Lead People Partner

Job Description:

Lead a high-performing People Partnering team and help shape the future of healthcare through strategic people leadership, workforce expertise and meaningful organisational impact.

• Lead and develop a capable People Partnering team: Coach, mentor and uplift a team of People Partners while driving high-quality HR service delivery across the organisation.
• Influence strategic workforce outcomes: Partner with senior leaders to navigate complex people matters, workforce planning, organisational change and industrial relations challenges.
• Make a meaningful difference: Join one of Australia's leading not-for-profit healthcare providers and contribute to a workplace culture that enables exceptional patient-centred care.

About St Vincent's Health Australia

At St Vincent's Health Australia (SVHA), we are shaping a future health and aged care system that supports people with life-changing care, wherever and whoever they are.

Founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1857, St Vincent's is one of Australia's leading not-for-profit health and aged care organisations. Our 30,000 dedicated people provide compassionate care through public and private hospitals, aged care residences, virtual care and services delivered at home across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

Our vision is for every person to receive excellent and compassionate care through a better and fairer health and aged care system. Together, we are focused on enhancing our impact, connecting care and transforming the system.

Our work is guided by our values of Compassion, Justice, Integrity and Excellence.

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and people-focused Lead People Partner to join St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne.

Reporting to the Head of People Partnering, you will lead a team of five dedicated People Partners and act as a trusted advisor to executive leaders, managers and stakeholders across the organisation.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a senior HR Business Partner ready to step into a broader leadership role, or an experienced People & Culture leader looking to expand their strategic impact within a complex and purpose-driven healthcare environment.

You will play a critical role in driving workforce outcomes, providing expert employee and industrial relations advice, leading organisational change initiatives and supporting leaders to build high-performing and engaged teams.

Working closely with leaders and specialist People & Culture functions, you will influence both strategic and operational people outcomes across St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne.

A Message from Paula Parry, Head of People Partnering

"St Vincent's is a unique employer within the healthcare sector. Our People & Culture team works closely with leaders and frontline teams who deliver compassionate care every day. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR professional to lead a highly engaged team while contributing to meaningful workforce outcomes that support our mission and values."

Your Key Responsibilities

As the Lead People Partner, you will:

• Lead, coach and develop a team of People Partners to deliver exceptional HR support and advice.
• Partner with senior leaders on workforce strategy, organisational design, workforce planning and people initiatives.
• Provide expert advice on employee relations, industrial relations, performance management, conduct matters and workplace investigations.
• Act as an escalation point for complex people matters, grievances and case management.
• Represent St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne in Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association (VHIA) reference groups and industrial forums.
• Interpret and apply enterprise agreements, industrial instruments and employment legislation.
• Manage relationships with unions and employee representatives to support positive workforce outcomes.
• Lead and support organisational change initiatives, restructures and workforce transition activities.
• Ensure consistent and compliant people practices across assigned portfolios.
• Collaborate with Payroll, Talent Acquisition, Workplace Relations, People Services and Occupational Health & Safety teams to deliver integrated people solutions.
• Support leaders to build employee capability, engagement and performance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance People & Culture service delivery.
• Contribute to the development of strategic workforce and People & Culture priorities.
• Monitor workforce trends and provide data-informed recommendations to leadership.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across all levels of the organisation.

About You

You are an experienced HR professional who combines strong technical expertise with authentic leadership capability.

You thrive in complex and fast-paced environments, enjoy partnering with senior leaders and are passionate about developing others to achieve their full potential.

You bring a collaborative approach, sound judgement and the ability to influence outcomes while balancing organisational, employee and operational needs.

You Will Bring

• Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Industrial Relations or a related discipline.
• Significant experience providing generalist HR support within a unionised workforce environment.
• Demonstrated employee and industrial relations expertise.
• Experience interpreting and applying enterprise agreements and employment legislation.
• Experience managing complex workplace investigations, grievances and employee relations matters.
• Experience representing employers in Fair Work Commission matters.
• Strong stakeholder management and business partnering capabilities.
• Proven ability to influence leaders and support decision-making at all organisational levels.
• Experience leading, coaching or mentoring HR professionals.
• Excellent communication, consultation and relationship-building skills.
• Strong problem-solving capability and sound commercial judgement.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and contemporary People & Culture practices.

Highly Regarded

• Previous experience within healthcare, aged care or a similarly complex and regulated environment.
• Experience supporting large operational workforces.
• Exposure to workforce transformation and organisational change initiatives.
• Knowledge of public health sector industrial relations frameworks.
• Experience building capability and leading high-performing HR teams.

Why Join St Vincent's?

• Lead with Impact
  Shape workforce outcomes, influence organisational strategy and support leaders across one of Australia's most respected healthcare organisations.
• Develop Your Leadership Career
  Lead a capable People Partnering team while expanding your strategic HR, workforce planning and industrial relations expertise.
• Purpose-Driven Work
  Contribute to an organisation where great people practices enable exceptional patient care and community outcomes.
• Collaborative Culture
  Join an experienced and supportive People & Culture team committed to innovation, learning and continuous improvement.
• Work-Life Balance
  Enjoy five weeks annual leave plus a paid monthly ADO, providing additional flexibility and time to recharge.
• Excellent Employee Benefits
  Access salary packaging benefits, professional development opportunities, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Passport and a range of wellbeing initiatives.

