Health & Safety Lead

Position Title: Health & Safety Lead 

Position Type: Temporary - Full-Time ​

Requisition ID: 42930 

At McCain, we’re driven by potatoes — and by people. In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious and committed to creating great outcomes together. With safety at the heart of everything we do, this is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact at one of our key manufacturing sites.

About the role.

As the Health & Safety Lead, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening a proactive, people‑centred safety culture at our Ballarat Potato facility. Partnering closely with operational leaders and frontline teams, you’ll provide hands‑on guidance and expertise to embed safe work practices, elevate capability, and continuously improve our safety systems.

This role is ideal for a collaborative safety professional who enjoys influencing on the floor, coaching leaders, and turning insight into action.

This is a 12-month fixed term contract.

What you’ll be doing.

• Champion a strong safety culture by working alongside leaders and teams to proactively manage risks


• Coach and support operational teams to complete effective, process‑based risk assessments


• Lead and coordinate site safety forums, including key risk area and safety committee activities


• Drive high‑quality incident investigation, analysis and follow‑up for continuous improvement


• Monitor site health & safety performance through inspections, audits and data insights


• Support compliance with legislative requirements, internal standards and due diligence obligations


• Partner with leaders on safety initiatives within McCain’s continuous improvement framework


• Provide guidance and support for injury management and return‑to‑work processes

What you’ll need to be successful.

• Certificate IV in Work Health & Safety (or equivalent)


• Practical experience in risk assessment, incident investigation and safety system implementation


• Strong working knowledge of workplace health & safety legislation and best practice


• Confidence engaging with frontline teams and influencing leaders at all levels


• Experience conducting inspections, audits and interpreting safety performance data


• Ability to translate safety requirements into clear, practical actions


• Exposure to manufacturing or industrial environments is highly regarded


• Experience (or willingness to develop skills) in injury management and return‑to‑work coordination

About the team.

You’ll be part of a supportive site and ANZ Health & Safety network, working closely with the Senior Health & Safety Manager and Plant Leadership Team. The role is highly visible and collaborative, offering real scope to influence how safety is lived every day on site.

About McCain.

McCain Foods is a global leader in food manufacturing, with a proud history of innovation, sustainability and care for our people. We believe in doing work that matters — safely, responsibly and together.

Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.

Leadership principles.

At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

The McCain experience.

We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we’re better together.

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*We've got this covered! No external agency support is required and unsolicited CVs will not be considered.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know  and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions. 

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain’s Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy, as applicable. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process, though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information is being handled here. 

Job Family: Manufacturing      
Division: ANZ 
Department: ​Ballarat PP Safety ​
Location(s): AU - Australia : Victoria : Ballarat 

Company: McCain Foods (Aust) Pty.