About Metro Trains Sydney (MTS) 

MTS are the proud operators and maintainers of the M1 Northwest and Bankstown Line with the new City section now operational. We run a fully automated passenger railway – an Australian first.  We connect our customers to opportunities that matter to them while delivering the next generation of rail travel to Sydney. With global expertise, we manage 51.5km of track and 21 stations, with a planned expansion into southwest Sydney.

Metro Trains Sydney operates Australia’s first fully automated passenger railway and continues to play a critical role in the expansion of the Sydney Metro network.

We are currently seeking an accomplished executive to lead its enterprise Safety, Quality, Risk & Environment (SQRE) portfolio at a pivotal stage in the organisation’s continued growth.

This is a high impact leadership appointment, offering the opportunity to shape strategic direction, strengthen operational assurance and influence the performance of one of Australia’s most significant public transport operations. 

The Opportunity

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the General Manager Safety, Quality, Risk & Environment holds enterprise wide accountability for the strategic leadership, governance and performance of the SQRE function.

The role is central to ensuring the organisation’s systems, assurance and risk controls, support safe, compliant and resilient operations, while also enabling continuous improvement, long-term sustainability and commercial confidence across the business.

This role provides a significant platform to lead a critical enterprise and operational  function across a complex, highly regulated and publicly visible operating environment. Working closely with the Executive Leadership Team, Board, regulators, Sydney Metro Authority and external partners, you will provide strategic oversight of safety, quality, risk and environmental performance, while ensuring governance frameworks remain fit for purpose.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the delivery and continuous improvement of MTS’s Safety, Quality, Risk and Environment systems and frameworks.
• Drive a strong safety-first and risk-based culture across the organisation.
• Maintain rail safety accreditation and oversee compliance with relevant legal, regulatory and contractual obligations.
• Provide strategic leadership on safety management, investigations, audits, reporting, assurance and policy development.
• Partner with executive stakeholders, regulators and joint venture partners to support high-quality operational and business outcomes.
• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing team while managing budgets, forecasts and business priorities.
• Oversee environmental and sustainability obligations and ensure relevant systems and controls are embedded across the business.
• Be part of the on-call roster, providing incident communications to the MTS crisis event team and key external stakeholders.

About You

The successful candidate will be an established executive with deep expertise across safety, risk, quality and environment, gained within transport, infrastructure or other asset intensive, highly regulated sectors.

You will bring the credibility, judgement and presence to influence at CEO, Board and regulator level, together with a demonstrated ability to lead organisational change and strengthen safety culture.

You will also possess the following:

• Tertiary qualifications in risk management, occupational health and safety, or a related discipline; postgraduate qualifications are desirable.
• Extensive leadership experience across health, safety, environment, risk or compliance functions in a transport or major infrastructure setting.
• Strong knowledge of rail safety national law and legislation, regulatory frameworks and audit or assurance practices coupled with significant experience in working with rail safety regulators and independent assessors.
• Demonstrated success leading investigations, behavioural change, organisational change and policy development.
• Outstanding stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to operate credibly across executives, boards and regulators.
• Commercial acumen, sound judgement and the ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery.

What’s on Offer 

We are offering a permanent opportunity with flexible working options and access to a wide range of benefits:

• Fitness Passport. Access significantly discounted fitness membership for you and your immediate family. Enjoy access to a wide range of gyms, group classes, pools and fitness centres as often as you like.
• Novated Leasing. Novated leases are available on new, used and existing vehicles. Bundle your lease payments and your cars running costs in one convenient regular payment.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) MTS has partnered with TELUS Health to help individuals achieve holistic mental, physical, social, and financial wellness.
• Parental leave – 16 weeks paid parental leave for eligible employees

To Apply

For more information and a Position Description, please contact ***************@metrotrains-sydney.com.au.

MTS is an equal employment opportunity employer. We are committed to an inclusive workforce and welcome applications of candidates from culturally diverse backgrounds, people with disabilities, and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.