Senior People Advisor

Laing O'Rourke; Sydney; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

In-house training

Six months parental leave

Purchased leave

Volunteer leave

Employee discounts

Job summary

Laing O’Rourke is seeking a Senior People Advisor for our NSW National Rail Operations unit. This full-time role involves partnering with leaders to deliver practical HR solutions across the employee lifecycle, from recruitment to development.

You will work in a diverse, inclusive environment, travel regularly between Seven Hills, Maitland and Newcastle, and contribute to workforce planning, change initiatives and data-driven insights to support operational objectives.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Business or related discipline.
• Experience as a senior HR advisory or business partner, ideally in rail, construction, engineering, mining, manufacturing or similar.
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment legislation and employee relations principles.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leaders to deliver practical, commercially focused HR solutions.
• Provide expert guidance across lifecycle including planning, recruitment, onboarding, performance management and development.
• Coach leaders on people management, engagement and decision-making.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Confidentiality & judgement

Education

Tertiary qualification in HR/IR/Business

Job description

At Laing O’Rourke, you won’t just build projects, you’ll help shape the future. As a $6 billion privately owned global engineering and manufacturing-led construction leader, we deliver some of the nation’s most complex infrastructure, from transport networks to defence and utilities.

We are currently seeking a Senior People Advisor to join Laing O’Rourke in our National Rail Operations specialist business unit based in NSW. This full-time role offers exciting career opportunities in joining a people-centric, privately owned tier 1 constructor and an international engineering enterprise.

At Laing O’Rourke, we’re committed to helping our people thrive and build meaningful, rewarding careers. We offer exceptional development opportunities, wellbeing support and a range of benefits designed to support you both at work and beyond.

We’re proud to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome applications from First Nations Peoples and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Laing O’Rourke is also recognised by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality.

Some of our benefits include:

• In-house training and on-the-job development opportunities
• Six months’ paid parental leave at full pay for all employees
• Purchased leave options and volunteering leave
• Exclusive discounts and savings across hundreds of Australian retailers

Learn more about ourBenefits & Rewardsand our Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan https://www.laingorourke.com/company/diversity-and-inclusion

Your responsibilities

• Partner with operational and corporate leaders to deliver practical, commercially focused people solutions that support business objectives and workforce performance.
• Provide expert advice and guidance across the employee lifecycle, including workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, talent development, succession planning and employee transitions.
• Coach and support leaders to build capability in people management, employee engagement, performance development and effective workplace decision-making.
• Manage employee and industrial relations matters, including performance concerns, misconduct, grievances, investigations, disciplinary processes and dispute resolution, ensuring fair, consistent and legally compliant outcomes
• Identify and mitigate people-related risks through the provision of proactive advice, ensuring compliance with employment legislation, enterprise agreements, company policies and governance requirements.
• Support organisational change initiatives and workforce planning activities, including organisational design, headcount planning and consultation processes.
• Analyse workforce, remuneration and people data to provide insights that inform business decisions and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with specialist People teams, including Resourcing, Learning and Development, HR Services and Payroll, to deliver integrated people solutions.
• Support the development and implementation of employee engagement, retention and workforce development initiatives that enhance organisational capability and culture.
• Contribute to the achievement of the People Business Plan and support key strategic people projects and continuous improvement initiatives across the Laing O’Rourke business.

About you

• A tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Business or a related discipline.
• The ability and willingness to travel regularly between our operational locations at Seven Hills (Sydney), Maitland and Newcastle is essential to successfully perform this role.
• Demonstrated experience in a senior HR advisory or business partnering role, ideally within rail, construction, engineering, mining, manufacturing or other operationally intensive environments.
• Sound working knowledge of Australian employment legislation, employee relations principles and contemporary HR practices.
• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage sensitive issues with professionalism, confidentiality and sound judgement.
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality and build trust to deal with sensitive and difficult situations in a diplomatic and respectful manner
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, coach and build credibility with people at all levels of the organisation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to interpret people data and provide practical, commercially focused recommendations.
• A proactive and resilient approach, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced project or operational environment.
• A collaborative mindset and continuous improvement focus, coupled with the confidence to challenge constructively and drive positive outcomes.
• Experience supporting operational workforces covered by enterprise agreements and working within unionised environments is highly regarded.