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Principal Inspector (Agriculture)
North Region; WHS Compliance and Field Services; Office of Industrial Relations; Townsville
THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO OIR EMPLOYEES ONLY.
At Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ), every day is an opportunity to improve the lives of Queensland workers. As part of the Office of Industrial Relations (OIR), we're committed to creating safer, healthier and more productive workplaces through education, engagement and effective regulation.
As a Principal Inspector (Agriculture) based in Townsville, you'll provide leadership to a team of inspectors while ensuring Queensland workplaces meet their work health and safety obligations.
This is an opportunity to combine your leadership capability with your regulatory experience to influence workplace safety outcomes across a diverse range of industries.
Job details
| Position status | Permanent |
|---|---|
| Position type | Flexible full-time |
| Occupational group | Occupational Health & Safety |
| Classification | AO6 |
| Workplace Location | Townsville region |
| Job ad reference | QLD/699639/26 |
| Closing date | 15-Sep-2026 |
| Job duration | |
| Contact person | Mark Lalor |
| Contact details | Ph: 0459 882 325 Access the National Relay Service |
TARGETED VACANCY - THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO OIR EMPLOYEES ONLY.
About the Role:
As a Principal Inspector (Agriculture), you'll lead and mentor operational teams, guide complex investigations, and work closely with the agriculture industry to improve health and safety outcomes. Your role will support and drive the implementation of the Best Practice Review of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, ensuring we meet the community's expectations around compliance, accountability and enforcement.
This is a role for someone who can balance leadership, technical capability and sound judgement and who can confidently engage with businesses, workers and senior stakeholders in high-pressure situations.
About the Team:
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ):
• Enforces work health and safety laws.
• Investigates workplace fatalities and serious incidents.
• Prosecutes breaches of legislation.
• Educates employers and workers on safety obligations.
• Supports safer workplaces through prevention, compliance and enforcement.
Our work has real impact, every day—reducing harm and improving safety across industries where there is simply no room for error.
Your Key Responsibilities:
Generally, you will bring:
• Strong stakeholder engagement experience, ability to self-manage time and leadership skills.
• Extensive experience applying safety protocols, compliance frameworks or enforcement principles.
• The capacity to navigate complex or challenging conversations with confidence and professionalism.
• The ability to mentor and guide inspectors, contribute to a positive safety culture and influence industry toward compliance.
• A commitment to making a visible, meaningful contribution to workplace safety across Queensland.
If you're used to leading teams, making sound operational decisions and maintaining high standards under pressure, your skills will transfer seamlessly.
Why Apply?
As a Queensland public sector employee, you'll benefit from:
• Strong employment security.
• Competitive salary and superannuation.
• Flexible work arrangements.
• Health and wellbeing programs.
• Professional development and leadership opportunities.
This is the ideal role for someone who wants to lead, influence and use their experience to ensure workers return home safely every day.
How to Apply:
Submit:
1. Your resume, and
2. A letter or statement (maximum two pages) that addresses the following three (3) questions:
- 1. What motivated you to apply for the Principal Inspector (Agriculture) role, and how does this position align with your leadership experience, values and long-termcareer goals?
- 2. Describe a time when you led a team or took a leadership role in applying safety protocols, regulatory requirements or enforcement activities in a high-risk or operational environment. What was the situation, your actions, and the outcome?
- 3. Principal Inspectors often deal with complex, sensitive or high-pressure situations. Provide an example of a time you managed a difficult stakeholderinteraction. How did you approach it, and what was the result?
This position may require pre-employment checks and testing.
Further Information:
We are committed to building inclusive, diverse workplaces that respect and uphold human rights. Please download all attachments and follow application instructions.
Applications to remain current for 12 months.
Further information
We are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.
Please ensure you download all attachments and follow the instructions on how to apply.
Documents
Before applying for this vacancy please ensure you read the documents below.
