Manager, Health and Safety

About the Role

This senior leadership role at the New Zealand School Property Agency (NZSPA) offers an opportunity to lead health, safety, and wellbeing efforts across the organisation. You will manage a team of five, delivering expert advisory services to executive leaders to ensure the safety of staff, visitors, schools, and delivery partners. Your leadership will encompass developing and enhancing health and safety strategies, systems, operational procedures, and organisational capabilities.

A key responsibility will be defining clear roles and responsibilities concerning health and safety across schools, contractors, and NZSPA staff on every project, ensuring compliance and capacity to fulfill obligations.

Primary Duties

• Lead and develop a committed health and safety team providing high-quality advice.
• Advise executive leadership and the Board on critical risks, incident trends, and recommend effective interventions.
• Oversee the Health and Safety Risk Register and monitor performance, ensuring implementation of risk control measures.
• Manage both internal and external service providers, conducting due diligence for consultants and contractors.
• Enhance health and safety maturity across school properties by applying current best practices and identifying improvement opportunities.

About You

• Experienced and credible leader in health and safety with the ability to engage confidently with executives, Boards, leadership teams, schools, contractors, and specialists.
• Combines sound judgement with a practical and risk-focused outlook, capable of communicating challenging messages and making timely decisions in the organisation's long-term interest.
• Inclusive people leader demonstrating resilience and a strong delivery orientation.
• Open-minded, curious, able to build trusted relationships, and support others through periods of change.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Relevant tertiary qualification; health and safety diploma or NEBOSH certification is highly desirable.
• Proven experience in leading teams and cultivating safe, inclusive, and responsive workplace cultures.
• Comprehensive knowledge of workplace health and safety management systems, including legislation, regulations, codes of practice, and standards.
• Experience in developing work plans aligned to organisational strategy and successfully embedding changes that deliver outcomes.
• Expertise with process control design, assessment, and compliance within Crown entity frameworks and standards.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and relationship management skills, along with familiarity with government and public sector operations.
• Commitment to uphold Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.

Additional Information

This position offers a flexible location within Wellington, New Zealand. The successful candidate will be appointed at a salary within the range of $142,856 to $214,284 NZD per annum, plus KiwiSaver contributions, reflecting individual experience and skills.

The NZSPA manages a school property portfolio valued over $30 billion, playing a pivotal role in supporting communities nationwide. This role provides a unique chance to influence and strengthen health and safety practices across a nationally significant asset portfolio.

Application closing date: Midnight, 24th August 2026.

Applicants are invited to submit a cover letter focusing on personal values, motivations, strengths, and diverse perspectives alongside their resume. Assistance or adjustments for the recruitment process are available upon request to ensure participation equity.