Head of People and Performance

The Returned Services League of Australia; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

RSL NSW is seeking a Senior Head of People and Performance to lead the people function across ANZAC House and Hyde Park Inn. The role reports to the Chief of Staff and balances strategic and hands-on delivery, shaping the people strategy, workforce planning and governance.

You will manage complex employee relations, oversee awards, remuneration and payroll interfaces, and own the Employment Hero HRIS with one direct report in a hybrid Sydney CBD setting.

Qualifications

• Senior HR generalist with 8–10 years of experience and leadership.
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment and industrial relations law.
• Experience with HRIS implementation and payroll interfaces.
• Not-for-profit or veteran sector experience is highly regarded.
• Ability to report to Executive and Board with analytics.

Responsibilities

• Develop and drive the People strategy with the Exec leadership team.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, job design and succession planning.
• Manage employee relations, performance management, grievances and investigations.
• Oversee remuneration and payroll governance with Finance.
• Own the Employment Hero HRIS configuration, data integrity and reporting.
• Develop HR policies, procedures and governance.
• Provide workforce metrics and risk reporting to the Executive.
• Support Board-level governance and reporting.

Skills

Senior HR leader

HR generalist

Executive stakeholder management

HRIS implementation

Payroll systems

Data analytics

Education

HR/IR or related degree

Tools

Employment Hero HRIS

Payroll interfaces

Job description

RSL NSW has been supporting veterans and their families since 1916. Today we have more than 32,000 members and a network of over 300 volunteer-led sub-Branches, backed by a professional team at ANZAC House in Sydney.

Our mission is to Connect, Commemorate and Advocate so veterans and their families across NSW are supported, honoured and represented.

RSL NSW and its sub-Branches are separate from RSL Clubs, and we do not operate clubs or poker machines. We also own and operate Hyde Park Inn, a hotel in the heart of Sydney CBD.

RSL NSW is a veteran-friendly employer focused on delivering meaningful impact for the veteran community. We recognise the value of skills and experience gained through military service and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that supports veterans and members of the defence community.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Head of People and Performance to lead the people function across ANZAC House and Hyde Park Inn. Reporting to the Chief of Staff, you will be RSL NSW's principal adviser on workforce, culture and employment matters and you will play a key role in embedding our values and behaviours in how we work and lead.

This is a senior role that balances strategy with hands‑on delivery. You will shape our people strategy, lead workforce planning and succession, build leadership capability and provide clear workforce reporting to the Executive and Board. You will also manage complex employee relations matters, oversee compliance across multiple modern awards and a geographically dispersed workforce throughout NSW. You will jointly own the current Employment Hero HRIS implementation with Finance, working towards compliant and transparent payroll and remuneration processes. With one direct report, you will be comfortable getting into the detail yourself.

The role is based at ANZAC House in the Sydney CBD, with a hybrid arrangement of three days in the office and two days working from home.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and drive the People strategy with the Chief of Staff and Executive Leadership Team, acting as principal adviser to the Chief of Staff and CEO on workforce, culture and employment matters.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, job design and succession planning.
• Manage employee relations matters, including performance management, grievances and workplace investigations.
• Oversee award classification, remuneration administration and annualised wage arrangements while partnering with Finance on accurate and compliant payroll.
• Own the Employment Hero HRIS, including configuration, data integrity and reporting.
• Develop and maintain HR policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
• Provide workforce metrics, risk reporting and analytics to the Executive.
• Manage key people and performance cycles, embedding quality processes that drive engagement and development and support decisions based on evidence.

About you

You are an experienced HR leader who is equally comfortable advising the Executive and working through the detail of a complex employee relations matter. You bring sound judgement, calm and steady leadership and the ability to communicate in plain, warm and non-adversarial language.

You understand that building trust and getting the foundations right comes before rapid change, and you share our commitment to veterans and their families.

You bring

• A relevant tertiary qualification in human resources, industrial relations, business or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• At least 8 to 10 years' senior HR generalist experience, including leading a people function.
• Strong knowledge and practical application of Australian employment and industrial relations legislation, including managing multiple industrial instruments across employee groups.
• Experience overseeing HRIS implementation, payroll interfaces and people systems.
• Experience providing HR reporting, analytics and advice to Executive and Board audiences.
• Financial acumen, including budget management and workforce-related financial modelling.
• The ability to build trusted relationships and influence at Executive and Board level.
• Strong coaching, leadership and team management capability.
• Experience within a not-for-profit, member-based or veteran or community services organisation will be highly regarded, as will experience supporting organisational change and Board-level governance and reporting.

Why work for us

This is an opportunity to lead the people function in an organisation with a strong community purpose. You will have a genuine seat at the senior leadership table, work closely with your peer cohort and the Executive team as to how RSL NSW leads and supports its people.

RSL NSW is a veteran-friendly employer and recognises the value of skills and experience gained through military service. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that supports veterans and members of the defence community.