People and Culture Advisor

Whitecliffe; Auckland; On-site; NZD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Whitecliffe, a leading art, design, IT and fashion school in Aotearoa, seeks a People and Culture Advisor. You will own the employee journey from candidate contact to onboarding, ensuring care, clarity and inclusion.

You’ll support managers with recruitment, HRIS governance, wellbeing initiatives and payroll-related tasks, while maintaining accurate records and data analysis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Admin, Psychology or related field.
• Strong attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HRIS software.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end recruitment for undergraduate programmes and support roles.
• Develop creative sourcing strategies across social media and job boards.
• Partner with managers to attract, select and onboard in an inclusive, fair way.
• Manage pre-employment checks and reference checks.
• Coordinate onboarding and ensure a welcoming and connected experience.
• Support wellbeing and inclusion activities and related reporting.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Discretion

HRIS proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

HRIS software

Job description

People and Culture Advisor

[Full-time / Permanent — confirm]

[Location — confirm, e.g. Auckland CBD]

Whitecliffe

Whitecliffe is one of the leading art, design, IT and fashion schools in Aotearoa. Since 1984 we’ve focused on one thing: turning creativity into a career. Our values of Integrity, Courage, Creativity, Belonging and Respect are the foundation of how we work together and with our communities.

About People and Culture at Whitecliffe

This role reports to the Director of People and Culture and looks after the employee journey at Whitecliffe, from the first conversation with a candidate to the day someone moves on. We’re guided by the Whitecliffe People Strategy, which puts wellbeing, inclusion and a strong values-led culture at the heart of how we attract, retain and develop our people.

About the Role

The People and Culture Advisor has responsibility for operations and employee experience. You’ll make sure our HR systems and data work hard for us, that every person who joins or leaves does so with care and clarity, and that our people feel included and supported in their wellbeing. You’ll also be a trusted support for managers as they lead their teams.

Key responsibilities include:

• Running end-to-end recruitment processes for our undergraduate programmes and support roles, from job posting and candidate sourcing through to interviewing and onboarding, in line with the Whitecliffe Recruitment Policy and Process
• Developing creative sourcing strategies, including social media, job boards and ensuring every candidate has a positive, well-communicated experience
• Partnering with hiring managers on their needs and on best practice in attracting and selecting candidates, with a fair, inclusive and unbiased approach
• Managing pre-employment checks, including Police vetting, reference checks and other background checks
• Preparing offers and employment agreement documentation for new employees and contractors, and delivering an onboarding experience that helps people feel welcomed and connected
• Coordinating and crowd sourcing our wellbeing and inclusion activities, including a calendar of events aligned with Whitecliffe’s investment and disability action plans
• Providing resources and support to employees, including during times of personal or professional difficulty
• Maintaining accurate employee records and People documentation in our HRIS, and supporting reporting and data analysis
• Coordinating training and development sessions, tracking completion and helping develop bespoke training materials
• Supporting People and Culture projects, process improvement, and the development of policies and procedures
• Assisting with payroll processing and queries and other HR administration, ensuring compliance with employment obligations

About You

You’re approachable, organised, discreet and genuinely invested in helping others thrive. You enjoy variety, moving easily between a recruitment campaign, an HRIS update and a wellbeing initiative in the same day. You care about getting the details right because you know they shape how people experience their workplace.

You’ll be someone managers and employees trust to handle sensitive matters with care, and who looks for better ways of doing things.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential:

• A bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology or a related field
• Strong attention to detail and organisational skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HRIS software
• The ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion

Desirable:

• Previous experience in HR administration, coordination or recruitment
• Experience coordinating wellbeing, inclusion or training initiatives
• Experience supporting payroll and HR reporting
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in the workplace

Personal Attributes

• A strong customer service orientation and a proactive approach to problem-solving
• Organised and able to manage competing priorities across recruitment, wellbeing and HR operations
• Warm, approachable and skilled at building trust with candidates, employees and managers
• Sound judgement and discretion when supporting people through sensitive situations
• A commitment to diversity, inclusion and fair process
• A continuous-improvement mindset when it comes to systems, processes and resources

“The essence of our values is that we are better together. Integrity, Courage, Creativity, Belonging and Respect are the cornerstones of our commitment to how we work with each other.” If you share these values, Whitecliffe could be the place where you thrive.

Whitecliffe is committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you need any support or adjustments during the application or interview process, please let us know.