National HSE Lead

Zenergy has been engaged to appoint a National HSEQ Manager for a well-established Australian manufacturer. Operating across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland with a workforce of approximately 200, the business runs a purpose-built manufacturing facility in Melbourne's south-east and a national head office in Mulgrave. This is a business with serious infrastructure and a strong market position, now looking to match that with a safety function that reflects it.

THE ROLE

This appointment sits at the intersection of operational credibility and executive influence. Reporting to the CEO, you will hold authority over HSEQ performance across all sites and be accountable for a function that is being built and professionalised. A recent external audit has set the agenda, the incoming Manager will inherit a clear picture of what needs to change and is expected to lead that work with pace and purpose. The ability to bring people with you matters as much as the technical brief. A directive, top-down approach will not land here. The person who succeeds will have come up through operational environments, know how to earn trust on the floor, and understand that lasting change is built through influence, not instruction.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Set the national HSEQ strategy and deliver monthly performance reporting to the CEO, with escalation to the Board as required
• Develop and execute the annual Audit Plan across all sites, including non-conformance management and corrective action close-out
• Manage all incident investigations across factory and field operations, meeting statutory reporting obligations across VIC, NSW, and QLD
• Implement and maintain integrated management systems aligned to ISO 45001, ISO 14001, ISO 9001, and ISO 31000
• Provide direct line management to HSEQ Advisors and develop capability across the broader safety team
• Ensure compliance under the OHS Act 2004 (VIC), WHS Act 2011 (NSW), and WHS Act 2011 (QLD), applying relevant Australian Standards to plant and equipment operations

THE ESSENTIALS

• Tertiary qualification in WHS, OHS, or equivalent - ICAM certification and Lead Auditor qualifications required
• At least 5 years in a senior leadership position, ideally within manufacturing or heavy industry
• Demonstrated ability to shift culture, not just implement systems - a track record of delivering meaningful change in complex operational environments
• The interpersonal range to engage a trades workforce and an executive team with equal effectiveness
• Multi-jurisdictional compliance experience across Australian WHS legislation
• Membership with AIHS or equivalent professional certification highly regarded

THE BENEFITS

• Permanent appointment within a stable, growing business that has committed to getting safety right
• A direct reporting line to the CEO and genuine decision-making authority from day one
• The scope to build a national function - structure, team, systems, and culture - largely from scratch
• An engaged leadership team ready to back the right person and invest in the long term

NEXT STEPS

Submit your CV via the application link, or reach out directly for a confidential conversation:

James German | 0481 606 899 | james.german@zenergygroup.com.au