Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time
Salary: $188,297 - $256,088
Grade: VPS 7
Occupation: Human resources
Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs
Reference: VG/DJCS/PSCC/1863880
The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking a Principal Lead, Safety to provide a critical role within Safety, Wellbeing and Compliance.
About the Business Unit
People, Safety, Culture and Communications' (PSCCs) core functions span the breadth of workplace cultural and people matters, including human resource policy and strategy; organisational culture and change; recruitment, redeployment, and retention; performance and development; pay, benefits and workforce reporting; occupational health and safety management; and employment regulations.
The Principal Lead Safety sits within Safety, Wellbeing and Compliance (SWC), a branch of the PSCC in the Department of Justice and Community Safety (the department). The SWC branch provides process, systems and services to support the department to meet its responsibilities under health and safety laws (Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, Dangerous Goods Act 1985 and Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013).
About the Role
Step into a career defining role where your safety expertise won't just be valued, it will shape the future! This is more than a job, it could be your next big move.
The Principal Lead Safety will report to the Senior Director of Safety, Wellbeing and Compliance and is solely accountable for leading the Safety function across the department. This role is dedicated exclusively to safety, with a clear mandate to guide the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the department's safety strategy.
You will provide high-level strategic advice to ensure that safety is embedded as a core value and fully aligned with departmental objectives. As both a strategic and hands-on leader, you will proactively coach and mentor leaders and employees to strengthen their understanding, ownership, and engagement in all aspects of safety—physical and psychosocial. Your focus will be on identifying and controlling workplace risks through a preventative and informed safety culture.
This position calls for a seasoned safety leader with deep expertise in health and safety regulations, particularly within complex and high-risk environments. With a sole focus on safety, this role will drive meaningful cultural change, elevate psychological and physical safety standards, and foster continuous improvement to embed a safety-first mindset throughout the department.
Some of your duties will include:
To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.
About you
To be successful in this role, you will have:
Qualifications/requirements
Applications close 11:59 Wednesday 30th July
How to Apply
Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.
The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) and misconduct screening.
If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:
The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.