Senior Assurance and Safety Manager (Mgr Quality Assurance Policy 3) - 27026

Who we are

HII-Astralia is seeking a Senior Assurance and Safety Manager to join the team! This role will be located in Henderson, Australia. This position will report to the Program Director (Day to day) and Chief SEA Officer (Functional). This position will lead the strategic development and execution of Health, Safety and Quality Assurance frameworks across the program, ensuring alignment with corporate goals, regulatory standards, and industry best practices. This role provides senior level guidance, oversight, and assurance, driving a culture of accountability, innovation, and excellence in safety and quality. This role acts as a key advisor to executive leadership and a champion for enterprise risk reduction.  This role oversees multiple teams, line managers and senior specialists, driving performance, compliance, and continuous improvement in line with legal, contractual, and organisational standards. The role is pivotal in developing and executing workplace health, safety, and quality assurance strategies, overseeing risk management, and promoting a strong culture of safety and continuous quality improvement. Through strong leadership, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement, this role ensures that operational activities are conducted safely, sustainably, and to the highest standards of quality and regulatory compliance.

Responsible for the provision of leadership, management, and coordination of the program Workplace Health and Safety and Quality Assurance teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Set strategic direction for WHS and QA across business units, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee the implementation and governance of WHS and QA management systems, driving continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Provide high-level reporting on safety performance, risks, and compliance to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Lead enterprise-wide WHS and QA audits and assurance programs, ensuring certification standards (e.g., ISO 9001, 14001, 45001) are maintained.
• Monitor and interpret legislative and regulatory changes, advising the business on implications and required actions.
• Champion a proactive safety culture, promoting leadership engagement, education, and accountability at all levels.
• Direct complex incident investigations, ensuring root cause analysis, regulatory reporting, and systemic corrective actions.
• Guide and mentor WHS and QA leaders and teams, driving capability development and succession planning.
• Represent the organization in external forums, industry groups, and regulatory engagements to influence best practice.
• Lead strategic WHS and QA initiatives, including improvement programs and enterprise risk mitigation efforts.
• Provide expert input into commercial strategies, including tenders and client engagements, ensuring WHS and QA requirements are embedded.
• Oversee the deployment and optimization of WHS and QA digital tools (e.g., Synergi Life), ensuring data integrity and usability.
• Analyze high-level WHS and QA data and trends, providing insights to inform strategic decision making.
• Ensure effective stakeholder engagement, including customers, contractors, and internal teams, to uphold WHS and QA standards and partnerships.
• Act as a key advisor to executive leadership, contributing to the development of organizational safety objectives and performance targets.
• Lead, coordinate, and oversee multiple WHS and QA teams, ensuring effective deployment, development, and performance of staff through line managers and senior specialists.
• Encourage a high-performance culture that promotes accountability, continuous improvement, and compliance with organisational and regulatory standards.
• Develop and implement comprehensive audit programmes and schedules aligned with legal, contractual, and internal policy requirements.
• Deliver WHS and QA services that meet or exceed monthly, quarterly, and annual performance targets and key performance indicators.
• Ensure the development, implementation, and maintenance of WHS and QA policies, standards, and procedures across the business.
• Lead the design and execution of audit and inspection frameworks to maintain certification against national and international standards.
• Direct and oversee investigations into safety related incidents, ensuring root cause analysis, corrective actions, and reporting obligations are fulfilled in accordance with legal and company requirements.
• Monitor and interpret changes in legislation and corporate policy, ensuring timely integration into operational procedures.
• Represent the organization in engagements with regulatory bodies, certification authorities, and key internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify areas of procedural non-compliance or risk and work with operational leaders to develop and implement improvement plans.
• Promote a proactive safety culture through education, engagement, and the implementation of best practices.
  Manage departmental budgets and resource plans to ensure efficient delivery of WHS and QA services within agreed financial parameters.
• Contribution to a safe working environment.

What you need to have:

• 8 years relevant progressive experience with Bachelors in related field; 6 years relevant progressive experience with Masters in related field; or High School Diploma or equivalent and 12 years relevant progressive experience.
• Approximately 10 years’ experience in a WHS role and approximately 5+ years in management roles.
• Significant experience in Quality Assurance and managing a Quality Management System.
• Experience reviewing and validating operational safety audits, safety investigations and processing / reviewing Hazard and Safety Occurrence Reports.
• Expert level knowledge of WH&S legislation, and Operational Risk Management including Federal, state and local workplace health and safety laws.
• Proficient in the conduct of trend analysis and development of improvement and/or remedial action plans.
• Expert level understanding of Safety Management Systems.
• Skills and Competencies (Role Specific requirements).
• Expertise with return-to-work processing.
• Experience managing teams involved in waterfront/ construction/ white card environments.
• Expertise with quality assurance and compliance.
• Experience in a ISO 45001 and ISO9001 certified system.
• Experience with emergency response and incident management.
• Tertiary qualifications in the Health, Safety and Environment or Occupational Health and Safety disciplines.
• Safety Investigation qualifications such as Incident Cause Analysis Method (ICAM).
• Must either hold, or be eligible to obtain and maintain an Australian Defence Security Clearance at the following level; AGSVA Negative Vetting – NV1.

Bonus points for:

• Qualified ISO9001 and 45001 Lead Auditor with experience of conducting Internal and Supplier audits preferred.