Head of People & Culture Business Partnering and Employee Relations

Avant by Doctors for Doctors; Sydney; On-site; AUD 170,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Avant by Doctors for Doctors in Sydney is seeking a senior Head of People & Culture to lead the Business Partnering and Employee Relations function. Reporting to the Chief People Officer, you will shape the People Strategy, develop leaders and build capability across the organisation.

You will coach executives, manage complex Employee Relations matters, and embed a proactive, values-led culture within a regulated industry.

Qualifications

• Senior P&C leader with strategic business partnering and employee relations experience.
• Deep knowledge of Australian employment law and industrial relations.
• Experience partnering with senior executives and leadership teams.
• Experience transforming or strengthening P&C operating models.

Responsibilities

• Partner with executives and senior leaders on people, leadership and workforce priorities.
• Translate business objectives into practical people strategies and plans.
• Lead and develop a high-performing Business Partnering and Employee Relations team.
• Embed a consistent partnering model across the organisation.
• Coach leaders through organisational and people challenges.
• Identify trends and drive proactive solutions in the workforce.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Coaching leaders

People data insights

Influencing

Leadership experience

Education

Postgraduate qualifications in HR/ER/Business/Law

Job description

Head of People & Culture Business Partnering and Employee Relations

Avant by Doctors for Doctors – Sydney NSW

4d ago , from Avant by Doctors for Doctors

At Avant, our purpose is to protect and support doctors throughout their careers so they can continue caring for their patients and communities with confidence.

As Australia's leading medical defence organisation, we combine deep expertise with a genuine commitment to our members, people and values. We are a mutual, which means our focus is on creating long-term value for our members, not shareholders.

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded people leader to join our People & Culture Leadership Team as Head of P&C Business Partnering & Employee Relations.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, this is an influential leadership role within the People & Culture Leadership Team.

You will be a key voice in organisational, leadership and workforce decisions across Avant, leading a team that partners with leaders and team members across the organisation to build the capability, culture and talent needed for the future.

Leading our Business Partnering and Employee Relations function, you will help shape and deliver the People Strategy, strengthen leadership capability, improve organisational effectiveness and create an environment where people can perform, grow and build meaningful careers at Avant.

While the role provides oversight of complex employee relations matters and employment policies, its focus extends beyond managing issues. You will help leaders build high performing teams, develop future capability and create a workplace where people feel connect to Avant’s purpose and values.

Key responsibilities

Strategic Business Partnering:

• Partner with executives and senior leaders on people, leadership, workforce, and organisational priorities.
• Translate business objectives into practical people strategies and plans.
• Strengthen leadership capability, succession and workforce readiness.
• Use workforce insights and business context to support informed decision-making and future workforce planning.
• Drive organisational effectiveness initiatives that enable leaders and teams to perform at their best.
• Support the development of talent, career pathways and internal mobility.

Leadership of the Business Partnering Function:

• Lead and develop a high-performing Business Partnering and Employee Relations team.
• Embed a consistent and effective partnering model across the organisation.
• Coach leaders through organisational, workforce and people challenges.
• Build strong standards, collaboration and capability across the function including clear and proportionate escalation processes.

Employee Relations & Workplace Practice:

• Provide guidance on complex employee relations matters.
• Maintain employment policies and frameworks that support practical, values led people practices.
• Build leader capability to address workplace issues early and constructively.
• Identify emerging risks, trends and organisational themes and drive proactive solutions.

About You

You are a highly credible senior P&C leader with deep experience in both strategic business partnering and employee relations.

You are equally comfortable coaching executives on leadership and organisational capability as you are guiding the resolution of complex people matters. You bring an enterprise mindset and a genuine passion for developing people, leaders and teams.

You’ll Bring

• Senior leadership experience in People & Culture, HR Business Partnering or Employee Relations.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment law and industrial relations.
• A track record of partnering with senior executives and leadership teams.
• Experience managing complex employee relations matters and and investigations.
• The ability to influence, coach and constructively challenge leaders.
• Strong stakeholder management, negotiation and communication skills.
• Experience using workforce data and insights to inform decisions.
• Sound judgement and the ability to recognise when people matters require escalation and provide balanced, evidence based advice.
• Experience within financial services, insurance, banking, superannuation or another regulated industry.
• Postgraduate qualifications in Human Resources, Employment Relations, Business or Law.
• Experience transforming or strengthening business partnering and employee relations operating models.
• Experience within a member-based, mutual or purpose-led organisation.

Why Join Avant?

At Avant, you'll have the opportunity to shape the leadership capability, culture and employee experience of an organisation that plays a critical role in supporting Australia's healthcare professionals.

You’ll join a collaborative executive leadership environment, work alongside talented colleagues who care deeply about their work, and help influence the future direction of our people strategy.

If you are passionate about developing leaders, strengthening organisational capability and creating workplaces where people can thrive, we'd love to hear from you.