Director, Workforce Strategy & Capability

Australian Energy Regulator; Canberra; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) is seeking a Director – Workforce to drive high‑performing HR operations following its structural separation. You will lead capability, recruitment, payroll and workforce reporting, and provide strategic advice on trends, requirements and risks across the agency.

You will collaborate with senior leaders to shape workforce plans, develop capability frameworks and ensure governance, policy, and reporting excellence in a complex regulatory environment.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary HR teams and building capability.
• Experience implementing better practice HR services across payroll and recruitment.
• Strategic workforce planning aligned to agency priorities and future needs.
• Tertiary qualifications in psychology or HR; AHRI accreditation preferred.
• Ability to deliver projects using defined methodologies, including workforce restructures and papers for Boards.

Responsibilities

• Lead and embed better practice HR services across Capability, Recruitment, Payroll and Workforce Reporting.
• Establish governance, policies, processes and reporting across the portfolio with a high-performing team.
• Oversee payroll, recruitment and analytics functions to ensure compliance and effectiveness.
• Guide workforce planning efforts including the AER Workforce Plan.
• Provide strategic workforce insights to senior leaders on risk, resourcing and capability.

Skills

HR leadership

Multidisciplinary teams

Workforce strategy

Project management

Data-driven advisory

Education

HR/Organisational psychology degree

AHRI accreditation

Tools

Payroll systems

Workforce analytics tools

Job description

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) is seeking a Director – Workforce to drive high‑performing HR operations following its structural separation. You will lead capability, recruitment, payroll and workforce reporting, and provide strategic advice on trends, requirements and risks across the agency.

You will collaborate with senior leaders to shape workforce plans, develop capability frameworks and ensure governance, policy, and reporting excellence in a complex regulatory environment.