Group Executive, People & Workplace

Chief People Officer

Engineers Australia

Shape the future of the national home of Engineers in Australia

Engineers Australia (EA) is the peak body for the engineering profession and the trusted voice of engineering in Australia. With a national footprint, a geographically dispersed workforce, thousands of members, an extensive volunteer community and a explicit purpose to advance society through great engineering, EA is undertaking a significant transformation to strengthen member experience, organisational capability and long-term sustainability.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Group Executive, People & Workplace plays a critical role in shaping the future capability, culture and performance of the organisation. This executive leadership position provides the opportunity to influence strategic outcomes across the CEO, Executive Team and Board while leading the people, culture, organisational effectiveness, safety, workplace and internal communications agenda across the enterprise.

This is a rare opportunity for an accomplished executive leader to leave a lasting legacy by strengthening leadership capability, workforce readiness and organisational performance in support of EA's Horizons Strategy and future growth agenda.

The Opportunity

As a member of the Executive Team, you will be a trusted advisor to the CEO, Executive Team and Board, leading enterprise-wide initiatives that strengthen organisational capability, leadership effectiveness, workforce sustainability and employee experience across a complex national organisation.

- People, culture and workforce strategy
- Leadership capability, talent management and succession planning
- Organisational design and workforce planning
- Employee value proposition and employer brand
- Talent attraction, retention and employee experience
- Culture transformation and employee engagement
- Organisational effectiveness and future workforce capability
- Health, safety and wellbeing




- Internal communications
- Workplace and property strategy

A key focus of the role will be leading the execution of EA's people, leadership and workforce capability strategy to ensure the organisation has the talent, leadership depth and organisational resilience required to deliver its Horizons Strategy and future priorities. You will play a pivotal role in shaping the future workforce, leadership capability and culture of Engineers Australia, ensuring people strategy is integrated with organisational performance, transformation priorities and long-term strategic outcomes.

About You

We are seeking a proven Chief People Officer who combines strategic insight with practical execution.

You will bring

- Demonstrated success in a Chief People Officer, Group Executive People & Culture or equivalent role.
- Experience operating within multi-stakeholder and purpose-led organisations undergoing transformation and change, ideally within professional services, membership organisations, associations, universities or similarly complex environments.
- Strong Board and Board Committee engagement experience, with the confidence and credibility to influence at the highest levels.
- A track record of leading culture transformation and organisational effectiveness initiatives that have delivered measurable outcomes.
- Deep expertise in organisational design, workforce strategy, leadership development and succession planning.
- Experience leading employee value proposition, talent strategy,



organisational capability and workforce transformation initiatives that strengthen attraction, engagement and retention outcomes.
- Strong commercial judgement and the ability to align people strategy with organisational performance.
- Importantly, cultural fit will be critical.

The successful candidate will be:
- Engaging, approachable and authentic.
- An exceptional communicator and relationship builder.
- Comfortable influencing and building alignment across executives, employees, volunteers, members, governance groups and external stakeholders.
- Possess the executive gravitas required to partner effectively with the CEO, Executive Team and Board.
- Equally comfortable operating at a strategic level while remaining hands-on when required.
- A collaborative leader who balances ambition with humility and pragmatism.

Why Join Engineers Australia?

This is a career-defining opportunity to join one of Australia's most respected professional membership organisations and shape the future capability, culture and performance of the engineering profession's national body. You will lead a significant enterprise portfolio, influence Board and Executive decision-making, and leave a lasting legacy through the development of the people, leadership and workforce capability that will support Engineers Australia into the future.

Location

East Coast Australia preferred, with strong consideration given to candidates based in:

- Melbourne
- Sydney
- Canberra
- Brisbane

Flexible hybrid working arrangements are available. For a copy of the Candidate Brief, please visit:

https://www.watermarksearch.com.au/position-descriptions?123

Please send an application quoting Ref No A06380 to Watermark Search International via this form:

https://watermarksearchinternational.snapforms.com.au/form/application-form-sydney-search

We will reply to the email address used for your application.

Closing date: Monday 24 August 2026 at 11.59pm AEST

📌 Group Executive, People & Workplace (Melbourne)
🏢 Watermark Search International
📍 Melbourne