People Experience Business Partner | Zoos Victoria

Davidson; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Salary sacrifice options

Job summary

Zoos Victoria is seeking an experienced People Experience Business Partner on a fixed-term basis through to 30 June 2027. Based in Parkville with regular attendance at Werribee and Healesville, the role offers a hybrid arrangement (approx.

3 days onsite / 2 days WFH) to support a diverse portfolio across operations and corporate functions. You will deliver practical HR advice across the lifecycle, manage ER/IR matters in a unionised setting, coach frontline managers, and drive workforce planning

Qualifications

• Strong generalist HRBP experience across portfolios.
• Sound ER/IR capability handling complex matters.
• Experience partnering with frontline/operational workforces.
• Experience in a unionised environment.
• Excellent stakeholder management and coaching skills.
• Ability to build credibility and work independently.
• Adapt partnering style to different stakeholder groups.
• Strong judgement, problem-solving and resilience.
• Good HR systems capability; willingness to learn Dayforce.
• Tertiary qualification in HR or related discipline.
• Current driver’s licence.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical, trusted HR advice across the full employee lifecycle.
• Manage employee relations and industrial relations matters.
• Work confidently within a unionised environment.
• Coach frontline managers during the new operating model transition.
• Support managers with performance, grievances and complex people matters.
• Advise on employment legislation, EBAs, awards and instruments.
• Support workforce planning, organisational change and culture initiatives.
• Provide broader HR support across recruitment and day-to-day people matters.
• Navigate HR systems and Dayforce implementation.
• Contribute to People Experience projects and the new operating model.

Skills

Generalist HRBP experience

ER/IR capability

Frontline/operational workforce

Unionised environment experience

Stakeholder management

Coaching managers

Independent working

Flexible partnering style

Problem solving

HR systems capability

Tertiary HR qualification

Driver's licence

Education

Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources or related discipline

Tools

Dayforce

Job description

$110,000–$117,000 + super | Fixed term to 30 June 2027

Hybrid working | Parkville, Werribee & Healesville

There aren’t too many HR Business Partner roles where your stakeholder group spans frontline operations, corporate functions and conservation programs – or where your workplace might include a zoo!

Davidson is delighted to be partnering with Zoos Victoria to recruit an experienced People Experience Business Partner to join their team on a fixed‑term basis through to 30 June 2027.

Zoos Victoria is a purpose‑led, not‑for‑profit Victorian Government statutory authority operating Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Kyabram Fauna Park. Its work is centred on conservation, threatened species management and fighting extinction.

The opportunity

You’ll join Zoos Victoria at an important point of organisational change as the People Experience team transitions from a property‑based model to a new centralised portfolio structure.

This is a broad, hands‑on HR Business Partner role supporting a diverse portfolio across Assets & Presentations, Conservation & Science and Finance.

That means your stakeholders could range from highly operational and frontline teams across maintenance, horticulture and other site‑based functions, through to professional, corporate and academic environments.

The role will suit an HRBP who enjoys variety, is comfortable working close to the business and can adapt their partnering style to different stakeholder groups.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll provide practical, trusted HR advice across the full employee lifecycle, including:

• Partnering with operational, frontline and corporate leaders across your portfolio
• Managing employee relations and industrial relations matters
• Working confidently within a unionised environment, particularly with the United Workers Union
• Coaching and building the capability of frontline managers as the organisation moves to a new operating model
• Supporting managers through performance, grievances and complex people matters
• Providing advice on employment legislation, EBAs, awards and relevant industrial instruments
• Supporting workforce planning, organisational change and cultural initiatives
• Providing broader generalist HR support across recruitment, HR processes and day‑to‑day people matters
• Navigating HR systems and supporting the business through the transition to Dayforce
• Contributing to broader People Experience projects and the implementation of the new operating model

About you

We’re looking for a well‑rounded HR Business Partner who can operate confidently across both operational and professional environments.

You’ll bring:

• Strong generalist HR Business Partner experience
• Sound ER/IR capability and confidence dealing with complex employee matters
• Experience working with frontline and/or operational workforces
• Experience in a unionised environment
• Strong stakeholder management and manager coaching skills
• The ability to build credibility with people at all levels and work independently
• Confidence adapting your approach between operational, corporate and professional stakeholder groups
• Strong judgement, problem‑solving ability and resilience
• Good HR systems capability and the ability to learn new technology quickly
• Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources or another relevant discipline
• A current driver’s licence

You don't need to have worked specifically in a trades environment however, we're interested in people who have genuine experience partnering with frontline, operational and unionised workforces. Experience in government, local government or similarly complex environments could translate particularly well.

Working at Zoos Victoria

This role operates across a genuinely unique environment.

The general working model is approximately three days onsite and two days working from home, with flexibility available from commencement.

Your onsite days will include time at the Parkville/Melbourne Zoo office, as well as across other Zoos Victoria properties including Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary.

The role generally operates around 9.00am–5.00pm, with flexibility around start and finish times provided business requirements are met.

Why Zoos Victoria?

This is an opportunity to join an organisation where the purpose is incredibly clear – the work you do directly supports an organisation focused on conservation and fighting extinction.

You'll also get exposure to a breadth of HR work that is difficult to find in a single role: operational and frontline partnering, union and ER/IR matters, professional and academic stakeholders, organisational change and HR transformation.

You'll join an experienced and collaborative People Experience team that values trust, autonomy and supporting each other through complex work.

Salary sacrifice arrangements are also available, including options relating to superannuation and vehicles.

The details

• Salary: $110,000–$117,000 + super
• Employment: Fixed term via Zoos Victoria payroll
• Duration: ASAP to 30 June 2027
• Location: Parkville, with regular attendance across Werribee and Healesville
• Working arrangement: Approximately 3 days onsite / 2 days WFH

A Police Check and Working with Children Check will be required.

Davidson acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work and live. We are also committed to equal opportunity and strive to promote diversity, inclusion, belonging, flexibility, and accessibility in all that we do.

Should you require assistance in your interactions with us or through a recruitment process, please let us know so we can provide adjustments for you.