Senior Safety Manager - Strategic Influence - Operational Impact

UGL - CIMIC Group - National Scope - Enterprise Safety Leadership
Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane based - National Travel

Shape safety outcomes within one of Australia's most diverse operational portfolios across utilities, energy, resources, power, telecommunications and defence. UGL's Services Division delivers essential operations and maintenance services that keep critical infrastructure and industries running across the country.

As the senior safety risk owner for the Services Division, you'll partner directly with the EGM and CIMIC leadership team to drive safety performance, strengthen critical controls and governance, and influence long-term cultural improvement across a 3,000 person workforce.

This is a highly visible role combining strategic leadership with hands-on operational engagement, with regular time spent in the field supporting leaders, safety teams and worksites across Australia.

Why this role

• Balance strategic governance with frontline operational engagement.
• Partner directly with senior leaders across UGL and the broader CIMIC Group.
• Influence safety outcomes across diverse industries and critical infrastructure.
• Build capability, strengthen culture and leave a lasting legacy.

About the role

This is an enterprise-level safety leadership role with influence across a multi-billion-dollar business employing thousands of people nationally. Working closely with the EGM Services and Business Unit leadership teams, you'll drive safety performance, strengthen critical controls and influence long-term cultural improvement across a diverse operational portfolio.

You'll spend significant time in the field partnering with leaders, safety teams and operational crews, balancing hands-on engagement with strategic oversight and governance.

Key responsibilities

• You'll be the trusted safety adviser to the EGM Services and leadership team across UGL's Services Division.
• Partner with Business Unit leaders and HSE teams across Australia, spending time in the field to understand what's working, where the gaps are and how performance can be improved.
• Drive the rollout of key safety initiatives and critical control programs, building momentum behind the business's broader safety improvement agenda.
• Identify emerging trends, risks and opportunities, helping leaders make informed decisions and address issues before they become larger problems.
• Support audits, assurance activities, investigations and significant safety events, ensuring learnings lead to lasting change.
• Influence, coach and challenge leaders to strengthen safety capability, accountability and culture across UGL Services, while providing broader governance support across the CIMIC portfolio.

What we offer

• Hybrid working environment.
• Access our OneRewards Discount Program.
• Discounted Medibank health insurance.
• Participate in our Wellness Program with AIA Vitality.
• Benefit from 16 weeks of paid primary parental leave.
• Complimentary salary continuance insurance.
• Shape your career with an Individual Development Plan.

About you

We're looking for someone who is already operating in a similar senior safety leadership position within complex, high-risk operational environments, influencing senior leaders and driving improvement through both strategic leadership and field engagement.

• Proven experience influencing, challenging and coaching senior leaders to improve safety performance, strengthen accountability and drive lasting cultural change.
• Strong experience balancing strategic governance with practical, hands-on operational support.
• Equally credible in the boardroom, on a project site or in front of a Business Unit leadership team.
• Demonstrated success identifying safety trends and translating insights into practical improvement initiatives that deliver results.
• A calm, pragmatic leadership style, with the ability to build trust, manage competing priorities and navigate complex stakeholder environments.

About Us

UGL is a respected of end-to-end engineering, construction, operation and maintenance services within various sectors including rail, transport, communications, oil and gas, power, renewables, resources, water and defence. We partner with some of the world's largest blue-chip companies, government agencies, private enterprises, and public institutions. As a member of the CIMIC Group of companies, we value diversity in our team's backgrounds, ideas, work styles.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourage applications from people with disabilities, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people, mature aged workers and individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Please note that relevant screening checks will be conducted as part of the recruitment process. These may include a national criminal history check and for you to complete a pre-employment medical.

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