desirable).
• Ability to think strategically, applying problem solving and decision-making skills to resolve complex issues involving multiple stakeholders.

Skills and capabilities

• Strong leadership and stakeholder management, facilitation, engagement and coaching skills, with a collaborative approach when working with others.
• Strong stakeholder management experience, including the ability to effectively communicate with senior leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver outcomes in a dynamic environment with competing priorities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Good judgement in problem solving, decision making and engaging with risk.
• Excellent research and conceptual and analytical thinking skills to inform timely, evidence-based decision making aligned to strategic direction.

Desirable Qualifications

• Certificate IV in WHS.