Head Of People And Culture

Gh Talent; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Gh Talent partners with a values-driven state government organisation to appoint a Head of People & Culture. You will lead a P&C function across multiple regional sites from Melbourne’s outer east, with regular travel to regional Victoria.

You’ll set workforce priorities, rollout workforce planning, leadership development and OD/L&D initiatives, and ensure ER/IR compliance while partnering with government stakeholders. A hands-on, collaborative leader will thrive here.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in HR, IR, Psychology, Business or related field.
• Experience leading a P&C function or multi-site HR portfolio.
• Commercial and public sector experience preferred with strong compliance.
• IR, L&D and OD capability; EA experience is a bonus.
• Comfort leading dispersed teams and building relationships via Teams and in person.

Responsibilities

• Lead the P&C function and cadence: priorities, calendar, reports to Exec and Board sub-committee.
• Roll out workforce planning, capability and succession frameworks with executives.
• Lift leadership capability across sites and support OD and L&D initiatives.
• Grow learning and development space and capture knowledge of long-standing staff.
• Optimize HR systems and tools (Employment Hero, JobAdder, Copilot).
• Keep ER, IR and compliance on track; prepare for the 2027 enterprise agreement review.
• Build relationships with government stakeholders and partners.

Skills

HR leadership

IR

L&D

OD

Public sector experience

Education

HR/IR/Business degree

Tools

Employment Hero

JobAdder

Microsoft Copilot

Job description

About the Opportunity

This is a chance to lead HR for a values-driven state government organisation with a seasonal workforce spread across several regional sites. Our client is looking for a Head of People & Culture to lead its P&C function and bring a consistent, people-first approach to every site.

The groundwork is already in place. The People Strategy is written, the HRIS has been brought together into one system, and the frameworks are built. Now, our client needs a genuine, hands-on leader to bring it all to life with its leaders and teams.

About the Role

Reporting to the General Manager, Corporate Services, you'll lead a capable P&C team of 10, through two Senior Managers. You'll be the go-to senior people leader across our client's organisation. You'll:

• Lead the P&C function and set its rhythm: workforce priorities, the annual P&C calendar, and reporting to the Executive and Board sub-committee
• Roll out the workforce planning, capability and succession frameworks with executives and senior leaders, and help them build stronger teams
• Lift leadership capability across the sites, and support your team as they deliver OD and L&D initiatives
• Grow the learning and development space, including capturing the deep knowledge of long-standing staff
• Make better use of HR systems and tools, including Employment Hero, JobAdder and Microsoft Copilot
• Keep ER, IR and compliance on track, and lay the groundwork for the 2027 enterprise agreement review
• Build strong relationships with government stakeholders and key partners

You’ll work from our client’s office in Melbourne's outer east around 3 days a week, with regular travel to regional Victoria.

The human we’re looking for

You’re a broad HR generalist who’s comfortable covering absolutely everything, from the Executive table to the frontline. You know how to bring leaders along with you, explaining the why with patience, compassion and a good dose of common sense.

You’ll likely bring:

• A tertiary qualification in HR, IR, Psychology, Business or a related field
• Experience leading a P&C function or significant HR portfolio in a complex, multi-site organisation
• Ideally, a blend of commercial and public sector experience. A commercial mindset with real respect for compliance and process will serve you well
• Strength in IR, L&D and OD. EA experience is a bonus, not a must
• Confidence leading a dispersed team and building rapport over Teams as well as in person
• A consultative leadership style, the judgement to know when to make the call, and the trust to let your team get on with it

Most of all, our client wants someone genuine and down-to-earth. Someone humble and builds trusting relationships with ease.

About the Company

Our client is a values-driven state government organisation in the tourism and outdoor recreation space. It supports regional communities and welcomes visitors from all over the country. With a large seasonal workforce alongside a dedicated year-round team, no two seasons look quite the same, which makes it a varied and rewarding place to lead HR.

Over the past few years, several sites have come together as one organisation, and the culture is stronger for it. The people are resilient, collaborative and proud of what they've built, and there's a real sense of momentum about what comes next.

Our client is committed to diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and LGBTIQA+ people. Successful candidates will need to complete pre-employment checks.