Lead the MAV’s People & Culture function, combining strategic advice with hands-on delivery to strengthen leadership capability, employee experience and contemporary people practices.

About Us The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) is the representative peak body for the local government sector in Victoria. We provide advocacy, strategic advice, build sector capability, and support local government in creating thriving, inclusive and resilient communities across the state.

As the MAV continues its organisational transformation, robust leadership, contemporary people practices and a positive workplace culture are critical to our success. This newly established role offers the opportunity to influence organisational priorities, strengthen leaderconfidence and accountability, and build practical, sustainable People & Culture practices.

Position Overview The People & Culture (P&C;) Lead is a newly established, standalone role responsible for the entire employee lifecycle and the strategic and operational leadership of the MAV’s people function.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will serve as both a trusted strategic advisor and a hands-on practitioner, partnering with the Executive team and People Leaders across the organisation. You will provide advice and delivery across employee and industrial relations, leadership coaching, workforce planning, remuneration, recruitment, culture, wellbeing, people governance and organisational change. This role suits an experienced generalist who applies sound judgement, influences with credibility and works confidently with a high degree of autonomy.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead the end-to-end employee lifecycle, from attraction and recruitment through onboarding, performance, development and offboarding.
- Develop and deliver contemporary people initiatives that support the MAV’s strategic priorities, organisational effectiveness and future capability.
- Coach and advise leaders on people leadership, performance, workforce matters,



organisational change and transformation.
- Provide strategic and practical advice on employee and industrial relations, managing complex, sensitive and high-risk matters appropriately.
- Maintain fit-for-purpose people policies, practices, records, governance controls and escalation pathways that support compliance and effective decision-making.
- Lead recruitment, talent attraction and retention practices that strengthen the MAV’s employer brand and candidate experience.
- Advise on remuneration, classification, workforce structure and planning, using people data and insights to inform organisational decisions.
- Support occupational health, safety and wellbeing outcomes, including psychological health and safety and relevant compliance obligations.

What We Offer

- A full-time, 3-year maximum-term opportunity based at Level 5, 1 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne.
- The opportunity to establish and shape a contemporary People & Culture function during organisational transformation.
- Direct partnership with the Chief Operating Officer, Executive team and People Leaders across the MAV.
- A highly autonomous role with genuine scope to improve people practices, employee experience and organisational capability.
- The chance to contribute to a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture aligned with the MAV’s values and strategic priorities.

What You'll Bring

- Significant and broad generalist Human Resources (HR) or P&C; experience, including sole or senior end-to-end accountability for a P&C; function in a standalone or lean environment.




- Demonstrated ability to operate as both a strategic advisor and hands-on practitioner, personally delivering core HR operations and employee lifecycle activities.
- Sound knowledge and experience in employee and industrial relations, with the judgement to manage complex, sensitive and ambiguous matters.
- The credibility and confidence to coach, influence and advise leaders at all levels, including executives.
- A pragmatic, proportionate approach that balances legal and organisational risk, fairness, employee experience and the MAV’s context and values.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to work autonomously, prioritise competing demands and deliver within a defined contract term.
- Extensive and diverse experience across multiple P&C; functions, with or without formal qualifications; or a relevant tertiary qualification supported by substantial practical experience.
- Experience supporting organisational change or transformation, working with Executive-level stakeholders, and HRIS and/or workforce reporting in government or member-based sectors will be highly regarded.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to make a tangible impact in a newly established role at a pivotal moment for the organisation. You will have the autonomy to shape practical people practices, strengthen leaders' capability, and support positive employee experiences, while advising on key organisational and workforce matters. If you are an experienced P&C; generalist who combines strategic insight with hands-on delivery, we would love to hear from you.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and suitability for the role to Tony Rocca, Chief Operating Officer via email: [email protected] For a copy of the Position Description, please visit www.mav.asn.au/who-we-are/organisation/work-for-us

Applications close at 5pm, Friday, 11 September 2026.

The MAV reserves the right to hire a suitable candidate before the closing date.

📌 People & Culture Lead (Melbourne)
🏢 Municipal Association of Victoria
📍 Melbourne