Health, Safety, Environment & Quality Leader

• Drive a pragmatic, risk-based approach to HSEQ
• Join a business with a strong HSEQ foundation
• Influence at a strategic level

About the company

Kūmānu is a proudly New Zealand-owned business delivering a diverse range of environmental, infrastructure and community services that help create thriving places and healthy environments. Guided by its values of Respect, Responsibility and Guardianship, the organisation has built a strong reputation for delivering quality outcomes while genuinely caring for its people, customers and communities.

Health, Safety, Environment and Quality are already deeply embedded within the culture, with strong engagement across the business and leadership committed to doing the right thing. As the organisation continues to evolve, the opportunity is to now build on these strong foundations by refining systems, simplifying processes and ensuring effort is focused on the risks that matter most.

Do you have the capability to lead this business-critical function?

About the opportunity

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and sitting on the Senior Leadership Team, the HSEQ Leader will provide strategic and operational leadership across health, safety, environment, quality and sustainability.

This is an opportunity to influence the future direction of HSEQ within a high performing organisation. Working closely with leaders across the business, you'll help drive a practical, risk-based approach that prioritises critical risks, empowers ownership, and ensures systems genuinely support operational excellence.

You'll provide strategic advice to the Executive and Board, lead a capable HSEQ team, oversee compliance and certification frameworks, champion sustainability initiatives and ensure governance and reporting continue to support informed decision making.

About you

You're an experienced leader who understands that outstanding HSEQ performance is built through people, relationships and practical leadership.

You've built credibility in operational environments, perhaps leading HSEQ in the trades, construction, contracting, infrastructure, or utilities industry before. You understand the realities of operational businesses and know how to engage leaders and frontline teams to create lasting behavioural change.

You'll bring:

• Proven success leading Health and Safety within a medium to large operational business, and a skill set supplemented by expertise in Environmental and Sustainability processes.
• Strong leadership capability with the ability to coach, influence and build capability across all levels of an organisation.
• Experience developing and improving integrated management systems while ensuring they remain practical and fit for purpose.
• The confidence to challenge existing thinking, simplify where appropriate and lead positive organisational change.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A genuine passion for creating safer, healthier and more sustainable workplaces.

Success in this role will come from balancing strategic leadership with operational credibility.

If you're looking for a leadership role where you can influence strategy, simplify systems, build capability and create lasting change across a progressive business, we'd love to hear from you.

How to apply

To view the position description and to apply, visit Decipher Group at https://deciphergroup.co.nz/job-opportunities/hseq-leader/

To discover more about Kūmānu, visit https://www.kumanu.co.nz/

For a confidential discussion about the role; contact Lisa Edwards, ***email_hidden***, 021 240 4410.

Applications close: Wednesday 15th July.

We encourage you to apply early as we will be screening upon application.