Safety Coach

We’re looking for a passionate and proactive Safety Coach to join the Viva Energy team at our Geelong Refinery. In this highly visible, field-based turnaround role (approx. 70% onsite), you’ll play a critical part in driving a zero-harm culture by coaching frontline teams, supporting leaders, and strengthening safety capability across a complex 24hr operational environment.

You’ll work closely with operations, maintenance, and contractor teams to embed best-practice HSSE standards and ensure safe, efficient execution of all activities.

About the Site

The Geelong Refinery is a large, dynamic manufacturing environment with:

  • 400+ employees and 200+ contractors
  • Over 1.5 million work hours annually
  • Major turnaround events bringing an additional 500 workers onsite

This role is pivotal in ensuring all work is completed without recordable injury, supporting both day-to-day operations and large-scale shutdown activities.

Responsibilities & Requirements

Coaching & Leadership

  • Coach frontline teams and leaders to consistently perform work safely
  • Support supervisors in developing strong safety leadership behaviours
  • Maintain a visible presence on-site, providing real-time feedback and guidance
  • Contribute to toolbox talks, job starts, and safety meetings

Safety Systems & Assurance

  • Monitor Permit to Work (PTW) and Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) systems
  • Conduct field audits, behavioural safety observations, and job inspections
  • Support and drive compliance with the Geelong Refinery Management System (GRMS)
  • Participate in contractor assurance processes (CMAS, ISNetworld compliance)

Training & Capability Building

  • Deliver and co-facilitate safety training programs, including AERO
  • Mentor leaders and teams to build sustainable safety capability
  • Facilitate job hazard analyses reviews and promote best practice safety behaviours

Incident Investigation & Continuous Improvement

  • Lead and support incident investigations using causal learning techniques
  • Identify improvement opportunities and contribute to procedural updates
  • Champion key safety processes and promote continuous improvement initiatives
  • Tertiary Qualification in Workplace/ Occupation Health and Safety, Environmental or equivalent.
  • Formal training in incident investigation.
  • Have suitable experience as a safety professional in industrial safety on a full-time basis for at least 10+ years and possess the required technical skills and knowledge to perform the role.
  • Demonstrated ability to analyse and interpret procedures to suit the working environment based on risk management processes and principles.
  • Significant exposure to green / brown field construction and commissioning environments.
  • High level of understanding and managing of contractor workforces.
  • Demonstrated senior leadership experience in safety / environment / quality or relevant industry role
  • A genuine passion for safety and building high-performing teams

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and encourage and support diversity in our traditional and non-traditional roles.

Please note: This role is being sourced through Viva Energy Australia, therefore we will not be accepting applications via external recruitment agencies.