WHS & Injury Management Team Leader

We're seeking an experienced WHS leader to lead Council's safety, injury management and return to work functions. This is an opportunity to shape safety outcomes across a large and diverse organisation while contributing to broader leadership and organisational initiatives.

About Us

At the City of Port Adelaide Enfield (PAE), we’re building a welcoming, liveable city, made by people.

Our focus is on community, our economy, environmental sustainability and building high-quality places for people to enjoy. We’re on an ambitious trajectory, but our organisation is up for the challenge.

At PAE, we’re involved in all sorts of things - major construction through to environmental management, organising events, social infrastructure planning, and library services. We are proud of offering a wide range of accessible services and programs to our community.

You don’t need experience in local government for this role - we’re looking for transferrable skills and a great attitude.

Now’s a great time to be part of PAE.

About theRole

You'll lead Council's Work Health and Safety, Injury Management and Return to Work functions and provide strategic and operational leadership across a diverse organisation. Working closely with leaders across the organisation, you'll help strengthen safety capability, support informed decision-making and contribute to a positive workplace culture where safety is integrated into everyday operations.

We're looking for a leader who will work alongside operational leaders to solve problems, simplify processes and build capability. We value a practical, hands-on approach to safety. If a process requires administration, we look for opportunities to make it easier. If an issue arises on site, we expect our WHS team to be present and helping.

This philosophy is central to how we approach safety at PAE.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead Council's WHS and RTW strategies, systems and governance frameworks.
• Maintain an effective and compliant Work Health and Safety Management System that supports Council's diverse operations.
• Provide practical and timely advice on complex WHS, injury management and legislative matters.
• Partner with, coach and support leaders to strengthen risk management and safety leadership capability.
• Lead injury management and return to work outcomes for injured workers.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, simplify processes and strengthen organisational performance.
• Contribute to broader People and Culture initiatives and organisational leadership outcomes.

About You

We're looking for an experienced, degree-qualified WHS professional who combines a systems-level approach with strong leadership and relationship-building skills.

As a leader, you'll foster a positive and productive team culture, support the development of your people and collaborate across the broader People and Culture team. You'll be willing to step beyond your functional area when needed and see yourself as a contributor to organisational success.

You will bring a comprehensive understanding of contemporary work health and safety practice, including the design, implementation and continuous improvement of Work Health and Safety Management Systems. You understand that compliance is essential, but that effective safety systems must also be practical, proportionate and capable of being applied across a diverse operational environment.

Most importantly, you'll see WHS as a service to the organisation. You understand that strong safety outcomes are achieved through partnership, responsiveness and practical problem solving. You build relationships, earn trust and work alongside operational leaders to help them succeed. You are comfortable being present in the workplace, supporting investigations, resolving issues and helping translate legislative requirements into solutions that work in practice.

We're looking for a leader who:

• Has significant experience developing, implementing and continuously improving Work Health and Safety Management Systems.
• Understands how to balance legislative compliance with practical operational outcomes.
• Provides high-quality service and support to internal stakeholders.
• Leads visible and approachable teams that work alongside the business rather than at arm's length from it.
• Builds trust and credibility through sound advice, responsiveness and strong relationships.
• Develops positive, productive and accountable team cultures.
• Contributes beyond their functional area and actively supports broader People and Culture priorities.

What We Offer

This is a permanent, full-time Level 7 position with a starting salary of $137,181.04 per annum plus Super.

At PAE, you’ll also have access to employment conditions designed to support flexibility, wellbeing and life outside work, including:

• flexible working arrangements, including working from home where agreed
• a 19-day work cycle with a rostered day off
• four weeks of annual leave, plus an additional paid leave day over the Christmas and New Year period
• paid annual leave loading
• the option to purchase up to two additional weeks of leave each financial year
• five days of paid cultural leave and two days of paid volunteer leave each financial year
• paid parental leave arrangements for primary and non-primary caregivers
• ongoing learning and professional development support
• scheduled salary increases under Council’s workplace agreement.

The role also offers genuine scope to shape how WHS services are delivered across Council, lead a specialist team and contribute to broader People and Culture priorities.

At PAE, our values guide us to work together, strive for improvement, and make a positive impact in our community. We seek people who share these values.#bettertogether #growandimprove #makeadifference.

We value diversity and inclusion, and weencourageapplicants from all backgrounds to apply.

Applications close 12:00pm on Wednesday 30 September 2026

We maycommenceinterviews prior to the closing date, so early applications are encouraged.

We’re committed to an accessible, inclusive workplace and welcome discussions about any adjustments you may need.

The City of PAE is located on Kaurna Country. We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the Adelaide region and extend ourrespect to custodians and Elders who have passed, those amongst us and those emerging.

The City of PAE is a welcoming, liveable City: made by people. It boasts a rich history across 52 suburbs and is home to 130,000 residents from diverse cultures, plus more than 8,000 businesses. We are committed to fostering a workforce that reflects community diversity and promoting a fair, equitable, and safe workplace culture. Continuous learning is vital for our ability to support the community effectively, and attract and retain great staff. Our contemporary systems, processes and tools enable us to deliver managing outcomes while our assets and finances are managed with good stewardship. We prioritise community input in decision-making and we show courage and foresight in our work.

The City of PAE is a welcoming, liveable City: made by people. It boasts a rich history across 52 suburbs and is home to 130,000 residents from diverse cultures, plus more than 8,000 businesses. We are committed to fostering a workforce that reflects community diversity and promoting a fair, equitable, and safe workplace culture. Continuous learning is vital for our ability to support the community effectively, and attract and retain great staff. Our contemporary systems, processes and tools enable us to deliver managing outcomes while our assets and finances are managed with good stewardship. We prioritise community input in decision-making and we show courage and foresight in our work.

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