Head of People and Culture

About the Role and Company

This opportunity is with a well-established and highly regarded Australian company that operates across multiple states, known for its strong sector reputation and consistent performance. The organization is committed to leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and enhancing their people management practices. They are seeking an experienced Head of People and Culture to lead their people function and ensure the business possesses the right capability, structure, and leadership for ongoing success.

Role Overview

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the Head of People and Culture will lead the People & Culture team, offering commercially grounded, pragmatic advice on various people and organizational issues. This role focuses on executing and embedding established initiatives rather than initiating a new HR function. Responsibilities include coaching leadership, managing organizational risks, and ensuring the function delivers effective outcomes supporting business performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the People & Culture team across the organization.
• Execute and integrate people initiatives that align with business goals.
• Drive workforce planning and develop organizational capability.
• Coach leaders to enhance confidence, skills, and accountability.
• Handle complex employee and industrial relations matters.
• Manage risks related to people, compliance, and governance.
• Oversee payroll governance and compliance systems.
• Develop and improve people-related policies, procedures, and frameworks.
• Leverage workforce data and insights to inform business decisions.
• Mentor and lead the HR Manager while setting function-wide standards.

Candidate Requirements

• Extensive experience leading People & Culture or HR functions.
• Background in construction, property, infrastructure, manufacturing, or similar operational sectors is essential.
• Strong expertise in employee relations, industrial relations, and employment law.
• Proven ability to partner with senior leaders in operational contexts.
• Successful track record in coaching and leadership development.
• Experience advancing workforce planning and enhancing organizational performance.
• Commercially astute with sound business judgment.
• Exceptional skills in stakeholder management and influence.
• Capability to handle complex people issues confidently and pragmatically.
• Practical, solution-oriented mindset with a strong drive for action.

Additional Information

The ideal candidate is autonomous, accountable, and committed to tangible results rather than theoretical concepts. You will support and empower leaders to maximize their and the organization's performance.

Benefits

• Lead a critical business function with significant impact.
• Influence important workforce and organizational decisions.
• Enjoy high autonomy, ownership, and leadership visibility.
• Engage in diverse activities including leadership, governance, capability building, and business partnering.
• Opportunity to strengthen and further develop an already established people function.
• Collaborative leadership environment valuing practical implementation.
• Exposure to complex and commercially significant people challenges.
• Attractive executive-level remuneration package.