Head of Workforce Services

Metro Trains Sydney; Council of the City of Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading transportation authority is looking for a Head of Workforce Services to drive operational excellence in payroll and workforce planning. The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with extensive experience in people operations and change management. You will lead a high-performing team and collaborate with senior executives to align workforce outcomes with organizational goals. This hybrid role requires working across two sites with flexible working options.

Benefits

Fitness Passport discounts

Maxxia Vehicle Leasing options

Employee Recognition Awards

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in people operations leadership.
• Strong communication and operational discipline.
• Ability to manage complex payroll systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead payroll, workforce planning, reporting, and organisational services.
• Drive development of workforce analytics.
• Manage compliance and accuracy in payroll operations.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Payroll operations management

Workforce planning

Data-driven decision-making

Change management

Job description

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At Metro Trains Sydney (MTS), we’re proud to operate Australia’s first fully automated metro railway — setting new benchmarks for safety, reliability, and innovation.

We’re now looking for a strategic and people-focused leader to head up our People Operations & Workforce Services function as our Head of Workforce Services — driving payroll excellence, workforce planning, reporting and analytics that shape the way we work and grow.

In this key leadership role, you’ll partner with the General Manager – People & Culture and Corporate Affairs to ensure our workforce systems, insights, and processes are efficient, compliant and aligned with MTS’s strategic priorities.

You’ll lead a talented team dedicated to delivering operational excellence, while driving transformation and innovation in how we plan and manage our people.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the General Manager – People & Culture and Corporate Affairs to deliver people-related operational and organisational excellence.
• Lead and oversee Payroll, Workforce Planning, Reporting, Organisation design and associated services to ensure accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Drive the development and delivery of workforce planning and analytics to support organisational design and transformation and change initiatives.
• Manage payroll operations to ensure compliance, precision, and efficiency across complex systems and structures.
• Govern people reporting and workforce data to ensure integrity, transparency, and actionable insights for internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead and embed transformation programs across Workforce Services to enhance organisational effectiveness.
• Build trusted partnerships with key internal and external stakeholders, including Sydney Metro Authority (SMA), TfNSW, and Northwest Rapid Transit (NRT).
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team to foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

About You

You are an accomplished and influential people operations leader with the strategic capability to drive organisational performance coupled with a strong technical skill set. You combine operational discipline with strong leadership and communication skills to deliver excellence across every aspect of workforce management and people operations.

With extensive demonstrated experience across workforce planning, payroll operations, organisation change and reporting, ideally gained in the transport or large infrastructure projects, you will deliver accurate workforce insights to enable data‑driven decision‑making and business transformation while partnering with senior executives and external stakeholders to align workforce outcomes with organisational goals.

You will be required to work across our two sites in Tallawong and North Sydney in this hybrid/flexible role, with 3 days onsite.

At MTS, we are proud to operate Australia’s first fully automated metro railway — setting new standards in safety, reliability, and passenger experience. You’ll join a purpose‑driven organisation where innovation, collaboration, and people are at the heart of everything we do.

Benefits

We are offering a permanent opportunity with flexible working options and access to a wide range of benefits:

• Fitness Passport discounts and access to gyms across NSW
• Maxxia Vehicle Leasing options
• Employee Recognition Awards

How to Apply

If you’re a results‑driven people operations leader ready to shape the future of workforce excellence at MTS, apply now with your resume and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.

MTS is an equal employment opportunity employer. We are committed to an inclusive workforce and welcome applications from candidates from culturally diverse backgrounds, people with disabilities, and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.