WHS Manager – Avocados & Bananas

WHS Manager – Avocados & Bananas

Location: Walkamin, Far North Queensland

Costa Group is Australia’s leading grower, packer, and marketer of premium quality fresh fruit and vegetables. We nurture our people, cultivate our growing sites, and invest in ongoing research and development. All of the products we grow and sell are fresh, nutritious, unprocessed, and grown on our very own farms or those of our valued partner growers.

We are currently seeking a dedicated and experienced WHS Manager to join our Costa Avocado & Banana Team. This role will be based in Walkamin Far North Queensland, and will report directly to the National HR & WHS Manager.

About the Role

As the WHS Manager, you will provide expert WHS advice and support across all Costa Avocado & Banana farms and packhouse operations in Far North Queensland. Your primary focus will be on field and packhouse safety, employee engagement, and the return-to-work process.

You’ll play a key role in the day-to-day safety management of our operations, building strong relationships and engaging with leaders and workers to foster a proactive safety culture. You will also collaborate closely with Costa’s leadership team to drive our WHS strategies, systems, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with and coach leaders to embed WHS responsibilities through our strategic plan and safety KPIs.
• Provide guidance to leaders, WHS Committees, and HSRs to foster a culture of continuous improvement and safety best practices.
• Investigate and analyse injuries, incidents, and near misses, ensuring effective corrective actions are implemented in collaboration with key stakeholders.
• Use safety data and trends to identify areas for improvement and implement risk-reduction initiatives.
• Support regular site inspections and lead the implementation of corrective actions to maintain safe work environments.
• Assist with risk assessments and provide subject matter expertise on controls and management strategies.
• Deliver regular reports and metrics on safety performance to management.
• Coordinate and support site safety training programs aligned with business unit needs.
• Drive health and wellbeing initiatives across sites.
• Ensure all employees, contractors, and visitors meet Costa safety requirements and complete inductions.
• Support injured workers with safe and sustainable return-to-work processes.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a WHS-focused role, preferably in agriculture, manufacturing, or logistics.
• Tertiary qualification in Workplace Health and Safety (or a related field), or equivalent relevant experience.

Skills & Attributes

• In-depth knowledge of WHS legislation, Codes of Practice, and relevant Standards.
• Proven ability to develop and implement WHS strategies and improvement plans.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to influence and engage with leaders across all levels of the organisation.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Committed to creating inclusive and diverse workplaces where everyone feels valued and respected.

What We Offer

• A full-time, permanent position in a collaborative, high-performance team.
• A genuine opportunity for professional development and career growth within Costa.
• The chance to make a meaningful impact on the safety and wellbeing of our people.

For more information or to request a confidential discussion, please contact:
Angeline Mulder – angeline.mulder@costagroup.com.au