Director, People & Culture Transformation

Director, People & Culture Transformation

Lead Strategic Change | Strengthen Workplace Relations | Empower Organisational Growth

At Sydney Water, we’re on a journey of transformation adapting to the needs of a growing, diverse city and setting ourselves up for the future. We’re looking for a Director, People & Culture Transformation who’s ready to roll up their sleeves and lead the way on workplace relations, organisational change, building a great place to work and empowering teams through transformation.

You will embed a robust change management framework, supporting major transformation initiatives, helping teams adapt and succeed through change. Your oversight of organisational design, workforce planning, and job architecture will ensure we have the right people and skills in place to meet our future needs.

You’ll take the lead on Sydney Water’s enterprise bargaining and industrial relations strategy, handling complex cases and ensuring we stay compliant with changing legislation. You’ll be responsible for building and nurturing strong, effective relationships with union leaders, senior executives, and employees across the organisation.

Driving continuous improvement in our people processes, you will foster and champion a culture where every employee can perform at their best, develop their potential, and feel valued as part of our team.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Significant executive leadership experience you’ve held senior roles such as Director of People & Culture, Executive HR Business Partner ideally in large complex and unionised organisations.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire high-performing teams, including senior leaders and managers, through periods of transformation and change.
• Expertise in navigating complex industrial relations environments, including leading enterprise bargaining and union negotiations at scale.
• Proven experience in leading organisational change and embedding change management practices
• Strong background in organisational design, workforce planning, and job architecture.
• Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Business, or a related field, and AHRI Membership (required).
• While not essential, a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification is desirable

This is your opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our organisation where your leadership will drive real change, empower teams, and leave a legacy for our people and the communities we serve.

Please note as part of the application process, you will be asked to undergo background checks which includes a criminal history check and a medical assessment either online or in person. Please advise if you require any adjustments to actively participate in the application and recruitment process.  

You must be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident at the time of submitting your application to be considered for this role. 

Dive into Our Great Benefits: 

• Competitive Remuneration: We’ll ensure that your skills and contributions are valued and rewarded appropriately. 
• Hybrid Work Environment: We offer a hybrid work model that balances remote work and office collaboration, supporting our team's productivity and well-being. 
• Continuous Professional Growth: We will invest in your career with leadership and development programs to propel your success. 
• 24/7 Wellbeing Support: Access for you and your family to free and confidential mental health and general health support through our EAP portal. 
• Discounted Private Health Insurance: Unlock affordable access to top-tier health coverage with our discounted insurance plans. 
• Family First: Prioritise your family with up to 18 weeks of fully paid parental leave and a childcare allowance. 
• Fitness Passport: Achieve your physical fitness goals using our Fitness Passport, granting you access to a multitude of gyms and pools across NSW. 
• Novated Leasing: Get in the driver's seat of your financial future with our novated lease options. 

Closing Date: Wednesday 30th of July at 11:59pm AEST

For any further information please contact Mercedeh.Emadi@sydneywater.com.au

Working at Sydney Water

At Sydney Water, we are passionate about making a difference to the lives of our customers and communities. We have a proud heritage and progressive future providing world class drinking water and services that are vital to our customers’ quality of life and safeguarding Sydney’s future. We see the world is changing, so we are changing too.   

Our vision is to create better lives through world-class services, and we believe that starts with our people. Our people and their jobs are as diverse as the communities we serve. Our diverse skills, mindsets and backgrounds work together on exciting and challenging projects that make a difference and help ensure Sydney remains one of the most iconic and liveable cities in the world. 

We welcome and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, including First Nations people, LGBTQIA+, people with disability, people with caring responsibilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and veterans.  

As part of the application process, Sydney Water will be collecting your personal information to assess your suitability for the role. We will also use your personal information to establish a LiveHire talent profile in our Talent Community.  

We look at our Talent Community first when new opportunities come up when you apply for a role. Your personal information will be collected in accordance with LiveHire’s Terms, Privacy Policy and Sydney Water’s Privacy Collection Statement – Job Application 

This role is internally titled Senior Manager People and Transformation, as outlined in the job profile. Please see the job profile for the role’s full accountabilities.