Manager - People & Culture

Whitehaven Coal Limited; Singleton Council; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Whitehaven Coal Limited is seeking an experienced Manager – People & Culture to lead strategic workforce and industrial relations at the Vickery Mine, NSW. You will shape the people strategy, partner with site leaders and contribute to operational performance through effective governance and change initiatives.

Relocation to the Gunnedah region is welcome; FIFO arrangements may be considered. The role offers broad scope across workforce planning, leadership development and compliance with STRIVE

Qualifications

• Significant senior HR leadership experience within mining or heavy industry.
• Expertise in industrial and employee relations, including EE negotiations.
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment legislation, industrial instruments and workforce governance.
• Proven capability across workforce planning, organisational change, leadership development and culture.
• Ability to influence senior operational stakeholders and provide pragmatic, commercially sound advice.
• Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources or Industrial Relations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the site's People & Culture strategy aligned with operational objectives and growth.
• Lead complex employee and industrial relations matters, including Enterprise Agreement negotiations.
• Drive workforce planning, organisational design, talent management and succession strategies.
• Coach site leaders to strengthen leadership effectiveness, engagement, performance and accountability.
• Provide strategic people advice and support organisational change initiatives.
• Ensure governance, compliance and alignment with STRIVE values.

Skills

Senior HR leadership

Industrial relations

Australian employment law

Workforce planning

Influence senior stakeholders

HR qualifications

Education

HR/IR degree

Job description

Whitehaven Coal is one of Australia's leading coal producers, operating six mines across NSW and Queensland. As an ASX-listed company, we produce metallurgical coal critical to steelmaking and thermal coal that supports global energy security.

With a strong focus on operational excellence, sustainable growth and our STRIVE values, our people are central to our continued success.

About the Role

An opportunity exists for an experienced Manager – People & Culture to provide strategic and operational people leadership at Whitehaven Coal's Vickery Mine, located approximately 25km north of Gunnedah, NSW.

Reporting directly to the General Manager Vickery, you will be an influential member of the site leadership team, shaping workforce strategy, strengthening leadership capability and supporting the continued growth and development of the operation.

This is a broad, commercially focused leadership role combining strategic workforce planning, organisational development and hands‑on industrial and employee relations leadership. You will work closely with operational leaders and corporate People & Culture teams to deliver practical, sustainable people solutions that support operational performance and workforce effectiveness.

While we encourage candidates interested in relocating to the Gunnedah region, we recognise that experienced mining professionals may be based elsewhere. FIFO arrangements will be considered for candidates with the right experience and capability.

What You’ll Do

• Strategic People Leadership: Develop and deliver the site's People & Culture strategy, aligning workforce priorities with operational objectives and future growth.
• Industrial & Employee Relations: Lead complex employee and industrial relations matters, including Enterprise Agreement negotiations, implementation and compliance.
• Workforce Planning & Capability: Drive workforce planning, organisational design, talent management and succession strategies to support operational readiness.
• Leadership & Culture: Partner with and coach site leaders to strengthen leadership effectiveness, employee engagement, performance and accountability.
• Change & Operational Growth: Provide strategic people advice and support workforce initiatives associated with organisational change and operational development.
• Governance & Compliance: Ensure effective people practices, legislative compliance and alignment with Whitehaven's broader policies, frameworks and STRIVE values.

What You’ll Bring

You will be an experienced and commercially minded People & Culture leader who understands the complexities of supporting a large‑scale operational workforce.

To succeed in this role, you will bring:

• Significant senior HR leadership experience within mining or a comparable heavy industry environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in industrial and employee relations, including leading Enterprise Agreement negotiations.
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment legislation, industrial instruments and workforce governance.
• Proven capability across workforce planning, organisational change, leadership development and culture.
• The confidence to influence senior operational stakeholders, navigate complex workforce matters and provide pragmatic, commercially sound advice.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Industrial Relations or a related discipline.

You will be a collaborative and credible leader who balances strategic thinking with practical delivery, builds trusted relationships and contributes positively to a high‑performance operational culture.

Why Whitehaven?

• Influence people and workforce outcomes at one of Whitehaven's key growth operations.
• Work directly with the General Manager as a valued member of the site leadership team.
• Take ownership of a broad and challenging People & Culture portfolio.
• Join a growing ASX-listed organisation offering attractive remuneration and industry‑leading incentive plans.
• Opportunity to relocate to the Gunnedah region, with FIFO arrangements considered for suitably experienced candidates.

Whitehaven is committed to increasing the representation of women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the workplace. We strive for an inclusive workplace that engages people from diverse backgrounds and welcomes diversity of gender, culture and experience.