Apply Now

If you're an experienced People & Culture professional ready to lead, influence and make a meaningful impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now with your resume and cover letter and join a team committed to building a better and fairer healthcare system for all.

Applications may close prior to the advertised closing date.

Important Information

Employment is subject to satisfactory completion of all required pre-employment checks, including identification, right-to-work verification, referee checks, criminal history screening and applicable immunisation requirements.

Diversity & Inclusion

At St Vincent's Health Australia, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued and empowered to contribute their unique experiences.

We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences.

Position Description

St Vincent’s Health Australia (St Vincent’s) is a non-profit health organisation founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1857. We are renowned for industry leading research, education and the provision of exceptional and compassionate care. St Vincent’s is shaping a future health and aged care system that supports people with life-changing care, wherever and whoever they are. We care for people in our public and private hospitals, at home and in our aged care residences across NSW, QLD and Victoria. Our vision at St Vincent’s is that every person, whoever and wherever they are, is served with excellent and compassionate

care, by a better and fairer health and aged care system. Our 30,000 exceptional and dedicated staff together lead St Vincent’s to deliver three key priorities:

· Enhance Impact: Continuously improve our care, enhancing our positive impacts for patients, people, and our planet.

· Connect Care: Work together, building “One St Vincent’s” capabilities and services to create the future of connected

health and aged care.

· Transform the System: Work with partners to shape a better and fairer health and aged care system.

St Vincent’s also recognises its obligations under equal employment opportu

nity and unlawful discrimination in the workplace legislation, as a minimum standard. We are committed to diversity in the workplace and seek to create an inclusive environment that accepts everyone's differences, embraces their strengths, and provides opportunities for everyone to contribute their

unique experiences to the workplace.

Role Impact

Provide operational and strategic support to St Vincent’s (SVHM) clinical and non-clinical service directorates to support these directorates in managing and developing their teams and employees through contemporary People & Culture strategies and initiatives.

Lead a team of People & Culture (P&C) professionals to deliver outstanding customer service to managers and employees at SVHM adhering to HR SVHM policies, Enterprise Agreements, relevant employment legislation and in line with values of the organization.

Represent SVHM in Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association (VHIA) reference groups and lead SVHM representation to VHIA for all industrial matters including enterprise agreement negotiations, implementation and the ongoing management of iindustrial advice on the enterprise agreements.

Operational and strategic support to the business:

