Executive Manager People and Safety

• Shape an integrated people and safety portfolio
• Lead culture, workforce capability and organisational wellbeing
• Combine executive influence with a Cairns lifestyle

Cairns Regional Council is seeking an accomplished people and safety leader to bring together workforce strategy, culture, capability, wellbeing and workplace health and safety in an integrated portfolio. Reporting to the Director People & Organisational Performance, you will provide strategic advice to the Executive Leadership Team and lead services that help employees, leaders and the organisation succeed.

The opportunity

This portfolio brings together human resources, organisational development, safety and payroll, creating an opportunity to connect people priorities with Council's strategic direction. Leading a team of four manager-level direct reports and approximately 35 indirect reports, you will foster a high-performing, values-driven culture that builds capability, empowers accountability and delivers responsive, customer-focused services across the organisation. Your role is to enable others to deliver, combining strategic direction with sound oversight rather than personally managing every operational task.

A central priority will be developing a coherent People Strategy that connects workforce planning, attraction, engagement, leadership development and wellbeing. You will also strengthen safety leadership, industrial relations and payroll governance, ensuring executive leaders have clear insight into workforce risks and priorities. Working collaboratively across the organisation, you will identify opportunities to simplify processes, enhance employee experiences and implement practical improvements that support organisational performance.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement people, safety and culture strategies aligned with organisational priorities and future workforce needs.
• Advise executive leaders on workforce planning, organisational design, capability, complex employee matters and people and safety risks.
• Lead industrial and employee relations, including enterprise bargaining, union engagement, consultation, dispute resolution and oversight of workplace investigations.
• Guide workforce attraction, recruitment, talent management, succession planning and Council's employee value proposition.
• Lead workplace health and safety strategy, systems, assurance and reporting, supporting leaders to meet their obligations and strengthen Council's Safety Circle culture.
• Integrate physical, psychological and social wellbeing, including psychosocial risk management, injury management and return to work.
• Oversee accurate, timely and compliant payroll services, industrial-instrument interpretation, internal controls, assurance and workforce reporting.
• Strengthen learning, leadership development, employment pathways and organisational capability.
• Coach and empower multidisciplinary teams, establishing clear responsibilities, service expectations and accountability.
• Manage branch budgets, procurement, service planning and performance measures, using data and technology to improve delivery.

About you

You will bring senior leadership experience in a complex organisation, with the breadth to connect people strategy, industrial relations, workforce capability and safety. You may have developed your career primarily in people or safety leadership; what matters is substantive safety knowledge, credible industrial-relations capability and the ability to lead the combined portfolio through experienced managers. Local government experience is desirable, but relevant leadership in other complex, regulated environments is welcomed.

• Experience developing contemporary workforce, culture, safety and organisational development strategies.
• Confidence leading enterprise bargaining and constructive union engagement, with sound knowledge of industrial frameworks and employment obligations.
• Strategic judgement and practical problem-solving skills when navigating complex and sensitive workforce matters.
• Demonstrated success leading change, improving internal services and developing capability through others.
• Strong communication, influencing, policy, reporting and executive advisory skills.
• An approachable, consultative leadership style, balanced with clear expectations, discretion and professional integrity.
• Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Organisational Development, Psychology, Workplace Health and Safety, Industrial Relations or a related discipline, and/or equivalent relevant work experience.

Why Cairns Regional Council?

This opportunity offers organisation-wide influence and the chance to shape a more connected employee experience. You will develop leadership depth, strengthen the partnership between people and safety services and help build a workplace where employees are supported to succeed and go home safe and well. Based in Cairns, the role combines meaningful regional leadership with the opportunity to make your next career move a lifestyle move.

An attractive senior officer remuneration package will be offered, together with five weeks' annual leave and relocation assistance subject to applicable conditions.

How to apply

Please visit www.mcarthur.com.au search J10172 to request the Candidate Information Pack, or for a confidential discussion please contact: Julie Barr, Manager - Executive Search 07 3211 9700.

Applications close COB 23 November 2026 and should include a current résumé and a covering letter outlining your relevant leadership experience and alignment with the selection criteria contained in the Pack.