Health, Safety and Wellbeing Lead

Join us at New Plymouth District Council!
Tūhono mai ki Te Kaunihera-ā-Rohe o Ngāmotu!

Who are we? - Ko wai mātou?

Te Kaunihera-ā-rohe o Ngāmotu - New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) is dedicated to serving our community and enhancing the quality of life for those who live, work, and visit here.

We are guided by the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and are committed to fostering partnerships that respect and celebrate our district's rich cultural heritage.

Through innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, we aim to deliver exceptional services and initiatives that support our vision of building a thriving, connected, and future-focused district.

At Te Kaunihera-ā-rohe o Ngāmotu, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive and dynamic organisation that values people, creativity, and progress.

The opportunity - Te āheinga

We're looking for a dynamic and strategic Health, Safety and Wellbeing Lead to join our People and Wellbeing team at NPDC.

This is a permanent, full-time position with the opportunity to lead a team of five dedicated professionals, driving safe outcomes and fostering a culture of care and hauora across our organisation.

In this pivotal role, you'll provide expert leadership and strategic advice aligned with Council's vision of being the Sustainable Lifestyle Capital.

You'll contribute to our delivery across the four pillars - Trusted, Thriving Communities and Culture, Environmental Excellence, and Prosperity while supporting organisational priorities and plans.

You'll work closely with senior leaders and Council officers to anticipate and address health, safety, wellbeing, risks and controls. Your ability to engage stakeholders, communicate effectively, and develop timely, practical solutions will be key to your success.

You'll champion a progressive approach to safety - moving beyond compliance to build a culture where people thrive. You'll guide our journey of Safety Differently, focusing on learning, trust and collaboration.

If you're passionate about creating safe, supportive environments and want to make a meaningful impact in a forward-thinking organisation, we'd love to hear from you.

Key responsibilities - Ngā haepapa matua

Health, safety and wellbeing:

• Responsible for operationalising the health, safety and wellbeing strategies, risks and controls in place, including facilitating and overseeing the delivery of related activities and initiatives, and contributing to the development and enhancement of systems aligned with organisational objectives
• Foster a learning culture that values curiosity, psychological safety and continuous improvement
• Develop, manage and communicate workplans, frameworks, policies and procedures that support effective health, safety and wellbeing activities and initiatives
• Manage the annual AEP audit and any programmed or ad hoc audit requirements
• Manage occupational health activities including injury management, health monitoring and pre-employment services
• Build capability across the organisation through coaching, facilitation and thought leadership
• Work collaboratively with health-related third-party providers to ensure services align with organisational and legislative requirements

General:

• Regular reporting to the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee on health, safety and wellbeing performance
• Establish and maintain strong and collaborative working relationships across the organisation
• Provide relevant legislative and best practice advice to all stakeholders
• Lead the team to grow organisational capability to achieve recommended best practice and deliver on Council's vision
• Ensure good employer obligations and legislative requirements are fulfilled, particularly in relation to all relevant legislation
• Foster a culture of growth and development across the team
• Provide relevant legislative and best practice advice to all stakeholders
• Lead the team to grow organisational capability to achieve recommended best

Essential skills and experience - Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako

• Workplace health and safety degree or diploma, or five plus years' experience in a similar role with demonstrated experience leading health, safety and wellbeing at a senior level
• Courage to challenge the status quo and advocate for people-centred approaches
• Experience growing engagement and coaching across a diverse organisation
• Strong understanding and application of Human and Organisational Performance principles and contemporary safety thinking
• Experience delivering learning teams
• Experience working within a legislative and compliance environment
• Practical and outcome focused with a proven ability to drive change and translate vision into action
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to provide sound advice to senior leaders, find solutions, embrace conflict and troubleshoot in a fast-paced environment

Why Taranaki? - He aha ngā hua o te rohe nei?

Taranaki is a region like no other, offering a perfect balance of career opportunities and lifestyle. Nestled between the stunning Mounga Taranaki and the sparkling Tasman Sea, it's a place where you can explore world-class hiking trails, surf pristine beaches, and enjoy vibrant arts and culture, all within minutes of each other.

The region boasts affordable living, excellent schools and a strong sense of community, making it an ideal place to live, work and raise a family. Whether you're seeking adventure, tranquillity, or a bit of both, Taranaki provides an unparalleled quality of life.

What we offer - Ngā ratonga

At New Plymouth District Council, we aim to create and sustain a truly rewarding workplace environment for our staff.

This includes:

• Solid career pathways
• Learning and development opportunities
• Personal and professional growth
• Our Peoples Package spans five key pillars: wellbeing, development, benefits, culture and recognition

You can expect to start in this permanent, full-time role with a salary of between $130,525 - $140,676.

Why join us? - Ngā hua o tō hono mai?

We value the wellbeing of our team and provide an inclusive workplace that recognises and rewards your contributions. Together, we're building a better New Plymouth - one step at a time.

Applications close Monday, 2 February 2026.

Be part of a council that values people, culture and opportunity.

Me tūhono mai koe kia tautoko i te Ngāmotu o āpōpō!

Te Kaunihera-ā-rohe o Ngāmotu is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.