RMIT University

Health & Safety Hazardous Substances, Dangerous Goods & Biosecurity Lead

Melbourne Full time

Overview:

  • Full-time, Fixed Term position until February 2027
  • Salary Level HEW 9 ($135,978 - $145,693) + 17% Superannuation and Flexible Working Arrangements
  • Based at the Melbourne CBD campus, and hybrid ways of working

About You
You are a knowledgeable and proactive safety professional with demonstrated experience in hazardous substances, dangerous goods, biosecurity, or a related compliance-focused environment. You bring a strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and are confident applying these to ensure safe and compliant practices across complex organisations. You have experience developing and managing governance frameworks, systems, and processes that support the lifecycle of hazardous materials, including acquisition, storage, use, transport, and disposal. You are committed to continuous improvement and can identify opportunities to enhance safety systems, compliance, and operational effectiveness. You are an effective communicator and trusted advisor, with the ability to engage and influence a diverse range of stakeholders, including academic, professional, regulatory, and industry partners. You are comfortable providing both strategic guidance and hands-on support in dynamic teaching, research, and operational environments.

You bring strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex information, manage risk, and support informed decision-making. You are motivated by contributing to a safe, compliant, and high-performing organisation.

To be successful in this position, you’ll have as a minimum:

  • Tertiary qualifications in science, chemistry, biology, engineering, occupational health and safety, or a related discipline. 
  • Expert knowledge of hazardous substances, dangerous goods, chemical safety, and/or biological safety, radiation, laser and biosecurity regulations.
  • Demonstrated experience in managing compliance frameworks, regulatory reporting, licensing or governance for regulated materials.
  • Strong technical capability, including risk assessment, incident investigation, procedure development and laboratory/field operations.
  • Experience managing systems (eg. chemical inventory, biosecurity tracking and HSMSs)
  • Proven stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to advise senior leaders and collaborate across diverse academic and operational groups.
  • Project management competence, including delivery of improvement initiatives in complex environments.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication, including policy writing, reporting and training delivery.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead, influence and build a positive safety and compliance culture.
  • The role will periodically require availability and after-hours response to support incident management, critical events or emergency-related activities

Please Note: Appointment to this position is subject to passing a Working with Children and National Police Check.

About the Portfolio

The Health, Safety & Risk (HSR) team are a team of strategic professionals providing outstanding, client focused, proactive and effective solutions and services for all RMIT staff. Our success is achieved by understanding our business and operating as a business partner to our clients. We deliver responsive, innovative and practical solutions and services. The HSR team operate in a manner that supports the RMIT values and achievement of the business objectives. By providing tailored, quality services and products and ensuring a high level of expert support and advice, the HSR team will enhance College/Portfolio and Groups ability to meet their business objectives. This in turn will allow the University staff to better support the current and future student population at the University.

To Apply 

Please submit your CV and covering letter addressing your suitability for this position by clicking on the ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page.

For further information about this position, please see the Position Description hyperlinked below or contact Rachael Stephenson via email rachael.stephenson@rmit.edu.au.

For further information regarding recruitment processes, please contact Larisa Ahadi, Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor via email at larisa.ahadi@rmit.edu.au Please do not share your application to this email address.   

Position Description

Please note, if you are viewing this advert from an external site, please click ‘apply’ and you will be redirected to RMIT's Jobs website to access the Position Description at the bottom of the page. Due to recent upgrades, position description links may not work on LinkedIn advertisements.  

#LI-Hybrid

Applications Close:

23 Mar 2026 11.59 pm

RMIT is an equal opportunity employer committed to being a child safe organisation. We are dedicated to attracting, retaining and developing our people regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and age. Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community, and we strongly encourage applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community. 

 

In line with RMIT University’s commitment to a safe, respectful and inclusive environment, from 1 January 2026, the University will also consider gender-based violence (GBV) risk factors as part of our recruitment processes.  All applicants will be required to complete a gender‑based violence declaration in accordance with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence.  Preferred candidates will also be required to undertake relevant pre‑employment background checks, including Working With Children Checks. Information provided will be treated confidentially and considered only for its relevance to the role and RMIT’s safety obligations.

 

At RMIT, we are committed to supporting adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, as well as during employment. We actively support and encourage people with disability to apply to RMIT (including alternate formats of application forms). To discuss adjustment requirements, please contact Dani, via talentsupport@rmit.edu.au or visit our Careers page for more contact information - https://www.rmit.edu.au/careers.

 

We are a Circle Back Initiative Employer – we commit to respond to every applicant.