• Full Time
• Application Closes 16 Aug 2026
• Manawatu - Palmerston North
• Occupational Health and Safety Technician

Help shape a workplace where people thrive.

At Horizons Regional Council, we believe that great health, safety and wellbeing is about more than compliance - it's about creating an environment where people feel supported, connected, healthy and able to do their best work every day.

We're looking for an experienced and people-focused Health, Safety & Wellbeing lead to build on the strong foundations already in place and continue fostering a culture where wellbeing is embedded into everything we do.

This is a unique opportunity to influence how we care for our people, strengthen organisational wellbeing and ensure that we are meeting our statutory obligations.

Why Join Horizons Regional Council?

We know that our people are our greatest asset. That's why we've created a workplace that genuinely values wellbeing, flexibility and work-life balance.

When you join us, you can enjoy:

• A wellbeing-first culture that supports your physical, mental and emotional health.
• Five weeks' annual leave after two years of service.
• Your birthday off to celebrate and recharge.
• Dedicated wellness leave and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year.
• Life insurance for permanent employees.
• Flexible and family-friendly working arrangements.
• Ongoing professional development and career growth opportunities.
• A supportive, collaborative and social team environment.
• Meaningful work that contributes to the health and sustainability of our region and communities.

The Opportunity

As part of our People and Capability team, you will lead our holistic approach to health, safety and wellbeing, building on the strong foundations, practices and achievements that we already have in place.

In this role you will:

• Champion a proactive and positive wellbeing culture across the organisation.
• Lead the development and implementation of health, safety and wellbeing strategies, programmes and initiatives.
• Support leaders and teams to create psychologically safe, healthy and high-performing workplaces.
• Provide trusted advice and coaching to managers, staff, elected members and the Safety and Wellbeing Committee.
• Drive continuous improvement through practical systems, policies, processes and meaningful engagement.
• Ensure our health and safety frameworks remain robust, effective and aligned with legislative requirements.
• Identify opportunities to enhance wellbeing, resilience and workplace health outcomes across the organisation.

This is a full-time permanent position based in our Palmerston North office.

About You

You are passionate about people and understand that wellbeing, safety, engagement and performance go hand in hand.

You may come from a health and safety background, organisational wellbeing, risk management, people and culture, or another related field, but most importantly you bring a genuine commitment to helping people thrive. 

Experience within local government or working with governance boards would be advantageous but is not essential.

You will ideally bring:

• Experience in health, safety and/or wellbeing leadership and a strong understanding of New Zealand health and safety legislation and best practice.
• Excellent relationship-building skills and the ability to create trust and credibility.
• A practical, balanced and solutions-focused approach.
• High levels of emotional intelligence and empathy.
• Strong written communication and reporting capability.
• A relevant tertiary qualification in health, safety, wellbeing, human resources or a related discipline.
• Strong digital literacy, including Microsoft 365 and reporting systems.

Who will you be working for:

The Horizons region spans over 22,000 square kilometres, from Ruapehu in the north to Horowhenua in the south, Whanganui in the west and Tararua in the east.

At Horizons Regional Council our people work alongside communities in the use and protection of our environment, managing our precious resources of land, air and water; as well as public transport and a key role in emergency management.

We work to make our region a healthy environment where communities and people thrive.

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and welcoming workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where every person feels valued, respected and empowered to contribute.

If you're passionate about creating healthier workplaces, supporting people to thrive, and making a meaningful impact across an organisation, we'd love to hear from you.

Applications close at 5pm on Sunday 16 August 2026 however, we will be reviewing and processing applications as they are received, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.