SENIOR HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVISOR

Founded in 1927, KENT WORLDWIDE is a family-owned US company built around specialty ingredients and consumer brands. Over the years, the business has become known around the world for our strength in manufacturing and marketing.

At Kent Consumer Brands APAC, our ambition is to create joyful memories every day, for everybody, around the world. For nearly a century, our core values of Honesty, Quality, Safety, Timeliness, Win Win Partnerships and Curiosity have shaped our culture and long-term success.

We are a fast growing, values driven organisation with a strong portfolio of trusted brands including Frosty Boy, Sqwincher, Breeder’s Choice and World’s Best Cat Litter. With multiple manufacturing sites across Australia and the UK and products sold in more than 70 countries, we are proud to employ hundreds of people who are passionate about quality, sustainability and innovation.

Joining us means being part of a supportive, growth-oriented business that invests in its people, its brands and its future.

About the Role

We are looking for a Senior Health and Safety Advisor to support both the design and assurance of the Safety Management System (SMS) and the practical application of safety risk management in operational and field environments. 

The role ensures that the company's safety systems are compliant, mature, and effective, while actively partnering with leaders and frontline teams to translate system requirements into practical, workable safety outcomes that reduce risk and improve performance. 

This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to step into a senior, hands-on safety role where you can shape how safety is designed, governed and applied in the field, working alongside leaders and frontline teams to make a real impact every day.

This is a full-time, onsite role at our Dandenong site. 

Responsibilities: 

• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the Safety Management System (SMS), ensuring alignment with WHS legislation and ISO 45001
• Develop and control WHS policies, standards, procedures and supporting guidance material
• Support leaders to meet WHS due diligence obligations, integrating safety into enterprise risk and governance frameworks
• Provide governance support, quality assurance and risk-based WHS reporting to leaders and forums
• Partner with operational teams in the field to identify hazards, assess risk and implement practical controls
• Support safe systems of work (including permits, SWMS and critical control processes, ensuring controls are effective in practice)
• Facilitate the identification and management of critical risks and critical controls across operational and project environments
• Lead/support investigations for serious incidents and high-potential events; embed learnings into system improvements
• Plan and participate in audits, inspections and assurance activities; track corrective actions through to verified closure
• Monitor leading/lagging indicators and drive improvement initiatives across system and operational environments
• Coach, influence and support leaders and frontline teams to build capability in risk management and safety leadership
• Deliver or support WHS training, consultation processes and capability development initiatives across the organisation 

About You

• Proven experience in a senior WHS advisory role across both systems and operational environments
• Strong working knowledge of WHS legislation, codes of practice, governance and risk management
• Demonstrated capability implementing, maintaining or improving a Safety Management System aligned with ISO 45001
• Strong understanding of critical risk and control frameworks and operational risk management practices
• Operational credibility and the ability to influence, coach and partner with leaders and frontline teams
• Strong investigation, audit and assurance capability, with a practical, solutions-focused approach
• Clear, confident communication skills and the ability to produce high-quality reports and briefings

Qualifications  

Essential

• Tertiary qualification in Work Health and Safety, Safety Science, Risk, or related discipline
• Extensive experience (5+ years) in senior WHS advisory roles across systems and operational environments
• Demonstrated experience implementing or maintaining a Safety Management System
• Experience supporting audits, incident investigations, and operational risk management

Desirable 

• Experience with ISO‑aligned management systems (e.g. ISO 45001)
• Lead or Internal Auditor qualification
• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
• Experience in high‑risk or complex operational environments