Human Resources Partner

University of Sydney; Sydney; On-site; AUD 137,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Sydney is seeking an experienced HR Partner to provide strategic HR expertise and advice aligned to the University's objectives and strategy. This full-time continuing opportunity involves partnering with leaders to translate workforce priorities into practical people outcomes.

You will collaborate with the HR Centres of Expertise to deliver an integrated service, manage a high-volume portfolio, and ensure evidence-based guidance grounded in policy and enterprise agreements.

Qualifications

• Extensive HR partnering experience within a large organisation.
• Ability to translate policy and enterprise agreements into practical advice.
• Strong stakeholder management and record-keeping discipline.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leaders to translate workforce priorities into practical HR advice.
• Provide strategic and operational HR guidance across planning, change and culture.
• Maintain high-quality case records and documentation.
• Collaborate with HR Centres of Expertise to deliver integrated services.
• Support capability development and implementation of improved frameworks.

Skills

HR partnering

Stakeholder management

Policy interpretation

Evidence-based advice

Workload management

Job description

Full time continuing opportunity for a HR Partner to provide strategic HR expertise and advice in support of your client's business objectives and the University's strategy

Collaborate with the other HR Centres of Expertise to deliver an integrated service offering to The University

Base Salary $152,045 + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The HR Partnering function works alongside leaders to translate the University's workforce strategy into practical people outcomes. We provide contemporary, evidence-based and pragmatic HR advice that helps leaders navigate complex workforce matters, make informed decisions and deliver on their strategic priorities.

We are seeking an experienced HR Partner to join our team who can build trusted relationships with leaders while remaining comfortable working hands‑on across a diverse and fast‑paced portfolio. You will bring sound judgement, curiosity and a solutions‑focused mindset, balancing organisational objectives, employee experience, risk and compliance when providing advice.

A key part of the role is turning complex HR, industrial relations and policy requirements into clear, practical and actionable advice. You will work with stakeholders to understand the issue behind the issue, assess available evidence and options, and provide advice that is grounded in the Enterprise Agreement, University policy, relevant employment frameworks and contemporary HR practice.

The role operates in an environment where priorities can shift quickly, and case volumes can be high. You will therefore need to be comfortable managing multiple matters concurrently, prioritising effectively, maintaining accurate records and ensuring stakeholders receive timely, considered advice.

• partner with leaders to understand their workforce priorities and provide pragmatic, evidence-based HR advice that can be applied in real-world situations
• provide clear advice on complex people matters, translating policy, industrial instruments and HR frameworks into practical options and recommendations for stakeholders
• manage a high-volume and varied portfolio of HR matters, applying sound judgement to assess urgency, risk and competing priorities
• maintain high-quality case records and documentation, ensuring advice, decisions, actions and key stakeholder interactions are appropriately captured
• work collaboratively with HR Centres of Expertise and other HR colleagues to develop integrated, practical and client-focused solutions
• provide strategic and operational advice across workforce planning, organisational design, talent and succession, performance, workplace culture, reward and recognition and organisational change
• support leaders through workforce and organisational change, helping them navigate both the people and operational implications of change
• use workforce insights, evidence and contemporary HR practice to identify emerging issues, challenge assumptions and support informed decision-making
• build the capability and confidence of leaders to manage people matters effectively, rather than simply providing transactional HR solutions
• contribute to continuous improvement across HR Partnering by sharing knowledge, identifying opportunities to simplify ways of working and supporting consistent HR practice
• support the Senior Manager and Associate Director with broader portfolio and HR initiatives, including capability development, coaching and implementation of improved frameworks, technology and processes

About you

You are an experienced HR professional who combines strong technical HR capability with commercially minded, pragmatic judgement. You are comfortable moving between strategic workforce conversations and complex day‑to‑day people matters, and you know when an issue requires deeper analysis, escalation or specialist input.

You will bring:

• substantial HR partnering experience within a large, complex and multifaceted organisation, ideally within a tertiary education or Centre of Expertise operating model
• demonstrated ability to provide clear, pragmatic and solutions‑focused advice, grounded in evidence, policy, industrial instruments and relevant employment frameworks
• strong experience interpreting and applying enterprise agreements, awards, employment legislation and organisational policies to complex workplace situations
• the ability to work effectively in a high‑case‑load environment, balancing competing priorities and maintaining a responsive, high‑quality service to stakeholders
• excellent time management, organisation and prioritisation skills, including the ability to exercise judgement about urgency, risk and appropriate escalation
• strong case management and record‑keeping discipline, with the ability to maintain clear, accurate and contemporaneous documentation
• demonstrated experience supporting organisational change, workforce planning and the delivery of complex people initiatives
• the confidence to respectfully challenge thinking, test a