Senior HSE Advisor

NES Fircroft is currently seeking a Senior HSE Advisor for valued OFS Client. This will be a full-time position based in Perth and will require regular domestic and international travel across the area, based on operational and compliance needs 

The Australasia Senior HSE Advisor & Country HAZMAT Coordinator provides senior-level HSE leadership and assurance across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. The role partners with operations and functional leaders to implement and continuously improve the company HSSE management system, meet applicable legal and client requirements, strengthen operational risk controls, and support a proactive safety culture.

As Country HAZMAT Coordinator, the role provides governance and coordination for radioactive materials, explosives, lithium batteries, dangerous goods and hazardous substances, while ensuring that formally appointed licence holders and technical specialists retain their statutory accountabilities.

Key Accountabilities

HSE Leadership, Governance and Planning

• Lead implementation, administration and verification of compliance with the company HSSE/OEPS management system across the assigned area.
• Develop, facilitate and monitor the Australasia annual HSE plan, objectives, leading indicators and improvement actions; provide clear performance reporting and escalation to leadership.
• Provide competent HSE advice to country and operational leaders on legal, company and client requirements, and support integration of HSE expectations into business planning, tendering and contract execution.
• Promote visible HSE leadership, workforce engagement, Stop Work Authority, learning from incidents and near misses, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain effective interfaces with operational leaders, employee representatives, clients, contractors, regulators and external service providers, as required.

Risk Management and Operational Assurance

• Facilitate and maintain site, task and operational HSSE risk assessments and verify that critical controls are practical, implemented and effective.
• Provide advice on the hierarchy of controls and validate work-planning tools, including JHAs, toolbox talks, permit to work, energy isolation/LOTO and pre-job meetings.
• Conduct and coordinate facility inspections, field audits, hazard hunts and leadership site engagements, including verification of pressure testing, machinery guarding, lifting equipment, calibration, chemical storage and other critical-risk controls.
• Monitor RADAR observations and other corrective actions to ensure appropriate ownership, timely close-out and effectiveness verification.
• Support emergency preparedness by maintaining relevant plans and participating in drills, exercises and post-exercise reviews.

Audit, Incident and Compliance Management

• Plan and participate in internal HSSE/OEPS audits and supplier or contractor HSE assessments in accordance with the approved audit schedule.
• Coordinate follow-up and closure of audit, inspection and compliance findings, escalating overdue or high-risk actions.
• Lead or support incident and CPAR investigations, applying appropriate root-cause analysis and ensuring that corrective actions address systemic causes and are effectively implemented.
• Ensure HSE incidents, actions, inspections, drills and other required records are accurately entered and maintained in approved company systems.
• Monitor employee and contractor inductions, training and competency compliance relevant to the assigned operations.

Country HAZMAT Coordination

• Coordinate the Australasia HAZMAT compliance program covering radioactive materials and apparatus, explosives, lithium batteries, dangerous goods and hazardous substances.
• Maintain a country-level register of HAZMAT licenses, permits, appointments, exemptions and regulator commitments; initiate renewals early, track progress and escalate any risk to operational continuity.
• Coordinate with appointed Radiation Safety Officers, Explosives Safety Officers, licence holders, nominated persons and operational focal points; verify that appointments, qualifications and delegations remain current and documented.
• Coordinate monthly HAZMAT reporting, inventories, surveys, disposals, self-assessments and leadership review; ensure identified nonconformities have owners, risk controls and tracked close-out actions.
• Monitor HAZMAT training and competency, including awareness, product-line competency and transport certification such as IATA and IMDG where applicable; escalate gaps and support suspension of affected work where legal or company minimum requirements are not met.
• Coordinate dosimetry enrolment, badge ordering, distribution, collection, account administration and record retention for radiation workers, in cooperation with the appointed RSO and service provider.
• Verify that survey meters and other HAZMAT monitoring equipment are identified, available, maintained and within calibration.
• Provide compliance oversight for HAZMAT storage, segregation, labelling, signage, security, inventory control, transport documentation and approved shipment processes.
• Coordinate HAZMAT emergency drills at the required frequency and ensure lessons and actions are documented and closed.
• Conduct or coordinate periodic HAZMAT audits, facility inspections, field visits and hazard hunts, and verify timely closure of findings.
• Coordinate timely disposal or redeployment of depleted lithium batteries, surplus radioactive material, expired chemicals and other regulated waste through approved channels.
• Support regulator inspections, applications and correspondence, and maintain auditable country HAZMAT records in the approved global portals and local systems.
• Immediately escalate licence expiry, loss of regulatory approval, significant inventory discrepancy, uncontrolled exposure, transport noncompliance or any other condition that could create legal, safety, environmental or business-continuity risk.

Knowledge, Skills and Qualifications

• Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety, or an equivalent recognised HSE qualification, is essential.
• A bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, occupational health and safety or another relevant technical discipline is advantageous.
• Previous HSE experience in a high-risk industry such as oil and gas, mining, energy, manufacturing or similar operations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Australian WHS legislation, relevant standards and codes of practice; ability to coordinate compliance requirements across New Zealand and Papua New Guinea with appropriate local support.
• Practical experience in incident investigation, auditing, operational risk management, contractor management and corrective-action close-out.
• Working knowledge of HAZMAT compliance principles covering radiation, explosives, lithium batteries, dangerous goods and hazardous substances. Formal RSO/ESO or dangerous goods qualifications are desirable where relevant to the assigned statutory duties.
• Strong analytical, influencing, coaching and written/verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage frontline employees, leaders, clients and regulators.
• Competence in Microsoft Office and relevant HSSE reporting, document-control and action-tracking systems.
• High personal integrity, attention to detail and a proactive approach to compliance and continuous improvement.

Working Conditions

• Primary work location: Perth.
• Regular travel to operational locations in Australia and periodic travel to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, subject to business need.
• Ability to attend sites, workshops, yards and field locations and to respond to urgent HSE or HAZMAT matters when required.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.