About Abergeldie
Abergeldie is a majority Australian owned civil contractor with over 30 years’ experience delivering projects across the water, utilities, bridges, roads, rail, energy and community infrastructure sectors. Our commitment to excellence, innovation and sustainability has positioned us as a trusted industry leader, delivering the complex infrastructure needed to build better communities.
We are entering a significant phase of growth, building on strong performance across Abergeldie and a clear ambition to become a $1.2B+ business by 2030.
As our projects increase in scale and complexity, the way we lead safety will be critical to how we grow, how we deliver and how we ensure our people go home safely every day.
About the opportunity
Safety has never been more important to Abergeldie, and neither has the leadership behind it. Following the promotion of our current General Manager to Executive General Manager, we are looking for an exceptional safety leader to build on that momentum and lead the next chapter of our safety journey.
Reporting directly to the Executive General Manager HSES, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across Australia and New Zealand, leading a team of more than 20 safety professionals, including Safety Managers and Advisors. This role is central to strengthening our safety strategy, embedding critical risk controls, and ensuring our safety approach remains practical, consistent and aligned to how we plan, lead and deliver work.
This role requires both strategic leadership and a disciplined focus on getting the basics right. You will help set the safety direction for the business, while embedding the fundamentals that matter most on site; clear expectations, visible leadership and effective and proactive risk management. You will continue to mature our safety systems, enhance governance, and drive meaningful improvements that strengthen safety performance without adding unnecessary complexity.
You will be a trusted partner to executive and operational leaders, bringing the credibility to influence at a senior level and the pragmatism to support project teams on site. You will lead through change, simplify where appropriate, provide constructive challenge when needed, and help build a strong, consistent safety culture. Success in this role will come from balancing strategic thinking with operational execution, providing clear direction while remaining connected to project teams and the realities of delivery.
What You’ll Bring to the Team
You are an experienced senior safety leader who is equally comfortable influencing decisions in the boardroom as you are engaging with teams on site. You know what good looks like, but you also know how to make it practical in a complex, fast-moving construction environment. You will bring;
Extensive senior safety leadership experience within civil construction, infrastructure, utilities or a similarly complex operational environment.
Proven ability to coach, develop and inspire high-performing safety teams, underpinned by a collaborative and values-based leadership style.
Experience leading safety across multiple projects, regions or business units, ideally across Australia and New Zealand.
A strong track record of improving safety systems, strengthening governance and embedding practical, risk-based approaches.
Experience leading safety through periods of growth, change or transformation.
Strong knowledge high-risk construction activities.
Relevant qualifications in Work Health and Safety, supported by certifications such as ICAM, ISO 45001 Lead Auditor or equivalent.
Understanding of the Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner (OFSC) accreditation framework and compliance requirements.
Why You Should Work With Us
This is a genuine opportunity to influence the future direction of safety across Abergeldie. You'll be joining at an exciting stage of growth, backed by an Executive team that recognises safety as a core business priority. You'll have the opportunity to influence strategy, strengthen operational capability and lead a high-performing safety function supporting the delivery of complex infrastructure projects across Australia and New Zealand.
If you thrive on building strong teams, improving operational performance and creating safer workplaces, we'd love to hear from you.
Interested?
If this sounds like you, apply now or reach out to Hayley Urriola at [email protected] for a confidential chat.
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