We don't need someone to manage HR. We need someone to build it.
Location:
Melbourne (hybrid), with regular overlap across North America and the Philippines
Reports to:
Co-CEOs
Hours:
Full-time during initial set-up, with flexibility to move to part-time as the function matures
About Sesimi
Sesimi is a brand management platform that helps marketing and brand teams create consistent, on-brand content at scale. We're 100+ people across Australia, Canada, the Philippines and the US. We build intelligent creative automation that enables consistency, speed, and brand safety across markets, teams, and channels.
We're a global, fast-growing company with teams across multiple countries and time zones. As we scale, we're investing intentionally in the systems, practices, and leadership that help great people do their best work — together.
The Role
Here's the honest version: Sesimi has never had a permanent Head of People & Culture. Not because we didn't care — because we hadn't built the foundation properly yet. We're hiring a Head of People & Culture to operationalise our values, support our leaders, and build the infrastructure that lets Sesimi scale with clarity and fairness.
Earlier this year we ran an independent culture assessment. Real conversations, every location, no spin. It told us what's genuinely working — and where we need to build. An interim Head of People & Culture has already been putting that into motion: a real escalation process, policy reviews across every country we operate in, real groundwork laid. This role picks that up and carries it forward — with genuine scope to build the function end to end,



not inherit an empty seat.
This is our first permanent senior People hire. You'll partner with our specialist HR providers on the operational side, so this role is focused on people leadership, judgment, and building real systems — not paperwork for its own sake.
This is not a role for someone who wants a mature function to optimise. It's for someone who wants to build one — for real this time.
This role is for you if...
You've built people functions from a genuine early stage before — not polished one that already existed
You're energised by ambiguity, not annoyed by it
You can walk into a room with leadership and tell them something they don't want to hear — kindly and directly
You've worked across borders and time zones, and understand "one size fits all" policy is usually code for "we didn't think hard enough"
What You're Walking Into
Real problems, not theoretical ones. Escalation and policy work already underway, not finished. A team spread across multiple countries and time zones that doesn't always feel like one company yet. And leadership that's genuinely ready to back this properly — not just talk about it.
You'll own performance systems, compensation frameworks, hiring, and onboarding end to end.



You'll partner with our specialist HR providers on the operational side — so your time goes to judgment and leadership, not paperwork.
What You Bring
10+ years in People & Culture leadership, ideally at Head of/Director level
You've built or scaled people practices in a growing, founder-led company before
Comfortable operating independently for the foreseeable future
Calm, thoughtful, and genuinely trusted in sensitive situations
Strong judgment; practical, not dogmatic
Experience managing employee relations, including conflict resolution, coaching, and supporting leaders
Working knowledge of employment law and compliance (including psychosocial risk)
Experience developing and maintaining fair, transparent HR policies, and owning performance, compensation, hiring and onboarding
Strategic and analytical, making data-informed decisions
Multi-country or multi-time-zone experience is a robust plus, as is experience in tech, SaaS, or creative industries
What's Genuinely on Offer
Competitive base salary + bonus + equity
Real scope to shape a function, not inherit a finished one
Direct backing from leadership on the mandate to build this properly
Why This Role Matters
Sesimi is at a stage where intentional people leadership is a competitive advantage. This role ensures we scale without losing what makes us special — and without slowing down.
If building something real — backed by leadership genuinely committed to doing it properly — sounds like your kind of challenge, we'd love to hear from you.
#J-*****-Ljbffr

📌 Head Of People & Culture (Melbourne)
🏢 Sesimi
📍 Melbourne