"Associate Director, Work, Health and Safety (WHS)"

About the Role

As the Associate Director, Work, Health and Safety (WHS), you’ll play a pivotal role within the People and Culture Leadership team, providing strategic direction and oversight of the University’s health, safety, and injury management systems.

This role is responsible for shaping and driving WHS strategy, collaborating with senior leaders across Colleges and Portfolios, and ensuring that policies, procedures, and systems support a culture of safety, prevention, and effective rehabilitation throughout the University.

You’ll work closely with fellow People and Culture leaders on cross-functional initiatives and maintain strong relationships with regulatory bodies such as WorkCover and SafeWork SA. Your engagement with the broader WHS and Self-Insurer community will help ensure the University remains at the forefront of safety best practices.

For a more comprehensive list of Key Position Responsibilities, please view the Position Description

About You

You bring a wealth of leadership experience in WHS within a medium to large organisation, ideally one with a complex risk profile. Your strategic mindset, combined with strong planning and reporting capabilities, enables you to influence key stakeholders and drive meaningful change.

You’re a proven change leader, committed to continuous improvement and best practice. Your deep technical expertise in WHS, workers’ compensation, and relevant legislation, standards, and codes of practice sets you apart.

Together with formal qualifications in a relevant discipline, the ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in WHS and broader Human Resources management or can demonstrate equivalent knowledge and capability in Work Health Safety and general Human Resources management.

About People and Culture:

People and Culture provide strategic leadership and operational advice to the University, focusing on building a positive work environment that reflects our values. Through the delivery of high-quality human resource policies, procedures, and systems, we provide advice and support to staff and leaders on Industrial Relations, pay, leave, benefits, professional development, equity, diversity, recruitment and health and safety.

The Work Health & Safety and Injury Management Unit is a valued group of professionals within the People and Culture team.

Life at Flinders

We're transforming and investing in people and facilities to create contemporary, stimulating, and satisfying learning and work environments that reflect our core values of excellence, innovation, courage, and integrity. Flinders is refocusing its strategic priorities with the aim of elevating its performance to be a top ten Australian university, and amongst the top 1% in the world.

Reaching beyond the limits of buildings, borders, and backgrounds, ours is an inclusive culture that believes absolutely in equality and opportunity for all. We don't just accommodate differences; we embrace and celebrate them. So, why work at Flinders?

• 17% Superannuation + salary packaging options
• Flexible working arrangements
• A commitment to wellbeing through our Thriving@Flinders initiative
• Wide range of professional development activities and services, including exclusive staff study offers
• We embrace diversity and promote equity and inclusion for all students and staff
• Vibrant campus life and amenities including on campus health care services, gym and childcare centre (Bedford Park, South Australia).

Our Commitment to Reconciliation and Indigenous Employment

Flinders University is proud to be an organisation that is committed to our Reconciliation Action Plan and Indigenous Workforce Strategy. Our vision is to be a preferred employer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We are committed to progressing Indigenous advancement in education, research, employment, and wellbeing, and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for all Flinders vacancies.

Please see here for our Reconciliation Action Plan

Please see here for our Indigenous Workforce Strategy

Prescribed Conditions for Employment

A valid National Police Certificate which is satisfactory to the University will also be required before the successful applicant can commence in this position.

How to Apply and Information

You are required to submit a CV, along with a Suitability Statement as a separate document. This should be no more than 3 pages, and address the Key Position Capabilities of the Position Description

For more information regarding this position, we highly encourage you to contact Mark Schultz, Director People & Culture on 8201 2300 or via email mark.schultz@flinders.edu.au