Operational Safety Manager| Western Sydney | $150K to $170K + Super
Step into a fast-growing, privately-owned operator in a highly regulated, safety-critical industry, with an evolving and expanding service offering.
Safety isn't a compliance box here.
It's a genuine leadership priority, backed by real authority and real investment, and our client is looking for someone who wants to help shape what safety looks like, not just maintain what already exists.
This is a newly defined Operational Safety Manager role with a clear runway to a broader Head of Safety and Compliance position for the right person, giving you a real say in how the function grows from here.
The Position:
Reporting directly to the General Manager, you'll take genuine ownership of operational safety, not oversight from a distance, leading a ground-up review of current procedures with the mandate to reshape how safety works from day one.
What you'll be doing:
Leading a full, ground-up review of current safety procedures and driving practical improvements
Rebuilding and maintaining SWMS, risk assessments and safe operating procedures
Owning incident and near-miss investigations end to end, from first response and root cause analysis through to corrective actions and close-out
Building operational readiness for dangerous goods handling and storage, including training, risk assessments and emergency response procedures
Leading safety training, coaching and toolbox talks across drivers, plant operators and site teams
Driving a genuine, measurable shift in safety culture,



particularly building trust and buy-in within driver and operational teams
Overseeing Chain of Responsibility and heavy vehicle safety at the operational level, including fatigue, loading and scheduling risk
Managing Return to Work and Workers Compensation cases from notification through to resolution
Coordinating emergency preparedness, including planning, drills, and post-incident review
Exercising full stop-work authority where you identify unsafe activity, backed by senior leadership
Partnering closely with senior operational leaders across the business to embed safety into day-to-day decision-making
Reporting on safety performance and trends to the General Manager, with a clear line of sight to broader compliance and business risk
The Candidate:
We're looking for someone genuinely progressive in how they think about safety, someone who sees it as a driver of performance and culture, not just a regulatory requirement.
This role suits an experienced, dynamic safety leader who wants to build and shape something, not simply administer an existing system.
You'll bring:
Significant experience in a senior operational safety or WHS leadership role within transport,



logistics, industrial or another high-risk, regulated environment
Solid working knowledge of Chain of Responsibility, NHVR requirements, and heavy vehicle or bulk transport safety
A strong track record of leading incident investigations and translating findings into real, followed procedures
Genuine comfort operating in yards, depots and vehicles, not a desk-bound safety professional
Strong practical understanding of WHS legislation and risk management, with the ability to translate it into controls that are actually followed on the ground
Demonstrated experience developing, reviewing and embedding risk assessments and SWMS
Formal WHS qualifications (Certificate IV or Diploma), or lead auditor / incident investigation credentials, are well regarded
Experience managing Return to Work or Workers Compensation processes is a plus
The Perks:
$150,000 to $170,000 + super
A newly created role with genuine scope to shape safety strategy and execution from day one
A clear, realistic progression pathway to a Head of Safety and Compliance role
Full authority and senior leadership backing to make safety decisions that matter
Involvement in a major growth initiative: the safe expansion into dangerous goods
A hands-on, high-impact culture where your work is visible and valued, not lost in bureaucracy
The chance to build modern, practical safety systems in a business that's genuinely investing in getting it right
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📌 Operational Safety Manager (New South Wales)
🏢 Elements Recruitment Australia
📍 New South Wales