Health and Safety Advisor

• Permanent Full Time Position (40 hours per week, Monday – Friday).
• Hybrid – based at any Ember hub and/or work from home
• Additional leave - 2 recreation days and 5 study days per year
• Reports to the General Manager Service Excellence

Join Ember Korowai Takitini and make a real difference in the lives of people and communities. We’re looking for a proactive and experienced Health & Safety Advisor to lead and champion health and safety across our organisation. This is a specialist role for a registered health professional (e.g. Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker or Psychologist) that combines technical expertise with clinical insight to enhance wellbeing and create safe, positive environments for our kaimahi, whaiora, volunteers, and visitors

Ember Korowai Takitini | Nga Matapono

At Ember, we support people to live the lives they choose, and we challenge the systems that hold them back. Our vision is a society that better understands and responds to mental distress, addiction, and intellectual disability.

As part of our team, you’ll enjoy:

• Extra leave – including 2 recreation days and 5 study leave (after a year's service)
• Wellbeing initiatives – Extraordinary card for health needs, EAP, flu vaccinations, and more
• Professional development – ongoing supervision, training, and growth opportunities i.e. funded annual practicing certificate, external supervision (one hour for each month).
• Inclusive culture – a supportive, values-driven workplace where your voice matters

Role | Nga mahi
As our Health & Safety Advisor, you’ll provide leadership, guidance, and practical solutions to ensure compliance and foster a proactive safety culture. You’ll work closely with leaders and teams to integrate health and safety into everyday practice, particularly in client-facing and community-based environments.

Key responsibilities include:

• Acting as the subject matter expert on health and safety legislation and best practice
• Leading risk management processes, including psychosocial and clinical-related risks i.e. Reviewing and updating clinical safety protocols, guidelines and policies or Facilitating debriefs and reflective practice sessions for staff following serious events or incidents to support learning and safe practice
• Supporting investigations into incidents and near misses, ensuring root cause analysis and practical recommendations
• Developing and delivering health and safety training, including de-escalation and personal safety workshops for employees
• Partnering with People & Capability to promote wellbeing and resilience initiatives
• Preparing compliance reports and analyzing health and safety data to drive continuous improvement

You will | Nga Pukenga

We’re looking for someone who combines technical health and safety expertise with clinical understanding and strong relationship-building skills.

Essential:

• Current clinical registration with a recognised NZ board (e.g., Nursing Council, OTBNZ, SWRB, Psychologists Board)
• Tertiary qualification in health and safety, occupational health, or related field
• Significant experience in health and safety, ideally in mental health, addictions, or intellectual disability settings
• Strong knowledge of NZ health and safety legislation and its application in healthcare
• Experience in risk assessment, incident investigation, and compliance reporting
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and coaching skills

Desired:

• Training (or experience in) in incident investigation or risk assessment
• Evidence of ongoing professional development in health and safety

If you think you have what it takes but don't meet everything stated above, please still get in touch. We'd love to kōrero.

Values

At Ember, we live by our values every day:

• Whakapono – Passion and belief in what we do
• Tino rangatiratanga – Putting people first and supporting self-determination
• Kotahitanga – Working together in partnership
• Kia Pono, Kia Tika – Keeping it real, honest, and grounded

Ready to make a difference?

Apply now with your CV and a cover letter telling us why you’re the right fit for this role

“He aha te mea nui o te ao? Maku e ki atu, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata”

What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people

Ember is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and embrace diversity and inclusion in the workplace and are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all. We particularly welcome applications from our Māori, Pacific and Rainbow communities.

We will interview candidates as applications come through rather than waiting until the advertisement closes. The vacancy may be filled earlier if a suitable candidate is identified.