Head of HSE – Major Hazard Facilities

Head of HSE – Major Hazard Facilities
Thales

APAC/Oceania, Australia, Melbourne

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Salary

Rank

Director

Responsibility

Functional Tower Lead

Scope

Regional

Workplace

Hybrid

Functions

Environmental Health & Safety

Real Estate/Facilities

Reports to
Level

N-2

Travel Max:

0%

Posting Date

06-22-2025

Description

Based in our Melbourne office at the World Trade Centre on Wurundjeri land, your role will focus on overseeing Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) initiatives across multiple Major Hazard Facilities (MHFs) within the Vehicles and Tactical Systems (VTS) Business Line at Thales Australia.

In a complex regulatory landscape, you’ll leverage your strong strategic vision to ensure risks are effectively managed, compliance is maintained, whilst championing a proactive safety culture.

You will play a vital role in enhancing our risk-focused mindset, building safety leadership capability, and implementing best practices in explosives safety, process safety, and risk management, to make a significant and positive impact on a national scale.

Head of HSE – Major Hazard Facilities

Key Responsibilities

  • Establish and maintain a framework to enhance HSE leadership capabilities
  • Lead and manage HSE teams across multiple sites nationally to provide high-quality support for Explosive Ordnance Services and Australian Munitions businesses
  • Advise senior leadership on hazard identification, risk management, safety management system implementation, and emergency planning to ensure regulatory compliance
  • Engage with executive leadership and external regulatory bodies to uphold compliance with major hazard facility regulations and Work Health and Safety, Dangerous Goods and Environmental laws
  • Act as the Explosive Safety Authority for the Thales CEO, serving as the sole explosives licensing authority in Australia
  • Lead investigations into major incidents and near misses, ensuring thorough root cause analysis and implementation of preventive measures
  • Overseeing process safety leadership across all MHFs
  • Drive continuous improvement in process safety and risk management through risk assessments (e.g., HAZOP, LOPA, FMEA) and oversight of risk reduction strategies.

Qualification & Requirements

  • Extensive leadership experience in HSE within Major Hazard Facilities or high-risk industries, such as oil & gas, petrochemicals, chemicals, or manufacturing
  • Expertise in process safety management, safety case development, and major accident hazard risk management
  • In-depth knowledge of national HSE regulatory frameworks, including major hazard facility legislation, WHS, and Environmental regulations.
  • Proven track record in driving cultural transformation and HSE excellence across multi-site operations
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills for effective cross-functional teamwork
  • Significant experience with risk assessment methodologies, including facilitation of high-quality HAZOP, LOPA, and FMEAs
  • Strong experience in incident investigations and audit assurance activities; ICAM Lead Investigator and Lead Auditor qualifications are highly regarded
  • Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams with effective interpersonal and verbal communication
  • Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, manufacturing, Applied Science, Science, or a related field
  • Postgraduate qualification in Safety, Risk, or Process Safety Engineering preferred
  • Certification as a Process Safety Professional (e.g., IChemE, CCPS) or equivalent industry certification.
  • Ability to obtain Australian Defence Clearances

Benefits

  • Competitive remuneration + Super + Bonus + Medical Insurance
  • ThalesFlex – Hybrid work environment
  • Recognised leader in reservist employee support
  • Veterans Leave
  • Fitness Passport Discount – Access to a network of Gyms across AUS
  • Employee discounts with a number of affiliates (Travel, Car hire, Tech, Medical Insurance)
  • Modernised Paid Parental Leave
  • Novated Lease options
  • Family support through our partnership with Parents at Work
  • Personal & professional training development opportunities
  • Sonder – Wellbeing & Support Partner
  • Access to a network of the best people (A Nobel Prize winner on our staff list!)
  • And much more!

Company Profile

Thales
Industry

IT Services and IT Consulting

Revenue

$16.96B

Employees

77,000

Fortune 500 Rank

NA

Global 500 Rank

NA

View Company Profile