HR Director

Victorian Auditor-General's Office (VAGO); City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Inclusive workplace

Job summary

The Victorian Auditor-General's Office (VAGO) is seeking a Human Resources Director to provide strategic leadership of people and culture. Reporting to the Deputy Auditor-General, you will guide workforce capability, governance and systems to achieve VAGO’s strategic objectives and foster an inclusive, high‑performing workplace.

You will lead talent acquisition, capability development, enterprise bargaining, payroll and HR systems, while advising senior executives and managing workforce risk.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of leading effective people and culture functions.
• Ability to translate long-term strategic objectives into practical workforce outcomes.
• Trusted adviser to senior executives with strong judgement and integrity.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic workforce planning, talent and culture initiatives.
• Provide authoritative advice on strategic workforce, culture and risks.
• Lead and develop a high-performing HR team.
• Oversee HR services across the employee lifecycle including talent acquisition and payroll.
• Lead enterprise bargaining, industrial relations and union engagement.
• Drive initiatives strengthening engagement and leadership effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation and governance requirements.
• Maintain governance of workforce data, HR systems and records.
• Promote integrity and ethical leadership at VAGO.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Workforce planning

Talent management

Culture development

Governance

Industrial relations

People analytics

Tools

HRIS

Job description

The Victorian Auditor-General's Office (VAGO) provides independent assurance to Victoria's Parliament and community about the performance and accountability of the state's public sector. As part of Victoria’s integrity system, we audit and review the finances and performance of state and local government entities and report our findings to Parliament. The Auditor-General operates independently and is not controlled or directed by Parliament or government.

About Human Resourses

Human Resources enables VAGO’s success through strategic workforce leadership and effective people services. The team partners with leaders across the organisation to build capability, strengthen culture and improve the employee experience through workforce planning, talent acquisition, learning and development, performance, employee relations, wellbeing and organisational development.

What you’ll do

Reporting to the Deputy Auditor-General, the Human Resources Director is a member of VAGO's Operational Management Group (OMG) and a trusted strategic advisor to the Senior Management Group (SMG). The role provides strategic and operational leadership of VAGO's people and culture function, ensuring the organisation has the workforce capability, culture, governance and systems required to achieve its strategic objectives. Through the delivery of effective people strategies, services and advice, the Director enables organisational performance, manages workforce risk and fosters an inclusive, values-driven and high-performing workplace.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead VAGO's strategic workforce planning, talent and culture initiatives to ensure the organisation is equipped to meet current and future business needs.
• Provide authoritative advice to the Deputy Auditor-General, SMG and OMG on strategic workforce, organisational capability, culture, governance and people-related risks.
• Lead and develop a high-performing Human Resources team, driving service excellence, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Oversee the delivery of strategic and operational human resources services across the employee lifecycle, including talent acquisition, capability development, succession planning, employee relations, industrial relations, wellbeing, workplace health and safety, payroll and HR systems.
• Lead enterprise bargaining, industrial relations and union engagement activities.
• Drive initiatives that strengthen employee engagement, leadership effectiveness, organisational culture and workforce wellbeing.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, industrial instruments, governance requirements and risk management obligations.
• Maintain effective governance of workforce data, HR systems, reporting and records management.
• Promote and uphold VAGO's integrity, independence and reputation through ethical leadership and sound decision-making.

Who we're looking for

The Human Resources Director is an accomplished and influential executive leader with a demonstrated ability to shape organisational strategy, drive workforce performance and lead high-performing teams. Combining strategic insight with operational excellence, they are a trusted adviser to senior executives who can seamlessly navigate both strategic and operational priorities. They bring deep expertise across workforce strategy, organisational development, industrial and employee relations, governance, and people leadership.

The successful candidate will have a strong track record of leading effective people and culture functions, influencing executive stakeholders, and delivering organisational change. They will demonstrate sound judgement, commercial and strategic acumen, and the ability to balance organisational priorities, workforce needs and risk considerations.

A values-driven leader, they will be recognised for building strong relationships, fostering an inclusive and high-performing culture, and leading with integrity, authenticity and accountability. They will be committed to continuous improvement and capable of translating long-term strategic objectives into practical and sustainable workforce outcomes.

Don’t tick all the boxes? You don't need to tick all the boxes to be amazing. We’d still love to hear from you or someone in your network who may be well suited.

For further information about the role, please review the position description here: HR Director PD.pdf

Life at VAGO

We are a diverse bunch at VAGO, and you'll be part of an organisation where different backgrounds, perspectives and life experiences are respected, valued and celebrated. We are committed to building a workplace that welcomes people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultural backgrounds, abilities and neurotypes. We also recognise the unique place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia's First Nations peoples and are committed to strengthening their representation, inclusion and participation at VAGO.

Our inclusive culture is shaped by our values of Respect, Collaboration, Innovation and Accountability, which guide how we work together, make decisions and grow as an organisation. We strive to create an environment where people feel trusted, supported and comfortable being themselves, sharing their perspectives and contributing their best work. That's why we've adopted our ‘Better Normal’ approach to work, which provides flexibility in how and where work is done while recognising the importance of spending time together to learn, collaborate and build strong relationships. We encourage curiosity, continuous improvement and diverse thinking, creating an environment where people can grow their careers and make a meaningful impact for Victoria.

Ask us more about life at VAGO when you meet us!

Interested? Here's what else you need to know

We welcome applications from everyone. If you have a disability, access requirement or need any adjustments throughout the recruitment process or in the role itself, we're committed to providing the support you need. Please let us know how we can make the recruitment experience accessible and inclusive for you.

We're committed to providing a positive and transparent candidate experience and will keep you informed throughout the recruitment process with updates on timelines, progress, outcomes and next steps.

If you have any questions or would like further information about the recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail].

Applications close at 11:59pm on 27 September, 2026.