Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Manager – Octopus Australia

This is an opportunity to join the Octopus Australia team in our Melbourne or Sydney office. The successful applicant will be able to join the Octopus Investments Australia team on their mission to accelerate Australia's transition to a future powered by renewable energy.

We’re looking for a Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Manager to join our Octopus Australia team. This role will be instrumental in designing, implementing, and managing our HSE Management System across our growing portfolio of renewable energy projects. In addition to physical safety, you will also champion office safety and psychological safety initiatives to foster a supportive and healthy work environment You will report to the Construction and Engineering Director and work closely with project managers, contractors, and stakeholders to ensure a culture of safety, compliance, and continuous improvement across all aspects of our operations

Octopus Australia

Established in 2018, Octopus Australia is a dynamic multi-disciplinary team of over 60 highly skilled people which spans the expertise required to realise and operate a renewable energy and storage portfolio.

With an existing multi-GW portfolio of operating and development assets, including solar, wind and battery storage across the country. We are continuing to grow to create a long-term business that can deliver a firmed energy product to meet the evolving needs of Australia’s energy future.

About the Role

Job Description

• Lead the development and implementation of the Octopus Australia HSE Management System in alignment with ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 standards.
• Provide strategic HSE leadership across all project phases—from development and construction to operations.
• Lead the HSE interface with EPC and BOP contractors, ensuring alignment of safety systems, risk assessments, and compliance with contractual and legal obligations
• Support pre-construction activities by assessing contractor HSE capabilities and contributing to construction readiness reviews
• Conduct HSE risk assessments, audits, inspections, and performance reviews for both corporate and site operations
• Work closely with the Construction Manager and Project Managers to monitor project HSE performance and ensure compliance throughout execution
• Conduct risk assessments, audits, and inspections to ensure compliance with legal and internal standards.
• Develop and deliver HSE training and awareness programs for staff and contractors.
• Monitor and report on HSE performance metrics, incidents, and corrective actions.
• Act as the primary point of contact for regulatory bodies and ensure timely reporting and compliance.
• Foster a proactive safety culture through engagement, communication, and leadership.
• Lead the integration of psychosocial risk management into the HSE Management System, in alignment with ISO 45003 and Safe Work Australia’s Model Code of Practice for Managing Psychosocial Hazards.
• Partner with HR to identify, assess, and control psychosocial hazards.
• Develop and promote programs and initiatives to enhance mental health.

Qualifications

Outline of experience required:

• Eligibility to work in Australia – visa sponsorship not offered
• Tertiary qualifications in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Recognised HSE certifications (e.g. Cert IV WHS, Lead Auditor in Safety/Environment)
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in HSE roles, preferably within the construction or renewable energy sectors.

Core skills required:

• Experience across the project lifecycle (design, construction, O&M) is highly regarded
• Proven experience establishing HSE systems and procedures for new or growing teams
• Demonstrated success working with EPC/BOP contractors during major project delivery
• Demonstrated experience in implementing and managing HSE systems and frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of Australian WHS legislation and environmental regulations.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and risk management systems
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and leadership skills.
• Comfortable using digital tools and platforms for reporting, training, and communication.

What we offer

• 💰 A competitive salary package including bonus and medical insurance benefits
• ✈️ Extra Annual Leave entitlement
• 🏡 Flexible working 
• Ongoing learning and career development opportunities

Octopus Australia has built an exciting and inclusive high-performance culture where employees feel empowered. We also understand the value of diversity, and we are dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace environment. We would welcome people of all backgrounds to apply. 

Our Values 

At Octopus Australia we don’t just focus on what we do but also how we do it. Everyone to shares our values of being straightforward, helpful, bold and empathetic. Our culture is critical to our success and is built around four principles that underpin how we pursue our goals:

• Be Bold – We like people who make decisions quickly and are OK changing their mind if it turns out there’s a better way of doing things.
• Be Helpful – We like People who behave like it always day one and who remember without our customers there is no business.
• Be Straightforward – We like people who have opinions and express them in a way that’s respectful and easy to understand.

• Be Empathetic – We like people who care about others and take the time to understand different perspectives. It’s about listening, supporting, and creating.