Director, Health Safety and Wellbeing - AUC

As one of the world's top 50 young universities and New Zealand's newest, Auckland University of Technology (AUT)(external link) is a university of opportunity where all students with talent and potential have the chance to succeed. We are a socially-driven university with equity and excellence central to our purpose and actions, and we offer a stimulating teaching and research environment with strong connections to government, business, and industry. AUT has more than 27,000 students and over 4,000 staff, based primarily at our three Auckland(external link) teaching campuses.

We are an applied university with diverse, cutting-edge workplaces that are unique, challenging and fascinating (such as art and design, marine research, high performance sports, science labs, engineering, hospitality and much more). From a Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) perspective we are multisite with safety sensitive and safety critical environments.  We interact with world leading minds, vibrant campuses and embrace the complexity of our environment as we deal with a wide spectrum of potential HSW risks, challenges, and opportunities!

Become the new Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing

This is a hugely exciting time to join AUT as the new Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing(external link) and make a massive impact. Based within (and working closely with) AUT's People & Culture(external link) directorate, you will lead our HSW team and provide expert advice and information to the university's leaders as we ensure AUT is a healthy and safe place to work and study. Your HSW passion, specialist knowledge and leadership skills will effectively promote, champion and drive continuous improvement to our safe system of work. You will become a highly trusted and effective leader and business partner for the University's leaders and staff as we raise capability and change behaviours - through consultation, education, mentoring and influencing. Managing HSW risk at AUT is supported by our refreshed management system (Noggin).

Key duties for the Director include:

• Analysing HSW opportunities, risks and challenges and coming up with potential solutions and recommendations for senior leaders, which you will need to be able to communicate clearly and subsequently ensure are implemented. 
• Building strong relationships enabling you to educate, coach, support and influence our leaders to establish a strong, positive health and safety culture in all university functions.
• Ensure relevant HSW policies, procedures and systems are in place to support a high level of compliance with all relevant health and safety legislation across University activities.
• Responsibility for the development, implementation and continuous improvement of HSW strategies, frameworks and plans.
• Developing and implementing tools to provide continuous improvement for our safe system of work.
• Leading and delivery of HSW central projects and/or assisting in the delivery of Faculty identified projects.
• Investigation and interpretation of complex information to make a pragmatic recommendation for decisive action.
• Lead and manage key external HSW relationships (such as Worksafe, Department of Health, EPA, ACC, Dangerous Goods Inspector and more).

You will embody trustworthiness, confidence, and kindness as you develop, mentor and grow an awesome team of 3 very committed and capable HSW direct reports. We are a collaborative team who work hard to deliver for AUT, but who also like to have fun!

Please see the detailed position description for more information on key job accountabilities. 

Applications and Key Selection Criteria

We'd love to hear from qualified senior HSW leaders with proactive and intuitive mindsets who are willing, hungry to learn - and think to themselves 'How can we solve it?'. Along with your CV, please ensure to submit a cover letter which explains why this particular role (and AUT) is of interest, and how your experience aligns with the key experience and attributes we're seeking below:

1. A tertiary qualification in Occupational Health and Safety and a professional Health and Safety membership.
2. Significant HSW partnering experience with senior leaders in a large, complex organisation.
3. Demonstrated experience managing HSW staff.
4. Experience implementing hazard management systems, conducting complex incident investigations, and ability to lead high consequence HSE investigations. 
5. Enthusiasm, judgement and intellectual rigour to underpin HSW advice.
6. A collaborative, inclusive, consultative people leadership style combined with outstanding resilience, interpersonal, and relational skills.
7. A professional and pragmatic approach and the strong ability to influence and engage.
8. The ability to drive culture change and introduce new ways of doing things.
9. Applicants are also welcome to add further comments they may feel of relevance.

Further Information:

• This is a permanent, full-time position (based at AUT's City Campus).
• Start Date: Late-2023 (to be agreed with the successful candidate).

If you want to be a part of an organisation with engaging work, great environments and a purpose with meaning then this could be the role for you. For any enquiries or a confidential chat, please contact Mike Wood, AUT Executive Recruitment Partner - mike.wood@aut.ac.nz. 

Closing date for applications: Sunday 24 September at 11:55pm. We expect interviews to take place early-October.

Reference: 86892