3 x Health & Safety Adviser – Science and Engineering – 12-month fixed term

Company Description

 Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading University. With over 6,000 academic and professional staff supporting over 46,000 students, we are one of NZ’s largest employers.  We have six academic faculties and 13 service divisions creating a diverse, dynamic and complex organisational culture that demands excellence.

The University of Auckland creates globally transformative impacts through our distinctive strengths in world-leading research, scholarship, teaching, and collaborative partnerships, inspired by our unique position in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific. 

Our mission and values place a strong emphasis on our student body and scholarly community, and we work with both the community and enterprise to advance the well-being of the people of Auckland and New Zealand, with a clear commitment to sustainability.

Job Description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

We are looking for three Health & Safety Advisers to join our Science and Engineering faculties at the University of Auckland:

• One Health & Safety Adviser – Science
• One Health & Safety Adviser - Medical and Health Sciences
• One Health & Safety Adviser – Engineering

These are broad, hands-on roles where you will work alongside academics, researchers, technicians, professional staff, and students to help create safe, compliant, and well-managed environments across complex teaching, research, laboratory, and engineering settings.

This is much more than a compliance role. You will be a trusted adviser who understands the needs of the business, provides practical advice, challenges when required, and helps people find solutions that enable teaching and research to happen safely.

Working closely with the relevant Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Manager and Faculty stakeholders, you will provide specialist advice and guidance across a broad range of health

Nga Pūkenga Motuhake | Important Skills

• Provide practical, health and safety advice and guidance across complex environments
• Support the identification and management of hazards and risks, including reviewing risk assessments, implementing appropriate controls, and supporting higher-risk laboratory and engineering activities.
• Lead and support incident response and investigations, corrective actions, and organisational learning, while identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Undertake safety walks, inspections, and audits, while coordinating health and safety documentation, training, records, reporting, and other compliance requirements
• Build strong relationships with managers, academics, technicians, researchers, and students, providing training and guidance
• Using health and safety systems and data to identify emerging risks and contribute to practical improvements that strengthen safety across the Faculty.
• Supporting compliance with relevant legislation, standards, and University requirements.

This is a full-time (37.5 hours per week), 12-month fixed-term position.

The salary range is $87,000 to $107,500 per annum, depending on skills and experience.

For more detailed information, please refer to the Position Description 

He kōrero mōu | About you

We are looking for someone who combines sound technical health and safety knowledge with strong interpersonal skills and a practical, people-focused approach.

You will bring:

• A relevant tertiary qualification and demonstrated experience in health and safety, preferably within a complex, technical or higher-risk environment.
• For the Science positions: a degree in Science, Environmental Science, Occupational Health & Safety or a related discipline. A Chemistry qualification or background would be advantageous.
• For the Engineering position: a degree in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.

• Approximately 3–4 years’ relevant health and safety experience, ideally within a complex operational, laboratory, research, engineering, or other technical environment
• Strong knowledge of risk management, hazard identification, incident management and health and safety compliance.
• Experience supporting incident investigations, corrective actions and continuous improvement, as well as developing, reviewing and maintaining risk assessments, procedures and health and safety documentation.
• Experience undertaking audits, inspections, safety walks and other assurance activities, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple compliance and administrative requirements.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and influencing skills, with the confidence to work with people at all levels, challenge constructively, provide appropriate pushback and build practical, solutions-focused relationships.
• The ability to work autonomously, exercise sound judgment, and take ownership, supported by strong organisational and administrative skills,
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience using large or complex health and safety management systems - Sidetrack and/or Ideagen (previously Damstra) would be advantageous.

If you have a background in science, engineering, manufacturing or laboratory environments, and a passion for health, safety and wellbeing, we’d love to hear from you.
 

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university and maintains significant computational, laboratory, and analytic facilities. Auckland itself is frequently rated as one of the world’s most liveable cities. 

The University is committed to providing an excellent working environment through:

• Flexible employment practices (including working from home, flexible hours)
• Up to 6.75% company superannuation scheme
• A competitive salary with five weeks’ annual leave

In addition, we also offer career development programmes, discounted car parking, a generous parental leave allowance, childcare, and several other discounts on internal and external services. 

For more information, please visit Staff Benefits.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Applications should be submitted online, before the closing date of 24th September 2026, and include an up-to-date CV and cover letter outlining what strengths you will bring to this role. Please indicate your preferred position – Science, Engineering, or either – in your cover letter

If you have any questions about this role, please get in touch with Sharon Kishore (Recruitment Consultant) via sharon.kishore@auckland.ac.nz for a confidential discussion. Please note we are happy to answer your questions, but we do not accept applications by email.

Qualifications

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Equity

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment.  For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQIATakatāpuiMVPFAFF+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz