Job Description

Who we are:

Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) is Australia’s flagship automated terminal and a cornerstone of the Port of Melbourne. As a key subsidiary of ICTSI—a global powerhouse operating 34 terminals across 20 countries and 6 continents—VICT combines world-leading expertise with local innovation.

Located at Webb Dock East, VICT provides an essential capacity boost to the Port of Melbourne, supporting continued growth with a throughput capacity of 1.25 million+ TEU. Our strategic position on the bay side of the West Gate Bridge offers a critical advantage: we are the only terminal in Melbourne capable of servicing the newest generation of neo-Panamax vessels, ensuring faster berthing and unrivalled turnaround times for both imports and exports.

At VICT, we are leveraging global scale and cutting-edge innovation to redefine the future of maritime logistics.

Summary of the role:

Take on a key leadership role shaping safety, people and organisational capability within one of Australia’s most advanced automated container terminals.

Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) is seeking an experienced People, Safety and Capability Manager to help lead our People and Safety portfolio within a complex, high-risk and 24/7 operational environment.

Reporting to the Chief Human Resources Officer, you will provide strong technical and strategic leadership across workplace health and safety while contributing to employee relations, workers compensation, injury management, leadership development and organisational capability.

This is an influential role for a practical and credible safety leader who can work confidently with executives, operational leaders and employees to deliver strong and sustainable people and safety outcomes.

The Opportunity:

As the People, Safety and Capability Manager, you will lead the continued development of VICT’s workplace health and safety framework, systems and governance arrangements.

You will provide trusted advice to the Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Leadership Team and operational leaders, supporting them to identify and manage risk, strengthen safety performance and maintain accountability for the safety and performance of their teams.

Beyond safety, you will act as a senior adviser across complex people matters, workers compensation, injury management, organisational capability and workforce development. You will also contribute to executive and Board reporting, strategic planning and broader People and Safety priorities.

This role provides the opportunity to influence safety culture and organisational performance across Operations, Engineering and corporate functions while helping build leadership capability and succession depth within the People and Safety team.

Key Responsibilities:

Health and Safety Leadership

• Lead and continually improve VICT’s workplace health and safety framework, systems and processes.
• Provide credible, practical and risk-based safety advice to executives and operational leaders.
• Support the identification and management of critical operational risks.
• Oversee incident investigations, corrective actions and preventative measures.
• Monitor safety performance, trends and leading and lagging indicators.
• Coordinate safety assurance, audits, inspections and compliance activities.
• Support the development of effective risk controls across Operations, Engineering and other business functions.
• Maintain VICT’s compliance with applicable Victorian and Commonwealth safety requirements.
• Engage with regulators and external stakeholders when required.
• Coach and challenge leaders to strengthen ownership of safety within their areas of responsibility.
• Promote a proactive, practical and accountable safety culture across VICT.
• Provide senior-level HR and employee relations advice to managers and leaders.
• Support complex performance, conduct, grievance, disciplinary and workplace investigation matters.
• Coach managers to build confidence and capability in managing their teams.
• Support organisational change, consultation and workforce planning initiatives.
• Advise on employment legislation, policies, procedures and industrial instruments.
• Support significant employee relations and industrial relations matters.
• Act as an escalation point for complex people matters and support the wider People team when required.
• Provide leadership and governance across workers compensation, rehabilitation and return-to-work activities.
• Support early intervention and safe, sustainable return-to-work outcomes.
• Monitor complex and high-risk claims.
• Work collaboratively with employees, managers, insurers, medical practitioners and external providers.
• Review claims and injury trends to identify prevention and improvement opportunities.
• Connect learnings from injuries and claims with VICT’s broader safety and risk-management activities.

Learning and organisational capability

• Support the development and implementation of VICT’s learning and capability strategy.
• Strengthen operational competency and safety-critical training frameworks.
• Support training matrices, competency requirements and compliance activities.
• Partner with operational leaders to identify capability gaps and workforce development priorities.
• Contribute to leadership development, succession planning and internal talent pipelines.
• Help develop pathways that build internal capability and reduce key-person risk.

