Overview
Harry & Maxwell is seeking an experienced Head of People, Culture & Industrial Relations with strong greenfield megaproject mobilisation experience to lead end to end workforce strategy for a confidential 1GW hyperscale energy and data centre development in the Northern Territory.
This role owns the project wide Enterprise Agreement negotiation with the CFMEU and ETU, the offshore recruitment and accreditation pipeline, and the NT migration and trade licensing pathways required to mobilise a multi-tier, multi-national construction workforce from a standing start.
The role is Perth based during the establishment phase, transitioning toward the Northern Territory site as the project mobilises.
The VP also owns the Indigenous Employment and Training Framework required under the project's Indigenous Land Use Agreement, and acts as the key liaison between the Project Director, executive leadership team, EPC contractors and government stakeholders throughout the build phase.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and negotiate a single, project wide greenfield Enterprise Agreement with the CFMEU and ETU, including pre-emptive dispute resolution and WHS carve out provisions.
Establish offshore recruitment and pre assessment partnerships, including TESDA accredited training and accreditation institutions and Australian RTOs, to build a work ready pipeline of overseas trades ahead of mobilisation.
Coordinate Australian Context Training and NT trade licensing, including electrical licensing, so overseas workers arrive site and licence ready.
Lead the multi-tier workforce sourcing strategy across domestic, UK/NZ/Europe and Philippines/Southeast Asia markets to meet combined peak workforce demand across power generation and data centre construction programs.




Own Skills in Demand [subclass 482] visa pathways, NT DAMA arrangements and project specific labour agreements.
Design and stand up the Indigenous Employment and Training Framework required under the project's Indigenous Land Use Agreement, including apprenticeship and traineeship targets and cultural awareness training.
Establish and administer the project's alcohol and drug free workplace policy in coordination with the HSE Lead.
Work with the Camps Lead to design worker mobilisation, rostering [FIFO/DIDO] and camp welfare arrangements appropriate to a multicultural workforce.
Develop EPC contractor IR capability requirements for inclusion in tender evaluation criteria.
Engage and manage specialist IR legal, migration law and industry association advisors.
Report workforce ramp up, IR risk and recruitment pipeline health to the Project Director on a regular cycle.
Establish workforce systems, registers and ways of working from a blank page, including document control and governance structures ahead of full mobilisation.
Ensure role specific position descriptions are in place and maintained for all direct reports, with regular performance review and development planning.
Required Experience
Strong and proven greenfield Enterprise Agreement negotiation experience, including leading [not supporting] negotiations with the CFMEU and ETU on major Australian construction projects.




Minimum 10 years HR/IR leadership experience on remote FIFO construction megaprojects.
LNG megaproject experience highly regarded [Gorgon, Wheatstone, Ichthys or comparable].
Demonstrated experience establishing an offshore recruitment, skills assessment and training/accreditation pipeline from scratch, including TESDA accredited partnerships or equivalent.
Working knowledge of Skills in Demand [subclass 482] visas, NT DAMA arrangements and project specific labour agreements.
Degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations or a related discipline.
Skills and Attributes
Genuine self-starter, comfortable building workforce systems, mobilisation processes and camp welfare frameworks from a blank page rather than inheriting them.
Solid leadership capability with the ability to establish and mentor a team from the ground up.
High attention to detail balanced with the ability to make timely decisions on the best available information without sacrificing rigour.
Accountable, takes personal, visible ownership of commitments and raises problems early rather than waiting to be asked.
Resilient, operates effectively under pressure, remote conditions and shifting scope, adapting systems and plans as circumstances change.
Ability to manage multiple competing priorities across government, EPC contractor and internal stakeholders within tight timeframes.
Client focused with strong interpersonal and communication skills, comfortable operating as the key liaison between executive leadership and delivery teams.
Willing and able to be based in Perth for the establishment phase, transitioning toward the Northern Territory site as the project mobilises.

📌 Head Of People, Culture And Industrial Relations (Perth)
🏢 Harry Maxwell
📍 Perth