About Us

The Lost Dogs' Home (LDH) is proud to be Australia's largest animal shelter, helping thousands of lost and abandoned animals each year. We are a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing outstanding veterinary care to animals who find their way to us.

About the Role

Lost Dogs Home can be a hazardous environment and needs strong HSE oversight including audits, training, and the implementation standard operating procedures. The animals we care for can be unpredictable, we are using chemicals, issuing medication and managing the potential for zoonotic disease transfer which requires both handling skills and PPE. All these things add complexity and challenge to our risk management actions. Interested?

This is a standalone role, with accountability for developing, implementing, and managing a robust HSE framework and cultivating initiatives across our two sites at North Melbourne and Cranbourne. You will need to drive continuous improvements and an employee mind-set of zero accidents and incidents. Reporting to the Director People & Culture, and a pivotal member of the management team, you will produce HSE monthly performance reports for the CEO and Board and will be responsible for the implementation of HSE systems, strategies, and programs.

LDH needs this role to develop strong relationships, set clear and measurable HSE objectives and influence key leaders and stakeholders to drive HSE initiatives and compliance. A proactive effort to shift the HSE culture will be critical to delivering on safety outcomes within this complex animal welfare environment.

You will:

• Develop and implement HSE initiatives that drive continuous improvement and allow and encourage safety.
• Coach and mentor stakeholders on HSE issues and matters.
• Proactively drive and embed a safety-first culture with a focus on lead rather than lag indicators.
• Provide timely best practice advice to managers on key issues and contemporary safety practices.
• Lead, develop and deliver the HSE strategy plan and set performance objectives.
• Manage and ensure our facilities, plant and equipment are maintained to the highest possible standards managing the work performed by our outsourced service provider.

About You

You will need to be passionate and committed to ensuring that everyone that comes to work at the LDH goes home safe every-day.

As an experienced HSE professional you will have demonstrated expertise in policy and regulatory implementation, be an effective negotiator and have a track record in developing a safety culture that fosters preventative and proactive safety. You will need to be comfortable operating across the full spectrum of the role – from providing strategic advice to managing day-to-day administrative requirements.

You will have the leadership presence to implement continuous improvement and change initiatives. You must be resilient and take personal ownership of all the HSE issues. You will never walk past a single safety issue without calling it out and remediating it, and ideally grow a culture where all employees will actively manage risks.

In addition, you will have:

• Minimum of 5+ years' ‘hands on’ experience in a senior safety or risk role.
• Tertiary qualifications (Bachelors) in Health & Safety or Engineering.
• Demonstrated ability to create a safety-first culture.
• Knowledge of the requirements of ISO 14001 and ISO45001.
• Thorough understanding of Health, Safety and Environment management, legislation, and risk management practices.
• A strategic focus with a proven success of executing HSE initiatives.
• Ability to work on a standalone basis, inclusive management style and a proven track record of influencing, coaching and mentoring people.
• Proven ability to form effective working relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to show initiative in identifying continuous improvement opportunities in HSE performance.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills and the ability to present data and information effectively.
• Ability to analyse complex problems.
• Expertise with documenting policies and standard operating procedures.
• Proven experience with workers compensation and return to work programs.

What we can offer you

• Fantastic career development and opportunities.
• Discounts at Frank Samways Veterinary Clinic.
• Discounted adoption fees.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program.
• Access to the Foster Care Program.
• A unique and friendly working environment (surrounded by animals!)
• An opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our animals and the community we work in!