Chief Human Resources Officer

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Sydney (primarily office based)

About the organisation

Our client is a privately owned, Sydney-based family office overseeing a diverse range of investment, philanthropic and cultural interests in Australia and overseas. The family office takes a long-term perspective, combining the stewardship of private capital with a commitment to supporting initiatives that make a positive contribution to society. Its activities span investment management, strategic philanthropy, social impact and the arts.

The organisation operates with a strong sense of purpose, high standards of integrity and a commitment to excellence. It works with a diverse network of partners and stakeholders and brings together a talented team with a broad range of professional backgrounds and expertise.

As the organisation continues to evolve, it is seeking to strengthen its organisational capability, leadership and people practices. This is an opportunity for an experienced Chief Human Resources Officer to play a significant role in shaping the organisation's culture, developing its people and supporting its continued growth and effectiveness.

Role purpose The Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) is responsible for developing and leading the Group's people and culture strategy, ensuring that the group has the leadership, capabilities, organisational structure and culture required to deliver its strategic objectives.

The CHRO is a strategic adviser to the Principal, CEO and Board on all matters relating to people, organisational effectiveness, leadership, culture and workforce capability.

The role combines strategic leadership with operational accountability, ensuring that the organisation attracts, develops and retains outstanding people, fosters a high-performing and inclusive workplace, and maintains sound employment practices and governance.

Key responsibilities

People strategy and organisational effectiveness

- Develop and implement a people and culture strategy aligned with the organisation's purpose, values and strategic priorities.
- Advise the CEO and other team leaders on organisational design, workforce planning, capability requirements and succession.
- Ensure the organisation has the right structures, skills and resources to achieve its objectives.
- Establish effective approaches to performance management, workforce planning and organisational effectiveness.
- Use workforce data and insights to identify opportunities to improve





Leadership and talent development

- Develop strategies to attract, recruit and retain high-calibre employees.
- Establish effective talent management, succession planning and leadership development frameworks.
- Support the development of current and emerging leaders.
- Advise the Principal, CEO and executive team on recruitment, performance, remuneration and succession.

Culture, engagement and employee experience

- Foster a workplace culture that reflects the Principal's values, purpose and desired behaviours.
- Develop effective approaches to employee engagement, feedback and organisational development.
- Ensure that workplace behaviours are consistent with organisational values and expectations.
- Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.

Remuneration and performance

- Ensure remuneration frameworks are fair and competitive
- Advise the Principal, CEO and Board on executive remuneration and performance.
- Establish effective performance management processes that promote individual accountability and organisational achievement.
- Oversee salary benchmarking and remuneration reviews.

Employee relations and workplace governance

- Ensure compliance with relevant employment legislation, industrial instruments and workplace obligations.
- Oversee employee relations, workplace investigations, disciplinary matters and grievance resolution.
- Provide advice on complex and sensitive employment matters, including, where appropriate, briefing external advisors.
- Ensure appropriate policies, procedures and employment frameworks are in place and regularly reviewed.
- Oversee workplace health, safety and psychosocial risk management in partnership with relevant leaders.

HR operations and systems

- Ensure the effective delivery and consistency of core HR functions, including recruitment, onboarding, payroll oversight, employment records and HR systems.
- Ensure appropriate management of employee data, privacy and confidentiality.

Executive and Board advisory

- Act as a trusted adviser to the Principal, CEO and Board on leadership,



organisational culture, executive effectiveness and people-related matters.

Key relationships

- Principal
- Chief Executive Officer
- Senior managers and employees across the organisation
- External legal advisors

Skills, experience and qualifications The successful candidate will demonstrate:

- Significant senior leadership experience in human resources, people and culture or organisational development.
- Experience operating as a trusted adviser to a CEO and executive leadership team.
- Strong understanding of Australian employment legislation, industrial relations and workplace governance.
- Experience in organisational design, workforce planning, talent management and succession planning.
- Demonstrated capability in leadership development, organisational culture and change management.
- Strong commercial and strategic judgement, with the ability to balance organisational needs, employee interests and financial sustainability.
- Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-management skills.
- The ability to manage complex, sensitive and confidential matters with sound judgement and discretion.

Personal attributes The CHRO will be:

- A strategic thinker who can translate organisational objectives into practical people strategies.
- A relationship builder who can earn the trust of colleagues at all levels.
- A thoughtful and credible adviser who exercises sound judgement and discretion with a high degree of emotional intelligence
- Comfortable navigating complexity, ambiguity and organisational change
- Cooperative, pragmatic and solutions-oriented.
- Committed to high standards of integrity, fairness and accountability.
- An authentic and effective leader who models the organisation's values.

Measures of success

Success in the role will be demonstrated through:

- A clear and effective people strategy aligned with organisational priorities.
- A high-performing and appropriately structured organisation.
- Strong employee engagement, retention and workplace culture.
- Effective management of employee relations and workplace risks.
- High-quality people systems, processes and workforce reporting.
- The confidence of the Principal, CEO, Board and executive team in the quality of people-related advice and leadership.

To apply please send your CV and a short cover letter (no more than 2 pages) outlining your suitability for the role to: [email protected]

Applications close Friday 27 November

📌 Chief Human Resources Officer (Sydney)
🏢 Single Family Office
📍 Sydney