General Manager - People & Safety

The Organisation

Our client is a significant for-purpose organisation with a turnover of circa $100 million, operating a broad range of programs with a strong focus on frontline service delivery. The organisation is committed to person-centred practice and invests genuinely in the capability and wellbeing of its people. Guided by a clear values framework, it is a place where culture, safety and outcomes are taken seriously at every level of the business.

The Position

This is a newly defined executive role that creates a deliberate link between the human resources function and workplace health and safety. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Executive Manager – People & Safety sits on the Executive team. The WHS function has a strong existing capability. The primary opportunity is to elevate the HR strategy and bring genuine connection across the two functions.

This is a high-visibility position. Active engagement with frontline managers and staff is central to success. This is a fully office-based role, reflecting a hands-on, frontline culture. The organisation is based in the outer CBD with excellent access to public transport.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and implementing the People Strategy in alignment with organisational goals and safety objectives.
• Building workforce planning capability and addressing recruitment challenges across a complex, frontline service environment.
• Providing executive-level advice on industrial relations, workforce capability, culture development, and WHS risk.
• Navigating complex employee relations matters and interpreting industrial instruments with confidence.
• Acting as an enabler to managers and frontline staff, providing practical solutions rather than a purely compliance-driven response.
• Engaging proactively when the environment is under pressure, bringing clarity and judgement rather than retreating to process.

About You

Our client is open to candidates from outside the human services sector. What matters more than sector experience is the quality of your HR generalist knowledge, your industrial relations capability, energy and your approach. You will be an enabler by nature, able to navigate ambiguity to deliver outcomes. You will also bring:

• Significant generalist HR experience within a complex, service-focused organisation, including sound industrial relations practice.
• The ability to navigate complex employee relations matters and interpret industrial instruments with confidence.
• Demonstrable workforce planning capability and a practical, outcomes-focused approach to solving problems.
• Sound risk judgement – you understand compliance without being driven solely by it.
• Confident in matters of Work Health and Safety and managing a WHS Team
• An innovative mindset for achieving workforce solutions
• The interpersonal capability to build trust across the organisation and contribute as a genuine member of the Executive team.
• A tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Workplace Relations, WHS, or a related discipline.

How to Apply

For further information, please contact Jemma Buckner or Tina Jackson on +61 8 9221 0744.

Applications may be submitted in Word format to ***email_hidden*** quoting Reference LB303411. Please include a cover letter outlining why you believe you have the skills, experience and achievements relevant to this position.

Candidates’ rights under the Privacy Act will be observed at all times. Only candidates with valid work rights in Australia will be considered.

About Lester Blades

Lester Blades is a Western Australian owned executive search and board advisory firm with local specialisation and international reach. We focus on uncompromising excellence in service to clients in the identification of Non-Executive Directors, Chief Executive Officers, and a range of other senior executive and functional leadership roles.