People and Capability Lead

Laidlaw; New Zealand; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Laidlaw College is seeking a People and Capability Lead to shape and support the development of our people, culture, and organisational capability. The role blends strategic oversight with hands-on delivery across recruitment, onboarding, engagement and leadership development.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will partner with leaders across the College, drive wellbeing initiatives, workforce planning and change management, and travel periodically between Auckland and Christchurch

Qualifications

• A tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Organisational Development, Business, Leadership, Psychology, Counselling, Education, or a related discipline.
• Experience in organisational development, change management, human resources, or a related field, with knowledge of NZ employment legislation and types of employment agreements.
• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, communication, and facilitation skills.

Responsibilities

• Recruitment and onboarding oversight, attracting and retaining people who align with Laidlaw's mission, values and culture.
• Strengthen team effectiveness, wellbeing and engagement; contribute to a positive, collaborative workplace culture.
• Support executive and senior leadership with performance management and remuneration benchmarking.
• Champion leadership growth and design development initiatives across the organisation.
• Develop workforce planning, succession planning and talent development initiatives for the future.

Skills

People & culture

Leadership development

Communication skills

Facilitation skills

Interpersonal skills

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Education

Tertiary qualification in Human Resources/Organisational Development/Business/Leadership/Psychology/Counselling/Education

Job description

Laidlaw College is New Zealand's largest Christian higher education college. Guided by our vision of a world shaped by love, compelled and informed by the Gospel, we equip students and scholars to renew their communities with a faith that is both intelligent and courageous. Our people are central to this mission, and we are committed to building a Christ-centred culture where individuals, teams, and communities can flourish. Our strategic priority is to develop a Christ-like, trusted team characterised by collaboration, mutual trust, leadership growth, wellbeing, and shared ownership. There are currently over 200 people part of our team throughout the country, including 50 full-time employees.

The Opportunity

We are seeking expressions of interest for a People and Capability Lead to help shape and support the ongoing development of our people, culture, and organisational capability.

This role will provide both strategic and hands on leadership across all aspects of the employee life cycle including recruitment & onboarding, employee engagement, leadership development, organisational change and wellbeing initiatives. Working closely with leaders across the College, the successful candidate will help build a Christ-centred, trusted, and high-performing team while fostering a collaborative and resilient workplace culture that supports the successful delivery of Laidlaw's strategic priorities. We need a leader who’s as comfortable in strategy and process design as they are jumping into day-to-day delivery. You will be able to coach and mentor others and still be proactive in rolling up your sleeves when the work calls for it.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role will require periodic travel between our Auckland and Christchurch campuses.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Recruitment, and onboarding. The role leads and supports recruitment and onboarding processes, helping attract and retain people who embody Laidlaw's mission, values, and desired culture.
• Organisational capability and culture. Partner with leaders to strengthen team effectiveness, employee wellbeing and engagement, and organisational capability. Contribute to a positive workplace culture characterised by collaboration, continuous learning, and mutual respect.
• Performance and remuneration. Support the executive and senior leadership in monitoring and managing performance and accountabilities across the organisation, including undertaking annual remuneration benchmarking.
• Staff development and leadership formation. Champion Laidlaw’s leadership growth, including the implementation and development of professional development initiatives across the organisation.
• Succession and workforce planning. Develop workforce planning, succession planning, and talent development initiatives that contribute to building a Christ-centred, trusted team for the future.
• Organisational change. Provide coaching and guidance to leaders and staff through change and growth, including for role, team and organisational transitions. Support organisational change and improvement initiatives aligned with Laidlaw's strategic direction.

About You

Our ideal applicant will bring the following qualifications, skills and attributes:

• A personal commitment to the evangelical Christian mission, ethos, and strategy of Laidlaw College.
• An enthusiasm and commitment to people, culture, leadership development and organisational effectiveness.
• A tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Organisational Development, Business, Leadership, Psychology, Counselling, Education, or a related discipline.
• Experience in organisational development, change management, human resources, or a related field, including competence in the application of New Zealand employment legislation and the various types of employment agreements.
• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, communication, and facilitation skills.
• Attentiveness to detail in administration, systems and process. Working knowledge of digital HR systems and their integration with payroll processes would be advantageous.
• The ability to effectively influence and collaborate across diverse teams and levels of an organisation, with an adaptable approach to operating at both a strategic and hands on level.
• Sound judgement, initiative, and a commitment to partnering with and serving others.
• Demonstrated success in recruitment, talent acquisition, workforce planning, and capability development.
• Experience working within the higher education, not-for-profit, faith-based, or mission-driven sector would be advantageous.
• Strong relational networks and experience in Aotearoa New Zealand, including an understanding of our different cultures and contexts.