Workforce Risk Manager

Lead – Workforce Risk (WHS & Compliance)📍 Location: Australia (Hybrid)💼 Full-time | Leadership Opportunity
About Impellam Headfirst GroupImpellam Headfirst Group is a global leader in workforce solutions, STEM talent, managed services and HR technology, formed through the coming together of Impellam Group and Headfirst Group. Together, we partner with organisations across the globe to design, mobilise and manage complex contingent and contractor workforce programs.Within our Talent Management portfolio, our purpose is simple: to build workforce solutions that attract, deploy and support the right talent, safely and compliantly, for the customers who rely on us. We do this by combining deep workforce expertise with strong governance, so that every contingent labour placement at a host employer is set up to succeed from day one.In Australia, our Talent Management team supports a diverse portfolio of programs across the resources and mining, energy, and government sectors, spanning a wide variation of role types – from technical, trade and operational roles through to specialist and professional contingent labour placed at host employer sites nationally.
About the RoleWe are seeking an experienced Lead – Workforce Risk (WHS & Compliance) to provide functional leadership across contingent workforce safety, operational risk, and WHS compliance for contractors placed at host employer sites throughout the APAC region.Reporting to the VP Talent Supply & Enablement, you will act as the organisation's subject matter expert and authority on workforce risk, ensuring that safety, compliance, and critical risk controls are embedded into workforce solutions from design through to mobilisation and delivery.This is a strategic leadership role that combines WHS expertise, workforce risk management, operational governance, and commercial partnership to support sustainable and compliant workforce solutions.
What You'll Be Responsible For WHS & Critical Risk LeadershipDevelop and maintain contingent workforce WHS and critical risk frameworks for contractors deployed at host employer sites across APACEstablish site risk assessment processes, incident management, and mitigation strategiesMonitor workers' compensation trends and high-risk environmentsEnsure strong governance and compliance across workforce operationsSafety by DesignEmbed safety principles into workforce operating models and mobilisation frameworksPartner with operational, product, and technology teams to integrate risk controls into systems and processesProvide safety and risk advice during workforce design and implementation activitiesImplementation & Mobilisation AssuranceDefine safety readiness frameworks for new programs and workforce transitionsConduct risk assessments and provide recommendations before go-liveIdentify and mitigate operational and safety risks during mobilisation phasesWorkers Compensation & Injury ManagementOversee injury management, workers' compensation, and return-to-work governance for contingent workers at host employer sitesDevelop frameworks that improve recovery outcomes and reduce risk exposureSupport on-site injury escalation and management processesRisk, Audit & ComplianceLead internal and external WHS and operational risk auditsAct as the escalation point for safety incidents and compliance mattersDrive continuous improvement through audit outcomes and incident analysisMaintain strong governance across customer programs and high-risk environmentsCommercial & Strategic SupportProvide WHS and workforce risk advice for tenders and solution designEnsure workforce models are commercially sustainable, compliant, and operationally effectiveSupport leadership teams with risk-based decision makingWhat Success Looks LikeSuccess in this role means:· Reduced safety incidents and critical risk exposure· Strong workers' compensation and injury management outcomes· Workforce programs operating within established risk parameters· Safety embedded into workforce design and mobilisation from day one· Audit-ready operations with robust assurance frameworks· Proactive identification and mitigation of emerging risks· High confidence from customers and executive stakeholders
What You'll Bring From Day 1Essential ExperienceProven experience in Workforce Risk, WHS, Compliance, Workplace Relations, or Risk Management within MSP, CMS, or highly regulated environmentsExperience working within the mining, resources, or related heavy industry sectors in AustraliaStrong understanding of:All WHS and Workers Compensation legislation and associated regulations, together with the regulator SafeWork – Federal and StateFair Work Act, Modern Awards, and National Employment StandardsContractor engagement models (ABN and company structures)Worker classification and sham contracting risksExperience managing workers' compensation, injury management, and return-to-work frameworksStrong risk assessment, governance, and escalation capabilitiesAbility to influence stakeholders and support strategic decision makingDesirable ExperienceExperience working in high-risk industriesExposure to compliance audits and regulatory reviewsExperience supporting commercial and workforce solution decisions from a risk perspectiveProfessional certifications in WHS, Risk, Compliance, Audit, or Employment LawQualificationsDegree in Human Resources, Workplace Relations, Employment Law, Risk, WHS, or a related disciplinePostgraduate qualifications in Risk Management, Safety, Business, or Workplace Relations are highly regarded
Why Join Us?Strategic leadership opportunity with regional influenceAbility to shape workforce safety and risk frameworks across APACCollaborative, values-driven cultureFlexible hybrid working arrangementsExposure to major resources, energy and government customers, across a broad variation of role types nationally
If you're passionate about workforce safety, operational excellence, and building robust risk frameworks that enable sustainable growth, we'd love to hear from you.