Overview of the Group and Team
The Regulatory Operations Group (ROG) has responsibility for achieving safer and healthier workplaces within its jurisdiction. As an effective national regulator, it does this by promoting continuous improvements in work health and safety practices and national/international monitoring and compliance as well as enforcement activities under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act).
The National Operations team is responsible for supporting the objectives of Comcare and the Regulatory Operations Group to be a nationally consistent, risk-based WHS regulator by ensuring the delivery of effective, consistent and targeted national regulatory operations to organisations within the Comcare Scheme.
Seven Directors lead the Groups oversight of national/international compliance and enforcement activities under the WHS Act including Six Regional Directors who manage regional operations teams across Australia and a Director who manages WHS investigation, family liaison and WHS undertaking compliance activities nationally.
The team has centralised oversight of WHS Investigations and investigation procedures and capability. The team will assist with the coordination of Regulatory Work Activity Planning Model (RWAPM) programs and regional engagement plans on behalf of Regulatory Operations Group.
Overview of the Role
The Senior Director, National Operations leads multifaceted geographically diverse teams and ensures the delivery of high quality, consistent and effective regulatory operations that are national and international in nature and often politically sensitive, under the WHS Act, WHS Regulations and Comcare regulatory policy and guidelines.
The Senior Director, National Operations oversees the conduct of complex WHS investigations including making decisions on the escalation and de-escalation of matters to/ from investigation.
The Senior Director, National Operations provides high quality regulatory advice, analysis and assurance to the Comcare Executive including on the referral of investigations to the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions.
The role oversees the National Investigation and Oversight team and the six Regional Operations teams within Regulatory Operations Group (ROG) and reports directly to the General Manager, ROG.
The Senior Director, National Operations demonstrates strategic leadership capability, superior people management skills and an ability to achieve organisational objectives through leading, contributing and collaborating with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
The Senior Director, National Operations has a demonstrated extensive understanding or an ability to quickly gain this knowledge of WHS legislation and regulation.
The Senior Director’s key areas of focus will be to:
- Oversee Comcare’s WHS regulatory compliance activities with national/international implications and/or reach in accordance with Comcare’s Compliance and Enforcement Policy
- Ensure national consistency in regulatory operational delivery across regions while overseeing and identifying emerging WHS risks
- Deliver an integrated program of compliance activities, using a contemporary risk-based approach, to target WHS issues or entities within the jurisdiction that pose the most significant risk to health and safety of workers and
- Collaborate with stakeholders within Comcare and across the jurisdiction including the Minister’s office, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, workers and their representatives (Unions), State and Territory WHS jurisdictions and national employers.
Mandatory Experience
- Three plus years’ leadership experience working in a regulatory, compliance, law enforcement, work health and safety and/or mental health environment.
Eligibility and Specific Conditions of Employment
- Australian citizenship.
- Character clearance (Australian Criminal History Check).
- Employee Health Declaration.
- Six months probationary period for new engagements.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting 1 Security Clearance.
- Specific Conditions:
- Some intra and interstate travel is required, including overnight absences
How to apply
Please review the Job Information Pack below and provide a statement of claims with your responses outlining what you could bring to this position including your skills, experience and knowledge relevant to the job specific capabilities and role (maximum 2 pages).
Please note: The vacancy closes at 11:59pm, Australian Eastern Daylight Time (Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney time). If you experience any issues with submitting your application, please contact recruitment@comcare.gov.au