People and Culture

• The position will be engaged fulltime for a maximum term of five years
• Attractive remuneration package available

About the Team

The People & Culture division at UOW plays a critical role in enabling the University’s strategic ambitions through a contemporary, integrated service model. Our People Partnering team works at the forefront of organisational change — partnering with senior leaders across faculties and divisions to shape workforce strategy, strengthen capability, and embed high-impact people practices. Working closely with specialist teams in Employment Relations, Culture, Capability & Belonging, and Shared Services, the team operates as trusted advisors — balancing strategic influence with practical delivery across the full employee lifecycle.

As UOW continues to evolve, the People Partnering function is central to building leadership capability, driving organisational effectiveness, and ensuring our people strategy underpins long-term sustainability.

About the Role

In this newly created role of Associate Director, People Partnering, reporting to the Chief People & Culture Officer, you will lead and uplift a contemporary People Partnering function, driving enterprise-wide workforce outcomes aligned to UOW’s strategic and transformation priorities. You will partner with executives to shape organisational design, workforce planning, culture and remuneration frameworks, ensuring decisions are informed by robust data, insight and governance.

This role requires strong executive influence, commercial judgement and change leadership. You will embed consistent partnering standards, strengthen integration across the P&C portfolio, and modernise ways of working through digital enablement, AI and process improvement — positioning People & Culture as a proactive, strategic enabler of the University’s future.

Skill and Experience

• Senior leadership experience leading and uplifting People/HR partnering functions within complex environments
• Deep expertise in organisational design, job architecture, evaluation and remuneration governance
• Proven ability to shape and deliver enterprise-wide workforce planning aligned to strategy and transformation priorities
• Strong track record advising and influencing executives on organisational structures, role design and change
• Confidence to coach, challenge and lead through ambiguity and reform
• Commercial judgement and sound risk awareness, balancing compliance, ER considerations and operational realities
• Experience establishing clear governance, service standards and measurable performance outcomes
• Ability to translate workforce data and insight into practical, strategic decision-making
• Experience modernising service delivery through digital enablement, automation and AI
• Credibility to operate at executive level and integrate effectively across specialist teams and shared services

How to Apply

Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button at the bottom of the advertisement. You’ll be prompted to submit a resume, and cover letter (of no more than 3 pages) summarising your skills and experience as they relate to the selection criteria located in the position description.

For further information about this position, please contact Kylie Stephens on + 61 2 4239 3936

Position Description

Closing Date: Sunday 15th March, 11:55 PM

As required by federal legislation, prospective employees are required to declare whether they have been investigated for an allegation of Gender based Violence or determined to have engaged in conduct that constitutes Gender based Violence, during their previous employment, or otherwise in a legal process. Any such declaration will be included in the University’s employment screening processes and will be treated with the strictest confidence and in compliance with all privacy legislation.

The University of Wollongong is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. As an equal opportunity employer, and a recognised leader in gender equality, we encourage and welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and people including culturally and linguistically diverse, women, disability, LGBTIQ+, and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Only candidates with valid work rights in Australia are eligible to apply.