Developing OHS Capability Package
Item 7
Sample Position Profiles
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OHS Capability Development Package v3 6-05-13 Page 1 of 6
Developing OHS Capability Package
Item 7:
Sample Position Profiles
These position profiles have been developed in association with safesearch OHS recruitment specialists and validated through a workshop and feedback
process with OHS professionals. The profiles are intended as guidance on the nature and requirements of a range of OHS positions. Organisations may
use them as a benchmark for assessing current roles; for developing position statements; and to establish requirements for the roles.
Key purpose
OHS Officer
OHS Advisor
OHS Manager
To support a safe work
environment by effectively
using a range of OHS tools and
processes to implement OHS
programs and drive compliance.
To contribute to maintenance
of a safe work environment by
effectively using a range of OHS
tools and processes to
implement OHS programs and
drive compliance.
To support development and
maintenance of a safe work
environment by applying OHS
skills and knowledge of the OHS
evidence base to develop,
implement and evaluate OHS
strategy and programs.
Solve OHS problems based on
conceptual and technical
knowledge, analysis of evidence
and critical thought mediated
by experience.
Typical key
dimensions
Reports to
National OHS manager
General/Group Manager OHS
To initiate, develop and
maintain a safe work
environment by applying
specialist skills and knowledge
of the OHS evidence base to
develop, implement and
evaluate OHS strategy and
programs across a national
scope or division.
To initiate, develop and
maintain a safe work
environment by applying high
level strategic and/or specialist
skills to work with Boards,
executives, senior managers
and others to lead, plan and
drive OHS strategies and
programs across the
organisation.
No of employees responsible
for: 50-300
No of employees responsible
for: 50-300
No of employees responsible
for: 300-2000
No of employees responsible
for: 2000-5000
No of employees responsible
for: 2000-5000
No of sites: 1
No of sites: 1-2
No of sites: 2-5
No of sites: 6-10
No of sites: 11-50
No of staff reporting: 0
No of staff reporting: 0
No of staff reporting: 1-5
No of staff reporting: 6--10
No of staff reporting: 11-50
No of dotted line reports: 0
No of dotted line reports: 0
No of dotted line reports: 1-10
No of dotted line reports: 20-30
No of dotted line reports: 20-50
OHS manager in larger
organisations.
OHS manager in larger
organisations.
National OHS manager.
General Manager OHS.
Global Head OHS/HSE.
Smaller organisations
Smaller organisations
CEO.
In SME may report to
manager/CEO with advice
provided by contracted
consultant.
In SME may report to
manager/CEO with advice
provided by contracted
consultant.
MD/CEO
MD/CEO
EGM Operations/EGM HR.
Operations Manager.
Operations Manager.
GM HR.
HR Manager.
HR Manager.
GM Risk.
Key
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OHS Officer
OHS Advisor
OHS Manager
National OHS manager
General/Group Manager OHS
accountabilities
Planning
Operational
activities
Assist with implementing the
SME/division’s OHS plans and
strategies.
Assist with implementing the
SME/division’s OHS plans and
strategies.
Encourage the prompt
reporting of hazards and
incidents.
Encourage the prompt
reporting of hazards and
incident.s
Support management and staff
awareness of OHS
responsibilities and
accountabilities.
Support management and staff
awareness of OHS
responsibilities and
accountabilities.
Contribute to OHS consultation
processes.
Contribute to and support OHS
consultation and participation
processes.
Support and encourage
workplace parties in fostering a
positive OHS culture.
Undertake hazard
identification, inspections, Job
Safety Analyses.
Contribute to recommendation
for prevention of workplace
fatality, injury disease an ill
health.
Support and contribute to
implementation of activities
prevent workplace fatality,
injury disease an ill health.
Support and participate in
incident and emergency
Support and encourage
workplace parties in fostering a
positive OHS culture.
Coordinate and undertake
hazard identification,
inspections, Job Hazard
Analyses.
Undertake risk assessment of
non complex tasks.
Develop and document
procedures and safe work
method statements.
Coordinate and contribute to
implementation of activities
prevent workplace fatality,
Establish OHS management
plan for the division which
supports the organisation-wide
OHS plan.
Provide OHS specialist advice,
technical and management
support to the commercial
business units(s)/division.
