Principal Workplace Health and Safety Advisor
Level 8, $157,900 - $171,005 pa, PSCSAA 2024
Come join the team at the new Department of Housing and Works.
The Department of Housing and Works delivers and maintains essential social housing and critical infrastructure across Western Australia—including schools, hospitals and police facilities.
We manage tenancy services, support housing provision in remote Aboriginal communities, and oversee government employee accommodation.
Through office accommodation solutions, State Fleet management, procurement, planning and asset policy, we empower other government agencies to deliver their best.
We actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, youth, people of diverse sexualities and genders, and culturally and linguistically diverse people.
We are committed to ensuring our hiring processes are inclusive. If you are an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person, a young person or a person with a disability seeking support with your application, please reach out to Jobs and Skills WA by calling 13 64 64.
If you are a person living with disability and require adjustments or accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact Graeme McLean (08) 6551 1761or via email at graeme.mclean@dohw.wa.gov.au. You can also reach us through the National Relay Service.
When you join us, you can enjoy a variety of benefits, including:
- flexible work options, including working from home up to 2 days per week
- professional development, training, and on-the-job learning to advance your career
- generous leave entitlements, which include 4 weeks annual leave, 3 public service holidays each year, accrued long service leave every 7 years and an option to purchase additional leave each year. Access to cultural leave for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- modern workspaces, where you choose your workspace that assists you to do your best work
- access to activity-based work hubs in the CBD, Fremantle and Joondalup for ad hoc flexible work
- corporate discounts with selected health insurance providers and access to wellness programs
- Opportunity to contribute to diversity, inclusion, and cultural initiatives across the department, including networks and working groups that promote equity and belonging.
About The Role:
Lead the development and application of workplace health and safety policies, procedures, standards and systems related to outsourced non-residential building works and maintenance services delivered by the Buildings and Contracts (B&C) directorate, in line with the Department’s overarching Work Health and Safety (WHS) framework.
Provide strategic and practical advice on safety management, hazardous materials and building construction and maintenance related WHS issues.
About You:
You are knowledgeable and experienced in contemporary WHS legislation, as well as WHS‑based risk management and incident investigation, and confident in applying this expertise to the delivery of non‑residential building works and maintenance services.
You have experience leading a WHS team or function in a construction safety management environment and are committed to improving safety outcomes. You work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders and focus on building a strong, positive safety culture. Your experience includes developing and implementing programs and policies that support compliance and strengthen workplace safety.
This position operates in the context of Leading Leaders. This means you will be required to deliver results through leaders and your teams in a single business area, and by influencing leaders in other business areas. You will add value by providing direction and developing and coaching your leaders to achieve operational objectives. You will make decisions about how services should be provided based on the resources at hand.
How to Apply:
If you have what it takes to be part of our dynamic and forward-thinking team, submit the following in MS Word or PDF format only:
1. A comprehensive CV that shows your skills, experiences and key achievements, including the contact details of two referees (with one being your current or most recent supervisor).
2. Cover letter of two (2) pages or less, outlining your suitability for the role in the context of the following two essential requirements and demonstrating expected leadership behaviours in the context of Leading Leaders:
- Experience leading a WHS team or function in a construction safety management environment, including implementation of programs and policies to ensure legislative compliance and develop a safety culture.
- Demonstrated substantial experience in investigations and risk management in a WHS context.
A relevant qualification is highly desirable for this position. Please include in your application if this is relevant for you.
Please ensure you apply before the closing deadline as we won’t accept late and incomplete applications.
Further Job-Related Information:
Please contact Graeme McLean (08) 6551 1761 for further information about the position (not to be contacted for Applicant Information Packs or assistance with lodging your application).
To assist you in preparing your application, please refer to the Applicant Information Pack, Job Description Form, and Leadership Behaviours. Additionally, the WA Jobs and Workforce Hub provides information on working in Western Australia. This includes guidance on applying for government sector jobs, industry insights, application tips, relocation resources, training opportunities, and apprenticeships.
If you are unable to view or download these documents, please contact us by calling (08) 6557 8111 (select option 1) or email recruitment@dohw.wa.gov.au, quoting the reference number VCID03340 for support.
Currently there is one (1) permanent full-time or part-time (minimum 22.5 hours per week) position available for filling. Whilst this selection process will initially be used to appoint to this advertised vacancy, it may also be used to appoint to similar positions that may arise in the Agency within the next twenty-four (24) months on a full-time, part-time, permanent or fixed-term basis with the possibility of further extension(s) and/or permanency.
