Job description:
* $152,556.00 per annum + 12% superannuation
* Full Time, ongoing position
* Wadawurrung/Geelong based role (hybrid working model – 3 days a week in office)
Part time (Up to 0.8 FTE) or job sharing arrangements will also be considered for this position.
About the opportunity
Within the Prevention, Strategy & Planning division in the Health and Safety Business Unit (HSBU), the Program Manager is responsible for both people leadership and prevention portfolio management under a flexible resourcing model.
The Program Manager will lead the development and operationalisation of strategic initiatives, delivering on key strategic outcomes to drive systemic behavioural change, prevention outcomes, enable compliance and support OHS improvements.
Under the flexible resource model, this position can be aligned to a range of portfolio's to deliver our key strategic priorities. Our key strategic approaches can be viewed here on our website.
Key accountabilities
* Provide effective leadership to, and manage teams under a flexible resource model to deliver health and safety improvement programs.
* Lead the team in planning and goal setting to ensure delivery of the division wide business plan.
* Lead people effectively through change.
* Develop a program strategy in collaboration with members of the team, key internal business partners and external stakeholders for portfolio of programs managed
* Conduct research and analyse available data including proposals developed by your project teams to inform decision making about the future direction of the program and resource allocation.
* Foster a culture of innovation through the use of a range of problem solving methodologies.
Please ensure you review the Position Description here for additional information on accountabilities for this role.
About you
You will have a strong understanding in and experience with Occupational H&S, prevention and behavioural change.
You will also have the ability to deploy thought leadership in supporting the delivery of key strategic goals, in addition to having proven experience with people leadership.
Your strengths will also include your verbal and written communication skills and ability to establish relationships with management, staff and external stakeholders.
Key skills and experience
* Ability to allocate and align resources to achieve core business objectives of WorkSafe.
* Active participant in the negotiation of major contracts on behalf of WorkSafe.
* Demonstrated ability to manage complex OHS regulatory and prevention issues.
* Highly developed program management skills and a demonstrated ability to plan and organise programs of work from policy development through to implementation.
* High level communication, negotiating and influencing skills and a proven capacity to resolve complex issues
* Extensive experience in providing authoritative regulatory and OHS prevention advice and analysis to stakeholders.
Working with us
At WorkSafe, our goal is for every employee to feel connected, safe, and valued within their team, for teams to feel appreciated in the workplace, and for WorkSafe to be respected in the community.
We believe that a diverse workforce is essential for delivering the best outcomes for the Victorian community.
We strongly encourage applications from all individuals, including First Nations people, people with disabilities, those from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and individuals of all sexualities and genders.
What's next?
Applications close
11:00pm Friday, 30th January 2026
. Click the link to apply, and join us in making a difference to Victorian lives.
Only applications submitted via the WorkSafe Careers website will be considered.
Preferred candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and/or other checks as required for the position as part of the recruitment process.
Eligibility for ongoing employment with WorkSafe Victoria requires Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency.
Due to the volume of applications received, individualised feedback will only be provided to candidates who progress to interview stage.
To ensure a fair and open recruitment process, we request that you complete all parts of the process without using AI tools. We want to understand your professional skills, experience and capabilities independent of an AI view.
For further enquiries please contact Talent Acquisition Specialist
David Heaney
via email –