Establish the organisational
OHS management plan.
Develop and implement plans
for OHS initiatives across the
organisation/division.
Develop and implement
succession plans for the
members of the OHS senior
management.
Undertake risk assessment of
more complex tasks.
Ensure integrity of OHS risk
assessment and risk
management processes.
Provide leadership, vision, OHS
specialist and managerial
support across the organisation
to manage OHS to minimise
fatalities, injuries, disease and
ill- health.
Develop and implement
strategies to prevent and
minimise workplace fatality,
injury, disease and ill health.
Develop strategies to prevent
and minimise workplace
fatality, injury, disease and ill
health.
Oversee the design and
implementation of robust and
fit-for-purpose OHS
management systems.
Develop and/or implement the
SMS processes.
Develop SMS processes.
Advise senior and operational
managers on appropriate
strategies and activities to
foster a positive OHS culture.
Support managers in activities
foster a positive OHS culture.
Coordinate and manage the
audit program for divisional
operations and ensure that
identified issues are integrated
into the business and site OHS
plans.
Evaluate auditing and incident
investigation procedures.
Establish and implement
procedures for safety/risk
management and emergencies.
Provide OHS specialist advice
and technical support to the
commercial business unit.
Develop and implement the
OHS strategy and high level
annual plans for the entire
business.
Advise and support managers
on appropriate strategies and
activities to foster a positive
OHS culture.
Lead and support organisational
change to achieve positive
safety culture, OHS objectives
and implementation strategy
Oversight, lead and manage the
OHS performance evaluation
processes including audit
programs and ensure identified
issues are integrated into the
business OHS plans.
Lead organisational change to
drive a positive safety culture
and achieve OHS objectives and
strategy.
Ensure the business’ OHS
activities and operations are
conducted in compliance with
applicable laws, regulations and
company code of conduct.
Lead investigation into
workplace fatalities and capture
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OHS Officer
OHS Advisor
response processes.
injury disease an ill health.
Monitor compliance with
workplace policies and
procedures including by
contractors.
Monitor compliance with
workplace policies and
procedures including
conducting workplace audits of
contractors.
Assist in addressing actions
identified in SMS and other
audits.
Coordinate and participate in
incident and emergency
response.
Conduct/participate in
investigations into workplace
incidents.
OHS Manager
Ensure the business’ division’s
OHS activities and operations
are conducted in compliance
with applicable laws,
regulations and company code.
Conduct investigations into
workplace incidents.
Support organisational change
within area of control to
achieve OHS objectives and
strategy.
Assist in implementing actions
resulting from SMS and other
audits.
Engage with and support HSRs,
OHS committees and
supervisors.
Engage with and support HSRs,
OHS committees, supervisors
and managers.
Liaise with relevant authorities
regarding OHS Issues.
Liaise with relevant authorities
regarding OHS.
General/Group Manager OHS
Evaluate auditing and incident
investigation procedures.
“lessons learnt” for executive
and Board.
Ensure the business’ division’s
OHS activities and operations
are conducted in compliance
with applicable laws,
regulations and company code
of conduct.
Establish priorities for action
within an organisation wide risk
profile taking account of
criticality of risk
Establish procedures for
OHS/risk management and
emergencies
Lead investigation into incidents
with a potential for fatality or
major injury fatalities and
capture “lessons learnt” into
overall corporate progammes.
Assist in the evaluation of
auditing and incident
investigation procedures.
Engagement
National OHS manager
Establish priorities for action
within an organisation wide risk
profile taking account of
criticality of risk
Engage with site management
teams to ensure that OHS roles,
responsibilities and
expectations are understood by
all.
Engage with site and divisional
management teams to ensure
that OHS roles, responsibilities
and expectations are
understood by all.
Engage with Board, executives,
senior management team and
operational managers in a
complex commercial
environment.
Engage with and support site
based OHS practitioners.
Consult and communicate with
all levels of stakeholders.
Engage with and support site
based OHS practitioners and
professionals and peer
professionals.
Develop and gain commitment
at all levels to the OHS strategic
direction for the business.
Liaise with relevant authorities
regarding OHS issues.
Consult and communicate with
all levels of stakeholders.