• Provides accurate advice and interpretation of employment terms and conditions of employees in accordance with the relevant Enterprise Agreement and work to resolve any issues in a timely manner
• Provides a high level of advice and strategy to managers to assist in managing performance of employees and operational issues
• Manages conflict, employee relations and industrial relations scenarios in the service area which may require contact with employees and/or Unions
• Provide advice or support in relation to disputes and grievances including management of cases externally referred to Fair Work Commission (or other jurisdictions)
• Supervise or carry out investigations as required alongside managers to ensure relevant procedures are followed and outcomes are aligned to the organisation’s
• Deliver an exemplary level of customer service which displays flexibility, availability and understanding of the needs of the service area
• Support key organisational initiatives that develop and grow employees and supports organisational outcomes
• Work with senior leaders and Executive Directors to develop succession plans and support the execution of talent management activities
• Drives workplace change in conjunction with key managers and develops processes and implementation plans which comply with relevant industrial instruments and legislation
• In partnership with key managers and the Executive, participates in strategic planning initiatives, provides sound advice Lead a team of P&C professionals: · Manage portfolio allocation in the team, to align the requirements of the organisation and the resources available within the team
• Act as an escalation point for case review, grievance management and resolving operational issues within the assigned portfolio
• Manage the performance and conduct of the team to ensure a high level of performance. Includes regular performance reviews, ongoing feedback, development plans and addressing any issues that may arise
• Work with P&C colleagues in People Services, Payroll, Talent, Workplace Relations, Occupational Health & Safety to ensure clear processes and responsibilities across the teams to deliver a high-level service to SVHM
• Actively participate in the People Partnering leadership team using expert knowledge, flexibility and commitment to ensure the People Partnering team deliver high-level service to SVHM
• Maintains HR/IR reporting at the direction of the Head of People Partnering Industrial matters:
• Represent SVHM in VHIA reference groups as allocated, ensuring representation of SVHM in sector-wide discussions and decisions, and ensure key sector-wide messages are communicated back to the People Partnering team and operational leaders
• With support from People Change Lead, manage and coordinate all enterprise agreement negotiation activities as allocated on behalf of SVHM. This includes issuing notices, developing communication plans during negotiations, assess claims made in bargaining with assistance from finance, regularly briefing senior leaders, manage any protected industrial action if required, manage and coordinate implementation plans to Systems, Payroll and People Services teams, and run Workplace Implementation Committees
• Manage the relationship with key employee representative groups to effectively manage any employee concerns, grievances and disputes.
• Operational and strategic support to the business: Provides accurate advice and interpretation of employment terms and conditions of employees in accordance with the relevant Enterprise Agreement and work to resolve any issues in a timely manner
• Provides a high level of advice and strategy to managers to assist in managing performance of employees and operational issues
• Manages conflict, employee relations and industrial relations scenarios in the service area which may require contact with employees and/or Unions · Provide advice or support in relation to disputes and grievances including management of cases externally referred to Fair Work Commission (or other jurisdictions)
• Supervise or carry out investigations as required alongside managers to ensure relevant procedures are followed and outcomes are aligned to the organisation’s Code of Conduct
• Deliver an exemplary level of customer service which displays flexibility, availability and understanding of the needs of the service area
• Support key organisational initiatives that develop and grow employees and supports organisational outcomes
• Work with senior leaders and Executive Directors to develop succession plans and support the execution of talent management activities
• Drives workplace change in conjunction with key managers and develops processes and implementation plans which comply with relevant industrial instruments and legislation
• In partnership with key managers and the Executive, participates in strategic planning initiatives, provides sound advice Lead a team of P&C professionals: Manage portfolio allocation in the team, to align the requirements of the organisation and the resources available within the team
• Act as an escalation point for case review, grievance management and resolving operational issues within the assigned portfolio · Manage the performance and conduct of the team to ensure a high level of performance. Includes regular performance reviews, ongoing feedback, development plans and addressing any issues that may arise
• Work with P&C colleagues in People Services, Payroll, Talent, Workplace Relations, Occupational Health & Safety to ensure clear processes and responsibilities across the teams to deliver a high-level service to SVHM
• Actively participate in the People Partnering leadership team using expert knowledge, flexibility and commitment to ensure the People Partnering team deliver high-level service to SVHM
• Maintains HR/IR reporting at the direction of the Head of People Partnering Industrial matters: Represent SVHM in VHIA reference groups as allocated, ensuring representation of SVHM in sector-wide discussions and decisions, and ensure key sector-wide messages are communicated back to the People Partnering team and operational leaders
  With support from People Change Lead, manage and coordinate all enterprise agreement negotiation activities as allocated on behalf of SVHM. This includes issuing notices, developing communication plans during negotiations, assess claims made in bargaining with assistance from finance, regularly briefing senior leaders, manage any protected industrial action if required, manage and coordinate implementation plans to Systems, Payroll and People Services teams, and run Workplace Implementation Committees
• Manage the relationship with key employee representative groups to effectively manage any employee concerns, grievances and disputes.

Personal

• Personal Effectiveness Executes Results – Sets and measures team goals, driving pursuit of higher standards of practice
• Learning Agility Flexibility – Responds to new and complex situations by adjusting behaviour appropriately
• Outcomes Patient / Resident-Centred Patient Excellence – Monitors satisfaction levels and proactively addresses issues
• Innovation & Improvement / Continuous Improvement – Anticipates problems and continuously improves systems and processes

Strategy

• Driving Results Drives For Results – Takes ownership for performance of team results
• Organisational Acumen Short-Term Planning – Uses information and organisational knowledge to make decisions and achieve results
• People Working With & Managing Others Leads Others – Shares responsibilities, providing support and effective communication
• Collaboration Operates Cross Functionally – Develops constructive relationships across the organisation

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

Internal

• Executive Directors and Senior Leaders with St Vincent’s Melbourne Public Hospital
• People & Culture teams including other People Partnering teams, People Services, Talent, Occupational Health and Safety, Payroll, Systems and Workplace Relations
• Employees at St Vincent’s Melbourne Public Hospital External

External

• VHIA
• Employee representative groups
• Fair Work Commission/Ombudsman
• WorkSafe (in conjunction with Occupational Health & Safety)
• External service providers including legal advisors, consultants

Essential

• Extensive experience in providing generalist human resources services in a unionised environment
• Employee relations and/or industrial relations experience including contemporary understanding of legislation, hands on experience in enterprise agreement interpretation and implementation, managing Fair Work Commission cases including representation at the Commission
• Strong business partnering and internal consulting experience, demonstrating strong relationship management skills across the different levels of an organisation
• Strong written and verbal skills, including experience in writing executive-level documents
• Demonstrated capacity in leading a team of professionals, with strong organisational skills
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office applications, with intermediate Excel capability
• Experience in using HRIS and Payroll systems, including report building and providing business requirements to systems teams to implement changes and investigate root cause of issues
• Demonstrated commitment to professional development, with strong understanding of contemporary P&C practices

Desirable

• Experience in a dynamic healthcare setting
• Post-graduate qualifications and experience in managing change processes · Post-graduate qualifications and experience in psychosocial risk assessment methodologies

Minimum Education Requirements

· Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources or Industrial Relations

Closing Date:

17 October 2026 11:59pm

Reconciliation Action Plan:

At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at [email protected]

View Reconciliation Action Plan

Code of Conduct:

View Code of Conduct