Introduction

ACON is Australia’s largest health promotion organisation specialising in community health, inclusion, and HIV responses for people of diverse sexualities and genders. Established in 1985, ACON works to create opportunities for people in our communities to live their healthiest lives.

We are grounded in the belief that diversity is our strength, our differentiator, and at the core of who we are and what we do. As part of our commitment to inclusion, we encourage applications from people living with HIV, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and LGBTQ people from culturally, linguistically and ethnically diverse, migrant and refugee backgrounds, and LGBTQ people of colour.

Description

Our People and Culture Partner plays a pivotal role in shaping the employee experience across ACON. Working closely with leaders and teams, you will help create an inclusive, engaged and supportive workplace.

As a trusted advisor, you will partner across a broad range of People and Culture functions, including employee and industrial relations, workforce planning, learning and capability, organisational development, and culture initiatives. Your expertise, judgement and collaborative approach will help ensure our people practices support both organisational effectiveness and a workplace culture that reflects ACON's values.

What’s The People & Culture Team you say?

The People & Culture (P&C;) team partners with ACON’s leaders and employees to help foster a connected, collaborative and engaged workplace. The team delivers effective people and culture guidance to the organisation including recruitment services, onboarding, performance development, learning, development and capability, payroll and remuneration. In addition to core services, People & Culture works on wider workplace engagement, wellbeing and culture initiatives.

Ok, so what’s the role?

The People and Culture Partner is a trusted partner to leaders and teams across ACON, providing specialist People & Culture advice and supporting the delivery of initiatives that strengthen workforce capability, organisational culture and the employee experience. Some of the responsibilities and projects you will be across include:

- Building strong partnerships with leaders and teams across allocated divisions, maintaining a visible and trusted People and Culture presence to support workforce initiatives, strengthen employee engagement, wellbeing and organisational effectiveness.
- Contributing to the development of organisation-wide learning and capability, identifying current and future capability requirements and partnering with leaders to build capability in people leadership, performance management, employee relations and organisational culture.
- Partnering with people managers and employees across a range of People and Culture processes, including performance development, recruitment advice, psychosocial risk and hazard management, workplace behaviour and culture initiatives.
- Draft, review and maintain People and Culture policies, procedures and practices,



ensuring ongoing legislative compliance and alignment with leading and contemporary people and culture practice.
- Leading workforce metrics projects and the optimisation and embedding of HRIS workflows, identifying trends and developing insights to inform strategic decision making.
- Championing diversity and inclusion, work health and safety, and a collaborative and productive team culture across ACON.

Who are we looking for?

- A relevant tertiary degree in Human Resources or a related discipline, with at least five years’ subsequent practitioner experience in a comparable role.
- Strong people partnering experience, with the ability to build trusted partnerships with leaders and teams across an organisation.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex employee relations matters, including performance management, grievances, workplace investigations, dispute resolution and formal processes.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in employee and industrial relations, including strong knowledge and experience interpreting and applying Enterprise Agreements and Modern Awards – SCHADS Award experience would be beneficial.
- Ability to coach and support managers through employee relations matters and build capability in people leadership, performance management and organisational culture.
- Ability to proactively identify People & Culture issues, challenges, trends and workforce needs, providing practical advice and exercising sound professional judgement.
- Experience across contemporary People & Culture practices, including policies, processes, systems, learning and development and workforce capability.
- Robust communication, engagement, collaboration, influence and negotiation skills, with the ability to confidently manage sensitive and complex employee relations matters.
- A commitment to employee engagement, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, and role modelling ACON’s organisational values in everyday practice.

What else can we tell you?​​​

- Salary: Starting from $110,219.62 (Gross Annual Salary PLUS Superannuation and Leave Loading).
- Location: ACON’s Gadigal (Surry Hills), with flexible working options available (away from the office).
- Hours: Full-Time (70 hours per fortnight) on an ongoing contract.
- Not-For-Profit Salary Packaging: Currently up to $35,000 gross up value, enabling you to keep more of your salary, and pay less tax ($15,900 Expenses + $2,650 Meals, tax free).
- Flexibility and Wellbeing: Working from home arrangements available from the first day, free comprehensive counselling services through our Employee Assistance Program and dedicated quiet spaces across office locations.
- Generous Leave Entitlements:



Including an additional 5 days at the end of the year for our shutdown period, additional Personal/Carer’s Leave days above NES.
- Community Leave Entitlements: First Nations Cultural and Ceremonial Leave, Gender Affirmation Leave, Paid Parental Leave (both caregivers 14 weeks), Public Holiday Swap … and more!
- Career Growth: Tailored learning and development planning, annual learning allowance and education scholarships to encourage continuous learning, and paid education leave.
- Flare Benefits: Enjoy exclusive employee perks, including discounts from leading retailers, wellbeing providers and financial institutions

How can I find out more details and apply?

If this sounds like you, we invite you to apply to join our team and help us make a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve. By joining us, you will be part of a mission to create a healthier and more inclusive community.

We’d love someone who has experience already in this area but people at all levels of experience are absolutely welcome to apply. We highly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from CALD backgrounds, people with disabilities, and people of all genders to apply.

For more information on the role, please contact Alex Ehmcke-Kennedy, via email at [email protected].

If you are ready to apply, please apply via the 'Apply' function at the end of this page.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Skills And Experiences

Essential

1. Extensive demonstrated people partnering experience in delivering high-quality People & Culture partnering services to an organisation.
2. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in managing organisational compliance with Australia’s employment legislative frameworks, including complex industrial and employee relations matters and the interpretation and application of enterprise agreements and modern awards.
3. Demonstrated ability to provide subject matter guidance in People & Culture practices including employment and industrial relations, performance management, employee support, organisational policies, procedures, systems, practices, learning and development and capability.
4. Relevant tertiary degree in Human Resources or a related discipline, with at least five years’ subsequent practitioner experience in a comparable role.
5. Exceptional communication, engagement, collaboration, influence and negotiation skills, exercising sound judgement and discretion in managing sensitive and complex employment matters in a busy, dynamic environment and changing sector.
6. Strong professional commitment to role model ACON’s organisational values in everyday action in service of our diverse communities, as we work towards our vision and purpose.
7. Strong understanding of and commitment to working with ACON’s communities, including all LGBTQ+ people and people living with and affected by HIV.

Desirable:

1. Previous experience in the Social and Community Services and/or NFP sectors would be an advantage.
2. Membership of the Australian HR Institute (AHRI).

📌 People and Culture Partner (Sydney)
🏢 ACON
📍 Sydney