Deakin UniversityChief People & Culture Officer

Deakin University is seeking an accomplished, contemporary and values-led Chief People & Culture Officer to lead its People and Culture Division and help shape a high-performing, inclusive and innovative workplace. The People & Culture Officer will be reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University Services and will advance Deakin’s workforce agenda and partner with the executive team to translate University priorities into coordinated and organisation-wide action.

The Opportunity

This enterprise role will define the direction and operating model for People and Culture across the University. Its remit spans organisational change, workforce planning, organisational design, workplace culture, organisational effectiveness, engagement and employee experience. The successful candidate will bring people together around shared outcomes, provide sound advice on sensitive organisational and employment matters, and ensure responsive, customer and student-focused services. Furthermore, this executive will be responsible for setting the strategic direction for People and Culture across the entire University.

Key Priorities

The Chief People & Culture Officer will:

• Champion Deakin’s workforce and culture agenda and university-wide service delivery.
• Deliver transformation, workforce planning, organisational design, cultural renewal and development initiatives.
• Counsel University leaders, the Executive and, where relevant, Council on significant workforce and employment matters.
• Enhance workforce frameworks, governance, policies and systems.
• Develop leadership effectiveness across the portfolio and among University managers.
• Manage substantial resources with a explicit focus on performance, stewardship and compliance.
• Engage diverse stakeholders and create alignment around Deakin’s priorities. Set and drive Deakin’s people and culture strategy and institution-wide service delivery.

About You





You will be a senior people & culture executive who has directed a major function within a large organisation. Your judgement, presence and communication skills will enable you to influence at the highest levels, navigate competing priorities and convert ideas into practical outcomes.

• Substantial executive responsibility across a broad People and Culture portfolio.
• A proven record of delivering change across organisational design, culture, organisational effectiveness, wellbeing, performance, learning, workplace relations and partnering.
• Credibility when shaping decisions on sensitive or contested issues.
• Success directing large teams, developing talent and implementing major change.
• Sound commercial judgement and a track record of managing substantial resources.
• An authentic, collaborative and transparent style that earns trust and aligns stakeholders behind a common purpose.

Why Join Deakin?

This is an opportunity to influence the working environment, organisational strength and employee experience of one of Australia’s foremost universities. The position will suit a creative, principled executive who combines enterprise thinking with practical delivery and is committed to an engaged, welcoming and high-achieving community. This is an opportunity to shape the culture, capability and employee experience of one of Australia’s leading universities. The Chief People & Culture Officer will help ensure Deakin’s people and organisation are equipped to deliver its strategic priorities.

How to Apply

To request a confidential discussion, please contact:

Arabella Stanley
[email protected]

Applications should include a brief cover letter and curriculum vitae and be submitted by Wednesday 4th November.

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Artificial Intelligence tools may be used in connection with the recruitment process for this position.

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📌 Chief People & Culture Officer (Melbourne)
🏢 Korn Ferry
📍 Melbourne