Rail Safety Manager

About the Company
Our client is a major transportation company, playing a critical role in keeping a large urban population moving every day. They are responsible for both operations and maintenance of a complex fleet and asset base, within a highly regulated and safety-critical environment. With ongoing investment in reliability, asset performance, and system improvements, they offer a stable platform for senior professionals looking to influence safety, quality, and operational outcomes at scale.

The Role
Reporting to the Head of Maintenance Strategy, this role will lead the Safety and Quality function, driving the implementation, performance, and continuous improvement of both the Safety Management System and Quality Management System.
This is a pivotal role in shaping safety culture, ensuring regulatory compliance, and embedding quality standards across engineering and maintenance activities, while influencing senior stakeholders and operational leaders.

Key Responsibilities & Deliverables.

• Lead and continuously improve the SMS to ensure compliance with relevant OH&S legislation
• Drive safety assurance activities including audits, inspections, investigations, and corrective actions
• Champion safety culture initiatives including Just & Fair reporting, leading indicators, and life-saving rules
  
• Establish and manage a Quality Management System aligned with ISO 9001 principles
• Oversee non-conformance and CAPA processes, ensuring root-cause analysis and effective resolution
• Monitor and report on safety and quality metrics, driving continuous improvement initiatives
• Partner with senior stakeholders, regulators, and operational teams to ensure compliance and performance

What We Are Looking For

• Extensive experience in safety, quality, or engineering leadership roles within rail or complex infrastructure environments
• Strong knowledge of SMS and Quality frameworks in regulated industries
• Proven experience leading safety programs, audits, investigations, and cultural transformation initiatives
• Deep understanding of rail safety legislation highly regarded
• Demonstrated leadership capability, with experience managing teams and influencing senior stakeholders
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and drive actionable insights
• Confident communicator, capable of engaging across executive, operational, and regulatory audiences
• Tertiary qualification in engineering, safety, quality, or related discipline (or equivalent experience)

What's on Offer

• AUD170,000 – 180,000 + Super (negotiable based on experience)
• Senior leadership position with real influence on safety and operational outcomes
• Exposure to a large-scale, complex urban transport environment
• Strong organisational backing with long-term stability and investment
• Flexible working arrangements with a mix of office and operational engagement