Liaise with relevant authorities
regarding OHS issues.
Ensure that the expectations
are understood by the
executive and l management
teams.
Build key external stakeholder
relationships including
authorities and regulatory
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OHS Officer
OHS Advisor
OHS Manager
National OHS manager
General/Group Manager OHS
bodies for nationwide or crossborder OHS issues.
Advise and mentor National
OHS Manager and the senior
safety team.
Serve as the primary external
spokesperson on OHS including
communicating with
shareholders, financial and
investment communities and
other key stakeholders on OHS
matters.
Training
Conduct safety inductions.
Conduct local topic specific
training including tool box talks.
Design and conduct safety
inductions.
Conduct OHS training needs
analysis.
Identify organisational OHS
training and staffing needs.
Develop and conduct local topic
specific training.
Develop/commission OHS
training to address identified
needs.
Support and coach site based
OHS personnel and operational
managers.
Implement, monitor and
evaluate effectiveness of OHS
training.
Coach new managers and
supervisors joining the
organisation to ensure they are
aware of their OHS/HSE
responsibilities.
Support/mentor HSRs and
supervisors.
Support and coach operational
managers and site-based OHS
staff.
Ensure divisional induction
covers staff’s OHS/HSE
accountabilities and new
managers are coached on their
OHS/HSE responsibilities
Administration/
Reporting
Maintain OHS records including
hazard and risk registers and
other manifests.
Maintain OHS records including
hazard and risk registers and
other manifests.
Manage OHS information
system.
Manage OHS information
system.
Compile work injury/illness
Compile, analyse and report
Ensure maintenance of
appropriate OHS records.
Ensure appropriate compilation,
analysis and reporting of work
injury/ illness statistics.
Integrate ’lessons learnt’ into
training programs
Interpret trends and provide
appropriate written and oral
reports to senior managers.
Identify organisational OHS
training and staffing needs for
the next five years and ensure
processes are developed to
meet these needs.
Coach the senior management
team to ensure deep
understanding of their OHS
responsibilities and the
business benefits of robust OHS
strategies.
Integrate ‘lessons learnt’ into
training programs
Interpret trends and provide
appropriate written and oral
reports to senior managers and
Board.
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OHS Officer
Staff
management
OHS Advisor
statistics.
work injury/illness statistics.
Nil
Nil
Capabilities and
knowledge
Qualifications
OHS Diploma (VET).
OHS Diploma/Advanced
Diploma (VET).
OHS Manager
National OHS manager
General/Group Manager OHS
Manage and provide regular
feedback to ensure appropriate
action and development of all
direct reports.
Manage and provide regular
feedback to ensure appropriate
action and development of all
direct reports.
Manage and provide regular
feedback to ensure appropriate
action and development of all
direct reports.
Build strong relationships with
‘dotted line’ reports and their
managers to ensure their OHS
advice, competence and
knowledge is up to date.
Build strong relationships with
‘dotted line’ reports and their
managers to ensure their OHS
advice, competence and
knowledge is up to date.
Build strong relationships with
‘dotted line’ reports and their
managers to ensure their OHS
advice, competence and
knowledge is up to date.
Refer OHS Professional
Capabilities and OHS Body of
Knowledge learning outcomes
Refer OHS Professional
Capabilities and OHS Body of
Knowledge learning outcomes
Refer OHS Professional
Capabilities and OHS Body of
Knowledge learning outcomes
Tertiary OHS qualifications.
Tertiary OHS qualifications
preferably masters.
Tertiary OHS qualifications
preferably masters.
Tertiary OHS qualifications.
Typical
experience
1-3 years.
3-5 years.
5-10 years.
5-10 years.
10 years plus.
Certification
category
Certified OHS Practitioner.
Certified OHS
Practitioner/Certified OHS
Professional.
Certified OHS Professional.
Certified OHS
Professional/Chartered OHS
Professional.
Chartered OHS Professional.
Note:
These sample position profiles have been developed from job descriptions provided by safesearch, a specialist OHS recruitment company. These position
descriptions also form the basis of the annual safesearch remuneration survey.
These sample position profiles are intended as guidance only. Organisations should ensure that the position descriptions for OHS roles in their
organisation appropriately reflect the requirements of the specific organisation.
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