About Us
What is the most important thing in the world, it is people, it is people, it is people
He aha te mea nui o tenei ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
WorkSafe New Zealand/ Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa, is the primary workplace health and safety regulator - our vision is that everyone who goes to mahi (work) comes home healthy and safe. Our kaimahi (employees) are passionate about our vision and embrace and demonstrate our Matapono WorkSafe Values through the mahi they do:
- Whakakotahi - we're united in a strong purpose
- Korero mai - we engage meaningfully
- Tiakina mai - we're entrusted with a duty of care.
We offer a range of benefits including:
- Free life insurance
- Discounts on health insurance and eye care
- Five weeks annual leave
- 15 days sick leave and
- Learning and professional development opportunities
There are a growing number of employee led networks to promote the goals and needs of our diverse communities, such as our Rainbow Network, Pacific Network, Women's Network, and Tu Rangatira Maori Network.
About your team / Ko te tima
The Technical Advisory team is responsible for providing specialist advice to workers, PCBUs, and WorkSafe kaimahi. The wider Technical Advisory team specialise in occupational diving, asbestos, hazardous substances, engineering, pipelines, construction, amusement devices and adventure activities. The team you will sit within is responsible for Hazardous Substances and Asbestos.
About the role / O te turanga
The Principal Specialist Asbestos provides expert leadership and subject-matter expertise in asbestos within WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru. Working closely with the Manager Technical Advisory and other kaimahi, the Principal Specialist ensures sound decision-making in asbestos licensing, compliance monitoring, and industry engagement-especially in complex or high-risk scenarios. The position also focuses on building capability and knowledge across the Technical Advisory and Authorisations and Advisory teams.
What You'll Do/ Ko tou ake mahi
- Provide strategic advice and support to the Head of Authorisations and Advisory, and technical advisory leaders
- Coordinate asbestos activity that occurs across various teams within the organisation and oversee auditing work to be undertaken on licenced asbestos assessors.
- Support the Inspectorate on enforcement actions where these actions relate to the licencing of duty-holders in the areas of responsibility covered by the Authorisations and Advisory function.
- Provide input and expert advice to other areas of WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru on issues related to the regulation of asbestos in the workplace and Contribute to the development of internal policies and procedures.
- Prepare and contribute to any briefing papers or reports required for the Minister's office and responding to ad hoc requests for information and produce reports as required.
- You will be a senior member of the team who will support others to provide responses to complex enquiries from external customers and stakeholders on issues related to the licences processed by the Asbestos team, where these enquiries are complex or high risk.
What You'll Bring / Ko nga pukenga ou
- Substantial experience and an expert level of knowledge of the regulations that apply to the specific areas of responsibility (such as the regulation of asbestos in the workplace)
- Sound knowledge of other relevant health and safety regulations and in-depth understanding of the sector/s the regulations apply to.
- The ability to consistently make sound and pragmatic decisions on compliance with legal requirements, including in complex and high risk cases
- Proven success in developing relationships with customers and stakeholders and mentoring others.
- Relevant tertiary qualification and /or extensive and comparable knowledge and experience gained in a similar role.
Salary range / Awhe utu
As part of our remuneration framework the full salary range for the position is from $138,259 to $182,456, and our expected starting base salary for the right person is from $138,259 to $152,991. Note: KiwiSaver/SSRSS employer contribution is additional too/on top of your base salary.
How to apply / Me pehea te tono -
Click the apply link, complete an application form and submit a copy of your CV and cover letter.
For further information please contact careers@worksafe.govt.nz with any queries, or to find out more about working for us, go to Careers | WorkSafe.
WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru is an equal opportunity employer.
We value diversity and welcome and encourage applicants from all walks of life. We value the experience your point of difference could bring to us.
Please let us know if there is any support we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you. We look forward to reviewing your application and getting to know more about you.
Applications close on Sunday 31 August 2025