THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO OIR EMPLOYEES ONLY At Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ), every day is an opportunity to improve the lives of Queensland workers. As part of the Office of Industrial Relations (OIR), we're committed to creating safer, healthier and more productive workplaces through education, engagement and effective regulation.

As a Principal Inspector based in Cairns, you'll provide leadership to a team of inspectors while ensuring Queensland workplaces meet their work health and safety obligations.

This is an opportunity to combine your leadership capability with your regulatory experience to influence workplace safety outcomes across a diverse range of industries.

About The Role

As a Principal Inspector, you'll lead and mentor operational teams, guide complex investigations and work closely with industry to improve health and safety outcomes.

Your role will support and drive the implementation of the Best Practice Review of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, ensuring we meet the community's expectations around compliance, accountability, and enforcement.

This is a role for someone who can balance leadership, technical capability and sound judgement and who can confidently engage with businesses, workers and senior stakeholders in high-pressure situations.

About The Team

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ):

- Enforces work health and safety laws
- Investigates workplace fatalities and serious incidents
- Prosecutes breaches of legislation




- Educates employers and workers on safety obligations
- Supports safer workplaces through prevention, compliance and enforcement

Our work has real impact, every day—reducing harm and improving safety across industries where there is simply no room for error.

Your Key Responsibilities

Generally, You Will Bring

- Strong written communication, time-management and leadership skills
- Extensive experience applying safety protocols, compliance frameworks or enforcement principles (construction, Defence, emergency services and regulatory experience highly regarded)
- The capacity to navigate complex or challenging conversations with confidence and professionalism
- The ability to mentor and guide inspectors, contribute to a positive safety culture and influence industry toward compliance
- A commitment to making a visible, meaningful contribution to workplace safety across Queensland.

As a Queensland Public Sector Employee, You'll Benefit From

- Strong employment security
- Competitive salary and superannuation
- Flexible work arrangements
- Health and wellbeing programs
- Career development and leadership opportunities.

This is the ideal role for someone who wants to use their experience to ensure workers return home safely every day.

This position may require pre-employment checks.

Applications to remain current for 12 months

Occupational group

Occupational Health & Safety

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📌 Principal Inspector (Cairns Regional)
🏢 Queensland Government
📍 Cairns Regional