Governance and Executive Support

• Contribute to Executive, Management and Board reporting.
• Identify emerging people, safety and organisational risks and ensure appropriate escalation.
• Provide analysis, recommendations and insights to support executive decision-making.
• Monitor key People and Safety metrics and identify trends requiring intervention.
• Support internal and external audits and maintain effective governance documentation.
• Contribute to annual business planning and strategic priorities.
• Represent the People and Safety function at senior forums when required.
• Act as a trusted senior adviser to the Chief Human Resources Officer and broader leadership group.

About You

You are an experienced safety leader who understands the realities of working in a complex operational environment. You combine strong technical knowledge with commercial judgement, practical problem-solving and the confidence to influence and challenge at all levels.

You’ll bring:

• Significant workplace health and safety leadership experience within a high-risk operational environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading safety systems, risk management, incident management and assurance activities.
• Strong knowledge of Victorian workplace health and safety legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Experience leading and developing teams.
• The ability to build credibility and influence senior operational and executive leaders.
• Strong investigation, problem-solving and risk-assessment capability.
• Experience working across multiple business functions and managing competing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in ports, logistics, transport, manufacturing, construction, resources, heavy industry or another complex operational environment.

The following experience will be highly regarded:

• A formal qualification in Work Health and Safety, Occupational Health and Safety or a related discipline.
• Experience across employee relations or broader HR management.
• Exposure to industrial relations and unionised workforces.
• Experience managing workers compensation and return-to-work functions.
• Experience with learning, competency or organisational capability frameworks.
• Experience supporting a 24/7 operational workforce.
• Experience within ports, stevedoring, transport, logistics or heavy industry.

What's in it for you?

We value innovation, teamwork, and a passion for excellence. VICT is proud to offer a supportive and inclusive workplace that celebrates equal opportunities, diversity and new standards in workplace safety for the industry, as well as competitive salary and benefits packages, and opportunities for growth and development.

Some of our employee benefits on offer are:

• Competitive remuneration package and benefits
• Free onsite, secure parking.
• Free EV Charging.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Novated Leasing Options.
• 18 weeks paid parental leave.
• $750 Health and Wellbeing allowance per financial year.
• Access to Udemy, a world-renowned online learning platform, supporting your professional and personal development.
• Quarterly Townhall business celebration and communication updates.
• A chance to work for Australia's only fully automated container terminal.
• Great Team Environment committed to continual improvement.
• Global-standard new facility with advanced tech and sustainable operations.
• Member of various industry bodies such as; Australian Logistics council, Shipping Australia Limited & Container Transport Alliance of Australia.
• Opportunities for Females to be a part of our Wayfinder partnership, to increase the visibility of your career in the supply chain and logistics industry.

Sustainability & Safety

VICT’s state of the art design and engineering delivers a highly sustainable container terminal to the Port of Melbourne. We have liaised regularly with various stakeholders, including our closest neighbours, and we are committed to delivering an environmentally responsible operation.

Safety is our priority. Stevedoring is a traditionally dangerous industry due to the constant changes in environment, therefore we take care to improve the conditions of our workers.

By harnessing the equipment and technology available at VICT, we have the potential to deliver a service to assist with the new provisions to ensure all components of the supply chain are compliant with allowable weights, vehicle dimensions, load restraint, driver fatigue, vehicle speed and maintenance.

Our Technology

VICT’s development delivers a leading global standard in modern container terminal design, innovation and operations, using best-proven technologies to deliver automated operations for both landside and shipside. Our technology brings the equipment to life, ensuring it all runs smoothly.

If this sounds like you and you want to continue your career in transport and logistics, or are looking to start your career with us, please APPLY via the link.

Must have unrestricted Australian working rights.