Safety Manager - Australian Manufacturing in Sydney

Cochlear's mission is to help people hear and be heard. As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear is dedicated to helping people with moderate to profound hearing loss experience a world full of sound. We aim to transform the way people understand and treat hearing loss and innovate to connect people with future technologies. Our employees tell us that the number one reason they enjoy working for Cochlear is the opportunity to make a difference to people's lives. Learn and grow with us as we tackle the most complex challenges in helping more people to experience a lifetime of hearing.

The Opportunity

Cochlear is looking for a Safety Manager, Australia to lead workplace health and safety across our Australian manufacturing operations and play a key role in strengthening our safety culture. Leading a team of safety specialists, you will partner with manufacturing leaders across Sydney and Brisbane to embed safety accountability, improve risk management practices, and drive a proactive approach to injury prevention. This is a highly visible leadership role that combines strategic thinking with operational impact. You will influence leaders at all levels, drive safety improvement initiatives, utilise data and insights to inform decision-making, and ensure safety standards are effectively translated into day-to-day manufacturing operations. Working closely with Global WHS, you will help shape a safety environment that supports both operational excellence and the wellbeing of our people. This is a permanent full-time role based in our global headquarters in Macquarie University.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead implementation of comprehensive safety strategies across all three Australian manufacturing sites, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements and alignment with Cochlear's operational objectives.
• Partner with the Global WHS Manager to implement global safety policies across Australian manufacturing operations, developing site‐specific procedures and work instructions.
• Partner with VP Manufacturing Australia and site‐based operational leadership to integrate safety considerations into manufacturing process design, facility layout decisions, capital equipment procurement, and new product introduction activities.
• Monitor and report on safety performance, culture and capability indicators to support informed decision‐making and organisational accountability and targeted interventions that improve safety performance, reduce injury risk and support long‐term operational excellence.
• Provide operational safety leadership across Australia manufacturing operations, providing expert guidance on complex safety risks, legislative requirements and critical risk management.
• Develop and execute the Australia Manufacturing injury prevention strategy, establishing safety priorities and initiatives focused on reducing workplace injuries, critical control effectiveness and proactive hazard identification.
• Lead a team of safety specialists and work collaboratively with site leadership, manufacturing teams, engineering teams, and People & Culture to embed safety excellence.

About You

As we grow our operations, we are looking for people who share our passion for delivering quality hearing solutions to our customers. To add value to Cochlear in this role, you'll be able to demonstrate the following essential skills and experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Environment Health, or a related field.
• Extensive experience at a senior level in the management of a global, complex organisation, within manufacturing environments.
• Experience in medical device, pharmaceutical, or other highly regulated industries highly desirable.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in hazardous chemicals and hazardous materials management, supported by relevant qualifications, recognised training and/or substantial operational experience.
• Track record of successfully influencing safety outcomes across multi‐site operations and supporting the development, implementation of safety operating model.
• Expert knowledge and experience in the interpretation and implementation of WHS Legislation.

At Cochlear, we value and welcome the unique contributions, perspectives, experiences and backgrounds of our employees and aim to build a culture that celebrates and leverages these differences, creating a sense of belonging and enabling our people to realise their full potential.

Other Key Benefits:

• Play a pivotal role in embedding a new safety operating model across Australia manufacturing and help define how safety accountability is managed into the future.
• Drive injury prevention and safety culture initiatives with enterprise‐wide impact.
• Influence both strategic direction and frontline operational outcomes.
• Join a global medical device organisation dedicated to helping people hear, where safety, quality and employee wellbeing are fundamental to operational success.

How we recognise your contribution

At Cochlear we value and welcome the unique contributions, perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds of our employees and aim to build a culture that celebrates and leverages these differences, creating a sense of belonging and enabling our people to realise their full potential. Through our internal programs and employee benefits, we aim to create an environment where our people will feel valued and supported. Whether your focus is on continuous learning, professional development or simply finding an environment which enables you to thrive whilst balancing family or personal life commitments, then we have several programs in place to support you.

For more information about Life at Cochlear, visit www.cochlearcareers.com