Senior Specialist Psychosocial Safety

Full-time, continuing opportunity
Located on Camperdown Campus on Gadigal Country
Base Salary from $152,045 plus 17% superannuation
About the team
The Health, Safety & Wellbeing (HSW) team plays a critical role in enabling safe, healthy and sustainable ways of working across the University. Through listening, learning and a commitment to continuous improvement, HSW promotes consistent best practice, frameworks and standards across all faculties and business areas. Together, the team helps shape a culture where health, safety and wellbeing are embedded into everyday work, supporting organisational excellence and long-term success.
About the opportunity
As Senior Specialist, Psychosocial Safety, you will provide expert advice, guidance, and support across all aspects of the University’s operations and academic activities. With a strong focus on complex matters and critical risks, you will work collaboratively across functions including HSW Partnering, HR Partnering and Staff Health Support, to support the effective management and mitigation of identified psychosocial risks. This includes coaching local leaders to strengthen safety controls and embed practices that prevent future harm.
Working closely with the HSW Partnering team, you will ensure proportionate risk mitigation is provided to Faculties, Schools, Portfolios and Business Units, uplifting partnering capability in how they support their client groups. In collaboration with the Psychosocial Safety, Health and Wellbeing team, you will deliver scalable prevention initiatives that support risk management and connect business areas with relevant support and solutions.
Your key responsibilities will be to:
provide expert psychosocial safety advice on complex matters and critical incidents
analyse and interpret data to deliver meaningful and easily translatable insights that support local areas to proactively manage psychosocial risk
continually mature the Health and Safety Management System (HSMS) in line with emerging legislative standards and best practice
partner with HSW Teams and leadership to embed the psychosocial HSMS architecture across diverse University portfolios
support institutional reporting and leadership capability uplift
foster a comprehensive, systems-based approach to safety through robust worker consultation, strong cross functional relationships, and regulatory alignment.
About you
post-graduate qualifications in Psychology or Occupational Health and Safety or an equivalent combination of training and experience
accreditation / registration with a relevant health or wellbeing professional association / organisation, or legislative body
expert knowledge of risk management practices and the application of government legislation, codes of practice and Australian standards as they relate to psychosocial risk
project management experience and ability to work on multiple projects and activities according to agreed schedules, timelines, and deliverables with minimal supervision and to prepare progress reports for management, project managers and clients
demonstrated experience at a senior level in the preparation and provision of responsive, clear, and concise specialist advice, recommendations, and solutions both verbally and in writing, through effective research, negotiation, and consultation with key stakeholders
demonstrated experience in developing an effective and sustainable safety culture and of conceptualising, developing, and implementing practical compliance and safety programs
demonstrated experience in providing leadership, mentoring and guidance to senior staff to enable them to lead cultural and behavioural change.
Sponsorship / work rights for Australia
Please note: You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.
Pre-employment checks and declarations
Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University. Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.
EEO statement
At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.
How to apply
Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.
We understand that everyone applies differently. If you’d prefer to have an informal conversation before applying, we welcome you to get in touch so we can talk through the role and process. In addition, if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Sade Mintah via sade.mintah@sydney.edu.au
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