About us
From the arrival of the Tainui Waka into the Manukau Harbour, Auckland Airport has always been a place of journeys. We stand proudly as the gateway to Aotearoa, welcoming travellers beginning their journeys, farewelling Kiwis to new destinations, connecting businesses and workers to new opportunities, and celebrating partners and investors who back us along the way. We have ambitions to be a global hub and a comprehensive development programme to deliver this vision.
With so many moving parts to keep the airport precinct running, it’s our collaboration and passion that keeps everything together. This is what our culture and heritage have been built on. When you work with us, you’ll share our ambition to be a great New Zealand business, and one that’s making a strong contribution to the wellbeing of our communities and economy.
E mahi ana mātou mō Aotearoa. We are working for New Zealand.
What you will be doing
Reporting to both the Head of Risk and Resilience and Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing you will lead a team of five to deliver a data-driven approach to enable informed decision-making across the organisation.
In this newly created role, you’ll be at the centre of cross-functional collaboration, leading the design, implementation and continuous improvement of Auckland Airport’s Safety Management System and reporting frameworks. Your leadership will enable the Safety and Risk teams to deliver robust, data-driven insights enhancing operational safety outcomes and supporting proactive risk management at Auckland Airport (AKL).
You will play a strategic role in embedding a proactive risk and safety culture across all operational practices at AKL by ensuring that systems, processes, and reporting practices are aligned with international standards, regulatory requirements, and the airport’s safety vision.
Your key responsibilities include to:
- Lead a newly formed team fostering a high-performing, collaborative, engaged team culture whilst ensuring adaptability in a complex and changing environment
- Oversee the development, implementation, performance and continuous improvement of the airport’s Safety Management System framework
- Build and maintain effective relationships across the business to influence Senior Leadership and Operational Business Units in a high-risk environment
- Design and implement reporting frameworks that provide clear visibility of safety performance, trends, and emerging risks across the airport
- Deliver regular and ad hoc reporting to the Executive Leadership Team, Board, and external stakeholders, ensuring accurate, timely, and meaningful insights
- Support leaders and teams across the airport to understand and meet their risk and safety responsibilities through effective training, coaching, and guidance
- Lead and embed an Enterprise-wide resilience program encompassing business continuity management, continuous improvement and reporting.
Requirements
What you’ll bring to the role
At Auckland Airport, we are a busy hive of activity, and a lot of what we look for is how you would align with our AKL values All In | Tātou tatou – How we feel, Know How | Kōkiri Tahi – How we think and Let’s Go | Karawhiua – How we act.
Having senior leadership experience in Risk and Safety roles additional to having spent some time during your career in the Aviation environment, you’ll bring a deep understanding of operational safety principles, systems, and regulatory frameworks within a high-risk, complex airport environment.
You’ll demonstrate a passion for empowering people to thrive at work and the ability to lead your team through ambiguity. You’ll demonstrate effective stakeholder engagement, be influential in your communication style and create an environment of trust, collaboration and high performance.
To ensure your success in this role, you will need:
- 10+ years experience leading Safety Management Systems in a complex operational setting, preferably in aviation
- Relevant degree level tertiary education in safety, risk management, engineering, or a related field is desired
- Strong knowledge of international and national safety standards and regulatory frameworks (e.g., ICAO Annex 19, CAA Part 100/139)
- Expertise in safety data reporting, analytics, and the development of performance metrics
- Experience implementing and optimising digital safety tools and platforms
- Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate at all levels
- Leadership experience, with a track record of building capability and developing high-performing teams
Benefits
Auckland Airport is more than just a business. It’s a truly unique place with an important role to play in New Zealand’s recovery. Together we’re its custodians, knowing that the work we do has the power to create positive change for our customers, the community, the environment and for the prosperity of Aotearoa. We’re all about creating a sense of place where everyone can thrive, and one where others aspire to work. We’re a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome people from all walks of life.
Whiria te tangata. Our values weave us together. They’re what we stand for, who we are and how we act.
Apply today
It’s our collaboration and passion that keep everything together. This is what our culture and heritage have been built on. When you work with us, you’ll share our ambition to be a great New Zealand business, and one that’s making a strong contribution to the wellbeing of our communities and economy.
If this role sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Click the "Apply" button now. Please note that applications will be reviewed continuously throughout the recruitment period, and appointments may be made before the official closing date of the advert.
Attention Recruitment Agencies: Auckland Airport has a Direct Sourcing model and at this point in time we will not require any recruitment agency support for this role.
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