WHS Officer

About Us

At Cadell Food Service, we're proud to be a family-owned business with a passion for quality service and reliability. What began in 1994 as a small operation with just five team members has grown into one of Victoria's leading food service distributors, now employing more than 200 dedicated staff across our purpose-built Melbourne branch and our modern regional facility. Our commitment to excellence has earned us significant industry recognition. We are honoured to have been awarded Countrywide Regional Supplier of the Year for five consecutive years, as well as the prestigious title of Countrywide National Distributor of the year in 2025.

The Opportunity

Are you a proactive safety leader who thrives in a fast-paced, hands-on environment? We are seeking an experienced Workplace Health & Safety Officer to lead WHS across Cadell's Epping and Echuca operations. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, you will develop, implement and continuously improve our safety management system while promoting a proactive safety culture across warehousing, logistics, office and contractor engagement. This role is critical in ensuring compliance with Victorian legislation, managing operational risk, and keeping our people safe, while maintaining strong working relationships with operations, drivers, contractors and internal teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and maintain the Safety Management System, WHS policies, SOPs and SWPs, driving continuous improvement through a lean approach.

• Ensure compliance with the OHS Act 2004 (Vic), Regulations and Codes of Practice, and liaise with WorkSafe Victoria on notifications and inspections.

• Lead hazard identification, risk assessments and controls across warehouse, plant, forklift, working at heights, dangerous goods and traffic management.

• Manage the full contractor lifecycle including pre-qualification, licences, insurances, SWMS, inductions and onsite compliance.

• Manage incident reporting, investigation, root cause analysis, corrective actions and WHS reporting.

• Coordinate WHS onboarding, refresher training and toolbox talks, and maintain emergency management plans and evacuation drills.

• Ensure fatigue management and Chain of Responsibility (CoR) obligations are met under the HVNL, in partnership with the logistics team.

About you:

• Certificate IV in Work Health & Safety (BSB41419 or equivalent) as a minimum.

• Demonstrated experience in a WHS, compliance or operations role, ideally within warehouse, logistics or distribution environments.

• Sound knowledge of Victorian OHS legislation and Codes of Practice, with the ability to interpret and apply legislation, policies and procedures.

• Proven ability to conduct risk assessments and incident investigations, and to maintain safety systems such as incident reporting and corrective actions.

• Experience managing contractors and coordinating training programs.

• Knowledge of NHVR regulations, heavy vehicle law and Chain of Responsibility (CoR).

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, maintain accurate records and meet deadlines.

• Excellent written and verbal communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships.

• Sound judgement and a proactive, solutions-focused approach, comfortable working both autonomously and collaboratively, with a commitment to continuous improvement.

We offer:

• Competitive Compensation – Receive fair and industry-competitive wages.
• Employee Discounts – Enjoy exclusive staff discounts on products.
• Career Growth Opportunities – Access professional development programs and career advancement opportunities within a dynamic and supportive environment.
• Inclusive Workplace Culture – Be part of an organization that values diversity, fosters inclusion, and ensures all employees feel respected and valued.
• On-Site Parking – Convenient on-site parking is provided for employees.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Benefit from free and confidential counselling services available to employees and their families.

How to Apply:

If you're a proactive and detail-oriented individual with a passion for health and safety, we'd love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and qualifications via the link below.

We believe in the power of an inclusive and diverse workforce. We trust you will bring your authentic self to work, and we will focus on making sure that together, we make a strong contribution to the broader community in which we operate. Where possible, flexible working arrangements are the norm, as we know a better work-life balance can improve your motivation, performance, and productivity.

As an equal opportunity employer focused on strengthening our inclusive culture, all applicants will be considered, and we welcome applications from people of all ages, cultures, abilities, religious beliefs, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identities.