Team Leader People & Safety

Lead people, safety and workforce services for a values-led Tasmanian council.

• Lead HR, WHS, workforce planning, capability and policy services
• Coach managers, support employee wellbeing, strengthen a safe workplace culture
• Lead a small People & Safety team,Westbury-25 minutes from Launceston (Tasmania)

Are you an experienced People & Safety leader who can provide practical advice, sound judgement and trusted support across employment, safety and workforce matters?

Join Meander Valley Council to lead people, safety and workforce services that support a safe, fair, capable and productive workplace.

Meander Valley Council is seeking an experienced Team Leader People & Safety to lead Council's people, safety and workforce services. Reporting to the Director Corporate Services, this role provides practical advice and trusted support to help Council meet its employment and workplace health and safety obligations, build manager capability, support employee wellbeing and maintain a safe, fair and productive workplace.

Based in beautiful Westbury, just 25 minutes from Launceston, Meander Valley Council offers a rewarding regional lifestyle without being far from the city. With a diverse municipality spanning townships, rural communities and growing areas, the region provides a strong sense of community, space and connection to the natural environment.

As part of the Corporate Services Department, this position leads a small team with responsibility for human resources, workplace health and safety, employee wellbeing, workforce planning, policy, systems and reporting. Working closely with the Executive Management Team and leaders across Council, the role will influence workforce strategies, strengthen organisational capability and foster a safe, healthy and positive workplace culture.

Why Meander Valley Council?

• Incredible lifestyle: Enjoy the best of country living while being within easy reach of Launceston and major services.
• Meaningful work: Make a genuine difference to the safety and wellbeing of Council's people and community.
• Flexibility: Enjoy a 19-day month with a rostered day off for full-time employees, supporting a healthy work-life balance.
• Great location: Based at Council's Westbury Office, with free parking and access to a fleet vehicle for site visits.
• Growth and development: Access to a genuinely supportive environment, with professional learning and development opportunities to build upon your skills and career.
• Competitive package: Salary Up to $127,291 dependant upon experience. Plus additional employer superannuation contributions or additional salary (in accordance with Council's Enterprise Agreement 2025).
• Leave and benefits: Access annual leave loading, additional personal leave, paid parental leave, long service leave provisions, reward and recognition, professional development, free parking and wellbeing initiatives including EAP support.
• Wellbeing: A strong focus on employee wellbeing through dedicated initiatives and support.

This is a broad and influential leadership role requiring strong judgement, resilience and the ability to respond effectively to changing priorities. You will oversee Council's HR, WHS, workers compensation, injury management, employee relations, enterprise agreement support, workforce planning, capability development, engagement, policy, systems and compliance functions, while supporting managers to address people, conduct, performance, wellbeing and safety matters early, fairly and consistently.

Key responsibilities include:

• People and employment services: Oversee recruitment, induction, training and development, performance management, grievance and complaint management, workplace investigations, employment terminations and enterprise agreement support.
• Workplace health and safety: Lead WHS policy, documentation, training, incident reporting and investigations, hazard identification, risk assessment, WHS reporting and strategic and operational safety planning.
• Manager advice and capability: Provide timely, accurate and consistent advice to Directors, supervisors and employees on employment conditions, entitlements, classifications, leave, allowances, performance, conduct and policy interpretation.
• Workforce planning and capability: Lead workforce planning, succession planning, capability development, in-house training and employee engagement initiatives that respond to workforce needs and employee feedback.
• Systems, reporting and compliance: Maintain accurate people and safety data, promote sound recordkeeping, lead policy and procedure review, support compliance monitoring and drive practical process improvements.
• Leadership and culture: Lead, motivate and mentor the People & Safety team, contribute to Council's Middle Management Team and model Council's values in all employee and safety matters.

To thrive in this role, you will bring:

• A degree or diploma in human resources, workplace health and safety or similar, together with at least five years' relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of training, skills and experience.
• Demonstrated involvement in developing and implementing workforce strategic plans and organisational policy relating to human resources and/or workplace health and safety.
• Sound working knowledge and demonstrated ability to accurately interpret relevant awards, enterprise agreements, legislation, policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated experience across HR and/or WHS functions, including culture development, recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management, grievance and complaints management, and workplace investigations.
• Proven ability to prioritise competing demands, remain flexible, meet timeframes and maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage, negotiate, influence outcomes and deal sensitively with confidential matters.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, support and develop a small team while working collaboratively across the organisation to deliver practical People and Safety services.
• High-level computer skills, including Microsoft Office and the ability to learn customised systems, together with a current driver's licence.
• Current right to work in Australia.

The ideal candidate will bring strong generalist HR and/or WHS experience, sound judgement and the confidence to operate at both strategic and operational levels. You will be practical, resilient and values-led, with the ability to build trust, support managers through complex and sensitive matters, maintain confidentiality and help strengthen a safe, capable and engaged workforce.

This is a full-time permanent role based in Tasmania . Meander Valley Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in the workplace.

Applications close on Tuesday 29th September 2026 at 9:0am. Candidates are encouraged to apply early, as Council may commence interviews before the closing date.

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