Technical Safety Lead

Key Responsibilities

Safety Leadership

·       Responsible to ensure training of employees occurs and guiding of safe work health and safety procedures for site

·       Develop and enforce safety protocols specific to milling and packing operations (e.g., dealing with rotating equipment, dust hazards, noise, etc.).

·       Lead, records and investigates workplace incident investigations and identifies root cause analyses related to milling equipment or packing line processes and including other areas on site.  

·       Promote a safety-first culture among operators, technicians, and engineers.

·       Apply the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 2015 within operations.

Technical Expertise in Milling

·       Apply a deep knowledge of milling machinery, and workflow processes to identify potential hazards within.

·       Support process optimisation within the operation whilst ensuring safety is not compromised.

·       Provide technical training to staff on safe milling practices and equipment handling.

·       Provide an extra resource for efficient mill operations.

Risk Management

·       Conduct hazard identification and risk assessments (HIRA) for milling operations as well as conducting risk assessments to identify hazards and monitoring the workplace for safety compliance.

·       Implement engineering controls and safe work procedures to mitigate risks.

·       Ensure compliance with local and international safety standards (AS/NZS).

·       Review and update health and safety policies, procedures and programmes to ensure compliance with legislation and industry standards.

Continuous Improvement

·       Use data from near-misses, audits, and inspections to drive safety improvements.

·       Utilising milling knowledge at a senior level and collaborate with maintenance along with operations teams to design safer systems.

·       Stay updated on emerging technologies and safety innovations in milling.

Communication & Collaboration

·       Act as a bridge between operations, engineering, HSC and provides advice on workplace health and safety procedures.

·       Coordinate with the National Ops Lead and Christchurch Safety Advisor on activities and strategy.

·       Communicate safety expectations clearly and consistently.

·       Lead or participate in safety committees or toolbox talks.

·       Communicate the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 2015 requirements to the team.

·       Deliver training on safe milling practices, dust hazard awareness, and emergency response.

Capital Expenditure (CapEx) Safety Integration (Nationally)

·       Provide safety input during the design, planning, and execution of CapEx projects involving milling equipment or infrastructure across both milling sites.

·       Ensure safety-by-design principles are embedded in new installations or upgrades across both milling sites.

·       Conduct pre-startup safety reviews (PSSR) and support commissioning activities.

Dust Hazard Management

·       Identify and control combustible dust risks, including explosion prevention and mitigation strategies.

·       Oversee the design and maintenance of dust extraction and ventilation systems.

·       Ensure compliance with local and international dust safety standards

·       Oversee weekly Hazardous Areas monitoring meetings and record keeping.

·       Responsible for monitoring equipment and measure exposure to hazardous substances and other environmental factors to workers on site.

. Technical Support & Continuous Improvement

·       Provide expert guidance on milling technologies, tooling, and process safety.

·       Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce risk and improve operational efficiency.

·       Monitor safety KPIs and use data to inform decision-making.

What You’ll Bring

• A tertiary qualification in a Engineering discipline, or a related technical field.

• UK Flour Millers Association diploma (formerly NABIM) or equivalent qualification
• NEBOSH qualification or equivalent in 

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in flour milling, food processing, or manufacturing engineering.

• Proven expertise in mechanical systems, production equipment, and plant operations.

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and guide multidisciplinary teams.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (D365 experience is advantageous).

• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.

• A solid understanding of the food industry and milling processes.

• Ability to interpret technical data, industry reports, and mechanical specifications.

• Comfortable working in a manufacturing environment with exposure to dust, prolonged standing, and physical movement required for equipment inspections

What We Offer

• Competitive salary ($90,000 - $110,000 per annum, based on experience).

• Long service leave.

• Free medical insurance via Southern Cross.

• Free company products.

• Employee Assistance Programme for your well-being.

About Champion Flour Milling Limited

With over 160 years of experience, Champion Flour Milling Limited is New Zealand’s industry leader in flour, premix, specialty grains, and bakery solutions. As part of the Nisshin Seifun Group, we provide exciting growth opportunities within a globally respected company.

Visit championflour.co.nz to learn more!