Hamilton City and Waikato District Councils have formed a publicly owned, Council-controlled Organisation (CCO) to deliver water services across Hamilton city and Waikato district. The company is called IAWAI - Flowing Waters and will take over the provision of water services from 1 July 2026. This transition will occur in stages such as the current Watercare contract for Waikato District Council transferring to the CCO on 1 July 2026.  

He angituutanga: The opportunity 

Fixed-Term until July 2028

At IAWAI, we’re on a journey to create a safer, healthier, and more resilient workplace, and we're looking for an experienced Health & Safety professional to help lead the way. As our Health & Safety Assurance & Improvement Specialist, you'll play a key role in shaping and strengthening our health, safety and wellbeing systems, turning insights, data and assurance findings into practical improvements that make a real difference across the organisation.

This is a senior advisory role where you'll work closely with leaders and teams across the business to improve assurance activities, strengthen systems and reporting, and support a culture where everyone understands and owns their health and safety responsibilities. You'll also help prepare IAWAI for the future as we work towards the integration of Watercare Waikato, ensuring health, safety and wellbeing remains at the heart of a successful transition.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and coordinating IAWAI's health, safety and wellbeing assurance programme
• Identifying improvement opportunities through data, risk insights and assurance findings
• Strengthening Health & Safety SOPs, controls and operational frameworks
• Providing practical advice and support to leaders across the business
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives that enhance safe and effective ways of working
• Supporting the development of meaningful health and safety reporting and assurance activities
• Helping prepare the organisation for future integration and growth initiatives
• Building strong relationships across the business to influence positive health and safety outcomes
• Supporting accountability, consistency and compliance across health, safety and wellbeing practices

Oo puumanawa me oo wheako | Your skills and experience 

• Significant experience in health, safety and wellbeing, assurance, systems, reporting, analytics, quality, risk, or a related senior specialist role
• Strong understanding of health and safety assurance, control effectiveness, continuous improvement, governance reporting, and risk-based prioritisation
• Sound working knowledge of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and relevant codes of practice, standards, or guidance applicable to the role
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, or improving assurance frameworks, audit or review programmes, control effectiveness reviews, action tracking processes, or comparable assurance activity
• Demonstrated experience developing, reviewing, and maintaining SOPs, procedures, templates, guidance, and controlled documents in a complex operational environment
• Advanced data, reporting, and analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear insights, themes, risks, actions, and recommendations
• Confidence using, improving, and supporting digital systems, dashboards, registers, reporting tools, and assurance documentation
• Strong advisory, coaching, and influencing skills, including the ability to work effectively with senior leaders, operational teams, and external stakeholders
• Ability to influence without authority, build trust quickly, and support consistent ways of working across different teams and functions
• Strong judgement, attention to detail, and ability to identify material issues, manage competing priorities, and escalate appropriately
• Ability to work with ambiguity, navigate change, and provide practical solutions that support sustainable improvement
• Relevant qualification in health and safety, assurance, quality, risk, data analytics, business, or a related field
• Experience supporting organisational change, transition, integration, or future-state operating model development in a health, safety, assurance, operational, or systems context
• Experience in local government, infrastructure, utilities, water services, or another complex operational environment is desirable

He aha te wariu o te utu kaimahi? | What’s the salary? 

Circa $95 - $110k dependent on skills and experience.

Me Tono Inaaianei!: Apply Now! 

• View the position description.
• Click apply
• ​Complete your application.

If you wish to include a cover letter with your application, please combine this in the same file as your resume and upload as a PDF file. Alternatively, you can use the 'Write a message to the Hiring Team' text box.

Applications close on the: 26 October 2026

Note: We will be shortlisting as we receive applications.

All candidates will be notified of the outcome on their application via email. Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks and a criminal check. This role is Safety Sensitive so a pre-employment medical including drug and alcohol test will be required. View more information about these checks and our commitment to the Privacy act here by clicking here

It is important to us that we support you throughout our selection process (interview and assessments). If you have any access needs during this process, let us know in advance so we can make sure these are met.

As a council, we believe in creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and belongs. We value inclusiveness (Kotahitanga) – we respect and value the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents that everyone brings. 

This role is being sourced directly. If/where Hamilton City Council requires the support of a recruitment agency, we will seek this support from our panel of selected agencies. Hamilton City Council will not be responsible for, and will not pay, any commissions, fees or other payments related to unsolicited contact.

All candidates will be notified of the outcome on their application via email. Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required when relevant to the role. View more information about these checks, our commitment to the Privacy act and details for international applicants by clicking hereIt is important to us that we support you throughout our selection process (interview and assessments). If you have any access needs during this process, let us know in advance so we can make sure these are met