WHS Business Partner – Brisbane Northwards Region

WHS Business Partner: Brisbane Northwards Region

Queensland | Civil & Infrastructure | Full-Time Permanent

A well-established civil and infrastructure contractor operating across Queensland is looking for an experienced WHS Business Partner to take ownership of safety leadership from Brisbane northwards: covering a broad portfolio of civil projects up to Far North Queensland.

IBG is a majority Indigenous owned recruitment business registered with Supply Nation, specialising in civil engineering, infrastructure, construction and major project recruitment. We partner closely with contractors, engineering consultancies and delivery organisations to place high quality technical professionals. 

Our approach is relationship led and commercially grounded, built on practical industry experience and a clear understanding of how complex projects are delivered.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the General Manager – Safety, this is a genuine leadership role: not a compliance function. You will manage a small team of WHS Advisors, engage directly with project teams and field staff across a large geographic footprint, and play a central role in driving the organisation's transition from compliance-led safety to risk ownership embedded at the operational level.

The business operates across civil construction, infrastructure delivery, and heavy industry environments. They carry meaningful accreditations and work to documented WHS management systems: so the framework is there. What they need is a business partner with the credibility and presence to make it stick on the ground.

What You'll Be Doing

Leadership & Culture

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of WHS Advisors and Senior WHS Advisors across the region
• Facilitate Safety Leadership Workshops and embed safety thinking into operational planning
• Champion a proactive, risk-based safety culture: moving the business from tick-box compliance to genuine ownership

Legislative Compliance & Systems

• Ensure compliance across WHS legislation in multiple jurisdictions including construction and mining
• Maintain certifications and accreditations including ISO, OFSC, QMS, and TMR requirements
• Translate legislative requirements into practical site-level systems, procedures, and controls
• Keep the legal compliance register current and ensure the business is ahead of legislative change

Risk Management

• Oversee hazard identification, risk assessments, and critical control implementation across projects
• Ensure high-risk construction work and SWMS are identified, implemented, monitored, and reviewed
• Review and assess contractor WHS systems and monitor performance through audits and KPI reporting

Incident Management

• Lead investigation of serious incidents, near misses, and dangerous occurrences
• Ensure notifiable incidents are identified and reported to regulatory authorities in line with legal requirements
• Drive corrective action implementation, verification, and trend analysis to inform preventative action

Auditing & Performance Reporting

• Plan and conduct WHS audits, inspections, and compliance reviews across the region
• Track and report key performance metrics including LTIFR, TRIFR, near misses, and audit actions
• Report WHS performance, risks, and trends to senior leadership and governance forums

Engagement & Consultation

• Maintain regular presence with project teams and field staff across a geographically dispersed portfolio
• Establish and support HSR and WHS Committee arrangements where required
• Engage with regulatory bodies and support internal and external audit processes

About You

You will bring a solid foundation in WHS across civil, mining, oil and gas, or heavy commercial environments, combined with the leadership skills to influence at all levels: from site crews to senior management. You are as comfortable in the field as you are in front of a leadership team.

Essential

• 5+ years in WHS roles spanning field operations and leadership positions
• Heavy industry background: civil construction, mining, oil and gas, or commercial
• Sound knowledge of WHS legislation across Queensland and Federal jurisdictions
• Demonstrated experience managing regulatory bodies and enforcement matters
• Formal incident investigation qualifications: iCAM, TapRooT, or equivalent
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills across all organisational levels
• Current driver's licence: this role involves regional travel

Highly Regarded

• Tertiary qualification in Workplace Health and Safety or related discipline
• Bow Tie Critical Control Risk Management (CCRM) certification or equivalent
• Experience with HSI Donesafe, HammerTech or comparable WHS data and reporting platforms
• Familiarity with TMR requirements and principal contractor obligations in Queensland
• Current First Aid/CPR Certificate

How to Apply

This search is being managed confidentially on behalf of the employer. The business is an established Queensland civil contractor: not a startup: with a documented WHS framework, a genuine focus on safety culture, and a clear commitment to developing its people.

Please ensure your CV tells a story about your WHS leadership background in civil or heavy industry, initiatives you have driven and tier results, your experience across Queensland regulatory environments, and the geographic coverage you have managed. Confidential enquiries are welcome.