Health, Safety & Environment Manager

Company Overview

The a2 Milk Company is an innovative organization driven by scientific research and pioneering ideas that transformed the dairy and infant formula market. Committed to creating a world free from A1 beta-casein protein, the company aims for a sustainable dairy industry that benefits people and the environment.

Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced Health, Safety & Environment Manager to join our Operations team based at our Pokeno manufacturing facility. This pivotal position involves nurturing a proactive safety culture, ensuring environmental compliance, and advancing sustainability efforts across the site.

Reporting directly to the Plant General Manager and reporting functionally to the Group Head of Health, Safety & Wellbeing, you will serve as the key expert for HSE matters on site. Collaborating closely with leadership and frontline employees, your focus will be to embed best practices, enhance processes continually, and guarantee every employee returns home safely each day.

This is a hands-on leadership position offering the chance to influence workplace behavior, improve systems and procedures, and embed health, safety, and environmental principles deeply within operational practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the rollout and ongoing enhancement of the site's health, safety, and wellbeing strategy.
• Promote a safety-first mindset through coaching and collaboration with leaders and frontline teams.
• Develop, update, and manage safety-related systems, policies, procedures, risk assessments, and documentation for the site.
• Conduct incident investigations, determine root causes, and ensure corrective measures are effectively implemented.
• Deliver engaging HSE training programs and support capability development on-site.
• Coordinate site audits, critical risk validations, and regulatory compliance activities.
• Manage environmental responsibilities including adherence to resource consents, and oversee waste, water, energy, and environmental risk management.
• Work closely with engineering, maintenance, and operations teams to identify safety, sustainability, and operational improvement opportunities.
• Support return-to-work and early intervention initiatives together with operational leaders.
• Champion programs aimed at continuous improvement to minimize risks and enhance site performance.

Candidate Profile

You are a confident, approachable HSE professional passionate about visible leadership, fostering strong relationships, and driving positive workplace transformation. Your technical knowledge is balanced with a practical and cooperative style.

Required qualifications and skills include:

• Demonstrated leadership experience in Health, Safety & Environment within manufacturing, food production, or other similarly regulated sectors.
• Comprehensive understanding of New Zealand's health, safety, and environmental legal requirements.
• Proven track record in developing and embedding health and safety management systems and influencing cultural change.
• Experience conducting incident investigations utilizing recognized frameworks such as ICAM.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, coaching, and influence skills, able to establish trust at all organizational levels.
• A record of creating and delivering impactful HSE training and awareness initiatives.
• A mindset focused on continuous improvement with the ability to apply practical solutions effectively.
• A tertiary qualification in Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related field.