Who we are
We own and operate the electricity distribution network that provides South Cantabrians with power. We are proud to be community-owned and connect over 34,000 customers throughout the region.
Our values of Safety, Accountability, Integrity, and Respect reflect who we are, what matters to us and how we do what we do. We care deeply about people, and strive to empower our people, our customers and our community while innovating for the future and generations to come.
We are considered an essential lifeline service, playing a significant role in our community, contributing to the growth and prosperity of South Canterbury and New Zealand’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
We are in a period of substantial investment and with that comes exciting career opportunities for the right candidates to join our high performing team.
The role
As our Head of Safety, you will play a crucial role within Alpine by ensuring AEL has robust systems, and a proactive safety culture to prevent harm to our people and assets —while maintaining regulatory compliance and industry best practice. You will take full ownership of our safety strategy and performance, acting as the subject matter expert and ensuring safety initiatives are embedded across the business with clear accountability and measurable impact. You will be responsible for leading the delivery of our safety roadmap, providing health and safety advice and support to the business, influencing practice and performance improvement across all AEL activities, and providing daily management of the Safety team.
This is a senior leadership role where you’ll shape Alpine’s safety culture and strategy, influencing outcomes at the highest levels of the organisation. Due to the scope and strategic nature of the work ahead, we're seeking someone who can confidently lead our health and safety function at an organisational level. If you're already operating as a Head of Safety, we’d love to hear from you.
As the Head of Safety, you will be responsible for:
- Providing leadership and expertise in health, safety and emergency management while overseeing public safety and contractor compliance to ensure AEL’s legal obligations and duty of care are consistently met
- Partnering with the Executive Leadership Team to embed safety into strategic planning and organisational decision-making
- Providing expert advice and strategic input to executive and board-level risk discussions
- Ensuring business leaders are competent, accountable and committed to workplace health and safety
- Keeping the Executive leadership team fully informed of significant safety risks and issues, along with recommendations on how to resolve the issue and minimise risk
- Leading emergency response management planning
- Providing leadership for the Safety team, setting clear and consistent expectations for performance, supporting developments, motivating the team and enabling growth
What you’ll need
- Proven experience in a health and safety leadership role within a complex organisation (Usually 7+ years)
- Extensive experience in interpreting and applying Health and Safety legislation, regulations and codes of practice in complex adaptive organisations
- Strong knowledge and expertise in emergency management
- Demonstrated experience in advising and supporting senior leaders on health and safety strategy and practices
- Demonstrated skills in influencing, persuading, coaching and negotiating at all levels in an organisation
- Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams
Nice to haves
- Deep understanding of electricity network operations, HV/LV risk, and critical controls
- Experience in project management
- Knowledge of current Health and Safety paradigms and their effective application
What we offer
At Alpine, we are committed to fostering a healthy work-life balance and offering a comprehensive employee value proposition that empowers you to bring your best self to work. We strive to keep you motivated, offer competitive rewards, and encourage you to share your ideas and innovations. Our dedication to our people, culture, and community is genuine, and we believe in having fun along the way.
Our state-of-the-art offices in Timaru are designed to enhance collaboration and productivity, featuring stunning panoramic views. Enjoy our well-stocked café with top-notch coffee, fruit bowls, interactive games, and an outdoor space for those well-deserved breaks.
We prioritise health and safety, maintaining Alpine’s strong record of ensuring our team goes home safely each day. Alongside a substantial welfare package and competitive salary (with various benefits), we offer opportunities for upskilling and career advancement. Relocation assistance may also be available.
Next steps
This role offers visibility, influence, and the chance to shape safety outcomes that affect thousands across South Canterbury.
If this role resonates with you and you are excited about contributing to South Canterbury’s energy future, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply by submitting your cover letter and CV, detailing why you’re the perfect fit for this position.
Rest assured; all applications will be handled with the utmost confidentiality. We encourage you to apply early, as our advert will close on Sunday the 16th of November and we will be conducting initial interviews shortly after.
No Agencies or Floating CV's please
