HSE Manager Australia (m/w/d)

Job Description

The HSE Manager Australia is responsible for leading Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) strategy, systems and operational performance across utility-scale renewable energy projects, including solar farms, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and wind farms throughout Australia.

A key position on the Australian Management Team, the role is responsible for providing functional HSE excellence across the business activities in Australia, especially across Operating assets, Construction projects and Development sites. The HSE Manager will support teams to foster a proactive safety culture, ensure regulatory compliance and support safe project delivery across all phases of the asset lifecycle.

This position plays a critical leadership role in embedding high-performance safety behaviours, psychosocial safety, environmental stewardship and continuous improvement across geographically dispersed project sites. The role is embedded within a matrix organisational structure, reporting direct to the CEO Australia.

Key Responsibilities

HSE Leadership & Culture

• Proactively support and advise Senior Management line/functional/project management and senior management in meeting their HSE responsibility (legal & corporate compliance) and the development and promotion of an excellent HSE culture.
• Lead and champion a strong, values-driven HSE culture across all RWE activities in Australia.
• Provide visible leadership and coaching to project teams, contractors and leaders to reinforce safe work practices and accountability.
• Drive proactive safety initiatives focused on critical risk management, learning culture and continuous improvement, including support leaders to create psychologically safe workplaces.
• Lead Critical Control Management across the asset portfolio, including the development of Critical Control Verification programs.
• Promote consistent application of company values and expected behaviours across all project sites.
• Cooperate with occupational health specialists when it comes to occupational health promotion, wellbeing and cultural matters, programmes and initiatives.

Project HSE Management

• Oversee HSE performance across solar, wind and BESS construction and operational projects, developing and monitoring relevant HSE performance metrics.
• Ensure project-specific HSE Management Plans, Risk Assessments, Environmental Management Plans and supporting procedures are developed, implemented and maintained.
• Conduct regular site visits, audits, inspections and leadership engagements.
• Lead or support incident management processes including investigations, corrective actions, lessons learned and reporting obligations.
• Lead Emergency and Crisis Management preparedness.

Critical Risk & Contractor Management

• Support contractor HSE management across the full project lifecycle, from HSE prequalification and contract requirements through to ongoing performance assurance and escalation.
• Lead contractor HSE prequalification, performance reviews and assurance activities.
• Support development of safe systems of work and critical control verification processes.

Environmental & Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain legal HSE compliance. Drive and coordinate compliance with statutory and RWE corporate HSE requirements.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation, environmental approvals and applicable industry standards.
• Support environmental management obligations as required by relevant legislation and project permits:
  • erosion and sediment control
  • waste management
  • flora and fauna protections
  • cultural heritage considerations
  • hazardous materials management
• Maintain awareness of evolving renewable energy regulatory requirements and industry best practice.
• Support interactions with regulators, auditors, clients and external stakeholders as required.

Systems, Governance & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain and improve HSE management systems aligned with ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 frameworks.
• Develop and implement HSE procedures, standards, templates and guidance materials.
• Analyse trends, audit findings and incident data to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support organisational learning through training, toolbox talks, leadership engagement and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to tender submissions, project planning and due diligence activities from an HSE perspective.

Qualifications & Experience

• Tertiary qualification in Workplace Health & Safety, Environmental Management or related discipline.
• Relevant nationally / internationally recognised qualification as a HSE professional.
• Registration with Australian Institute of Health and Safety desirable.
• 5-plus years' HSE experience within construction, infrastructure, power generation or renewable energy sectors.
• Incident investigation training, such as Learning Teams.
• Experience on wind construction sites highly desirable.
• Strong working knowledge of Australian WHS legislation and contractor management practices.
• Experience managing high-risk construction activities and critical risk controls.
• The ability to lead teams with Strong communication, coaching, mentoring and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Able to demonstrate a flexible, practical and proactive HSE management approach.
• Analytical and strategic mindset, striving for high quality results with eye for details.
• Flexibility, willingness & Ability to travel regularly to regional and remote project sites across Australia.
• Current Australian driver's license.
• First aid and return to work coordination qualifications high desirable.
• Literacy in capacity-based safety approaches such as Human & Organisational Performance.
• Be capable of completing and maintaining the GWO BST qualification.

Your Benefits

We aim to make your time with us as rewarding as possible by fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. Alongside competitive pay and opportunities for growth, we care about your well-being and the balance between work and life. Our benefits include:

• Flexible and hybrid working, enabling a balance between remote work and in-office collaboration.
• Company pension scheme to help secure your future.
• Employee stock programme giving you a stake in our success.
• Training and development opportunities to support your professional growth.

We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.

We value diversity and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of gender, disability, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, age, sexual orientation, and identity. #inclusionmatters

RWE Renewables Europe & Australia is a leading player in the renewable energy sector with over 30 years of experience. We currently operate onshore wind farms, solar plants and battery storage systems with around 5 gigawatts of installed capacity in our core markets in Europe and Australia.

Supported by a workforce of around 2,000 employees, we continue to expand our renewable generation capacity in a value-accretive way. Our expertise spans the entire project lifecycle: we develop, plan, finance, build and operate our projects. With a strong project pipeline, we are working with communities to create a long-term value for everyone, today and for the future.