Health, Safety and Wellbeing Director Systems and Enablement

Full-time, continuing opportunity
Located on Camperdown Campus on Gadigal Country
Competitive remuneration package including 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
The HSW Director Systems and Enablement is a senior University leadership role. In this position, you will be accountable for setting and driving the strategic direction of the University’s HSW systems, governance, assurance, reporting, and digital enablement functions.
Operating at a senior strategic level with influence extending to University Executive and Senate, the Director shapes a proactive agenda, provides trusted advice to senior leaders, and ensures sustained organisational focus on strategic priorities, risk management, and performance. The role plays a critical leadership function in embedding a cohesive and forward-looking approach to health, safety and wellbeing risks across the institution.
Your key responsibilities will be to:
lead the design and development of HSW Systems and Enablement function strategic objectives and goals for the University
team leadership and budget management
set and evolve the HSW Systems and Enablement operating model, ensuring clarity of roles, service offerings, and integration across systems, governance, assurance, and reporting functions
set and evolve the governance and reporting framework for the HSW function
lead the University wide assurance/audit program
provide strategic oversight and direction for HSW systems and digital enablement and continuous improvement
lead the University’s HSW Program Management activities.
This role will suit a contemporary HSW leader who combines strong systems and governance capability with the ability to set direction and lead digital and technology enabled change, while bringing people with them through complex organisational change.
About you
graduate degree/ professional qualifications or equivalent experience in a WHS or related discipline
extensive experience within Work Health and Safety field with a demonstrated experience of relevant legislation and policies
demonstrated leadership in developing an effective and sustainable safety culture and conceptualising, developing and implementing practical compliance and safety programs
extensive leadership experience leading multi-disciplinary Work Health and Safety specialist professionals within large, complex and highly regulated organisations
demonstrated experience in applying H&S Safety Management strategies in complex environments
advanced knowledge of Risk Management practices and the application of government legislation, codes of practice and Australian standards
advanced knowledge of relevant Australian Safety Standards as well as relevant Safe Work Australia, SafeWork NSW and Workcover publications
extensive experience with the development of HSMS systems and provision of technical supporting tools.
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.
How to apply
The Safe Step is assisting the University of Sydney with this appointment. Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page. For further information and a confidential conversation about the role please contact Stephen Coldicutt on scoldicutt@thesafestep.com.au or 02 8256 2529.
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.
© The University of Sydney
The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.
Click to view the Position Description for this role.
Applications Close
Sunday 01 November 2026 11:59 PM