Group Manager Health & Safety at Downer in Auckland, New Zealand

Group Manager Health & Safety

Location: Auckland, New Zealand

The Group Manager Health and Safety play a critical role in shaping and maintaining health and safety risk management across a complex, high-risk organisation. Reporting to the Group EGM Zero Harm, this position is responsible for developing and governing the management system, frameworks and processes that support effective risk management, with a strong focus on Critical Risks. Based in New Zealand, the role also provides health and safety leadership and support through the Kaitiaki team while ensuring New Zealand requirements are reflected across the broader Zero Harm framework. Working closely with business and functional stakeholders, the role drives continuous improvement, strengthens risk governance, and supports the successful delivery of the Zero Harm Strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, maintenance and continuous improvement of health and safety risk management processes, ensuring alignment with organisational risk management standards and legal requirements.
• Maintain oversight of health and safety risk documentation, guidance materials, learning resources and associated management system content to support consistent implementation across the business.
• Manage and enhance health and safety risk registers, providing meaningful insights into risk exposure and supporting informed decision-making.
• Drive the organisation’s Critical Risk Program, including the development and maintenance of BowTie analyses, Critical Control Datasheets and Risk Control Standards.
• Provide technical expertise and governance to ensure health and safety risk management practices are practical, effective and aligned with recognised industry frameworks and standards.
• Partner with operational leaders, Zero Harm teams and business stakeholders to support the implementation and embedding of risk management processes and critical controls.
• Contribute to the New Zealand Kaitiaki team, ensuring local regulatory requirements and operational considerations are reflected within organisational frameworks and systems.
• Lead and deliver strategic initiatives and improvement programs that strengthen health and safety performance, risk management capability and operational effectiveness.

What You Will Bring

• Tertiary qualification in Occupational Health and Safety, Workplace Health and Safety, Risk Management or a related discipline.
• Significant experience leading the development and implementation of health and safety risk management systems within large, complex and high-risk environments.
• Demonstrated expertise in Critical Risk Management, including BowTie methodology, critical controls and assurance frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of relevant health and safety legislation, regulatory requirements and management system standards, including ISO 45001 and related frameworks.
• Proven ability to influence, engage and build trusted relationships with diverse stakeholders across multiple business functions and leadership levels.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate strategy into practical actions and communicate effectively with senior leaders.
• Strong project management, change management and continuous improvement capabilities, with a track record of successfully delivering strategic initiatives and organisational outcomes.

Benefits Of Working with Downer

• Work with an ASX/NZX listed company, working with market leaders in infrastructure services.
• Grow your career with us, we are passionate about giving our people opportunities to grow through personal and professional development and continuous learning:
  • Professional development programs
    • Access to professional memberships and industry networks
• Be part of a team that cares, we foster a work environment built on support that is flexible around our employee’s wellbeing needs:
  • Flexible work arrangements
    • Parental leave
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • Programs promoting diversity and inclusion
• A range of Corporate Benefits, including:
  • Discounted services through Perks@Downer (car hires, hotels, insurance, retail stores, gyms)
    • Volunteering day
    • Marram subsidised healthcare

Why Downer?

You want your work to matter and so do we. With over 26,000 people across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, our team is made up of individuals with unique perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas.

We know that diversity makes us stronger and we actively celebrate it through our commitment to inclusion and belonging.

We’re committed to building a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve and we welcome people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, abilities, and lived experiences. We especially encourage applications from those whose voices have traditionally been underrepresented in our industry, including women Māori and Pasifika Peoples, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, veterans, people with disability, and neurodivergent individuals. Even if your experience doesn’t align perfectly with this role, we’d still like to hear from you. If it feels like the right fit, apply - potential counts, and so do you.

As a WORK180 Endorsed Employer, we support flexibility that works for your life, inclusive leadership that values your voice, and equitable access to opportunity so you can do your best work and bring your whole self to it.