Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) unites the skills and experience of veterans and other volunteers to help communities prepare for and recover from disaster.

A growing not-for-profit DRA operates across Australia to provide help and assistance to those impacted by disaster, including floods, fires and cyclones.

If you thrive in a dynamic environment, enjoy a challenge and are ready to work for an organisation that is built to serve alongside likeminded people, apply now.

Reporting to the Director of Human Resources (DHR), the Human Resources Assistant (HRA) will provide operational support to Disaster Relief Australia’s (DRA’s) management and staff, relating to Human Resources (HR) functions.

The HRA will support everyday HR operations in the employee life cycle from recruitment to operational onboarding (using ELMO) in addition to project support. The HRA will support everyday HR operations across the employee life cycle for paid staff, from recruitment to offboarding (using ELMO and other systems), in addition to providing project support as required by the DHR.

Another key part of the role will be advising DRA managers and employees on employee related matters.

Key accountabilities

The HRA key accountabilities include:

Engagement

• Collaboration with the DHR and HR team, to support the HR strategy.
• Support with stakeholder concerns, including those related to the organisation’s volunteer workforce.
• Support workplace safety initiatives, including psychosocial culture, alongside other departments.

Strategic Guidance

• Contribute to the formation of a HR service model to enhance the credibility of the HR service within DRA.

Recruitment and retention

• Alongside HR staff, managers and the HR Advisor, prepare job descriptions, post ads, shortlist candidates and arrange interviews, ensuring legalities are considered around diversity, with the guidance of the DHR.
• Support the development of probation and performance review processes.

Compliance and Policy

• Maintain and update employee and volunteer records using HR information systems (ELMO), SharePoint, IT support desk tools and other solutions as requested.
• Assist with onboarding processes, including preparing documentation and coordinating induction sessions.
• Support the DHR with the Criminal History Check Project and other projects as required.
• Support the HR Advisor to ensure policies are embedded and communicated throughout the organisation with the guidance of the DHR.
• Assist in administering performance management procedures and preparing related documentation (e.g., Performance Improvement Plans, Performance Action Plans).
• Help coordinate psychometric testing logistics and documentation (MBTI, SDI) where required.
• Prepare HR-related reports and correspondence, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Handle general HR enquiries, escalating complex issues to DHR as necessary.
• Support offboarding procedures and documentation management.
• Provide administrative assistance for workforce restructuring and role-sizing projects.
• Assist with maintaining compliance with employment documentation and contracts.
• Support HR compliance audits, including preparation and document verification.
• Assist in organising HR-related training sessions and workshops.
• Monitor HR inboxes and respond promptly to queries from employees and volunteers with guidance from the DHR/HR Advisor.
• Assist with payroll administration tasks, such as timesheet verification and leave management.
• Schedule and coordinate HR team meetings, prepare agendas and minute-taking.
• Contribute to continuous improvement projects within HR systems and processes.
• Provide administrative support for HR projects aligned with the DRA 2030 Strategic Initiatives (enhanced culture, integrated workforce, and HR system optimisation).

Support Culture

• Lead by example in adhering to DRA’s values of Courage, Respect, Service and Tenacity and seek to instil a positive, values-based culture across the organisation.
• Champion a culture of transparency, integrity and accountability within DRA, embedding organisational values into decision-making processes at all levels.

Key challenges

Key challenges of this position include:

• Collaboration with a diverse and geographically dislocated workforce.
• Developing strategies which incorporate the unique requirements of the organisation’s workforce veterans, emergency services personnel.
• Ensuring business functions and strategy comply with all relevant employment/industrial law.
• Balancing competing priorities and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Managing stakeholder expectations and maintaining effective and proactive communication channels.
• Adapting to changing circumstances and project requirements.

The HRA will be required to display a blend of technical and soft skills, underpinned by a working knowledge of legislation and HR best practices.

Qualifications and Experience

• Formal qualification in Human Resources Management, Employment Law, or related business field (essential).
• 2-3 years' experience in an administrative role, preferably in HR, ideally including policy/legislation.
• Experience in the NFP/charity space is desirable.
• Knowledge of ELMO HRIS is desirable.

Personal Attributes

• A skilled and authentic people person who champions DRA’s values, vision, purpose and objectives
• Highly developed interpersonal skills, which foster effective communication, teamwork, leadership, trust and cooperation across a wide cross section of stakeholders.
• A demonstrated ability to create a culture and climate where people are empowered and motivated to deliver DRAs objectives.
• Proven high level written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interpret and explain policy, prepare briefing papers and reports to inform decision makers, and advise all levels of management on complex matters.
• Demonstrated experience in providing an advisory and consultancy service to employees, management, and executive leaders on a range of human resource related matters.
• A strategic thinker with a proactive approach HR business partnering.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities under pressure and deliver within allocated timeframes.
• Collaborative and results-oriented, with a demonstrated track record of effective partnership building.
• Analytical and data-driven, with a commitment to the continuous improvement of processes.

Relationships

• Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives and deliver highly effective, credible HR support.
• Anticipates and balances the needs of multiple stakeholders.

Results and Business Enablers

• Highly evolved problem-solving skills, and the ability to make critical legally water-tight decisions under pressure
• Maintains a thorough knowledge of relevant industrial instruments.
• Optimises work processes by seeking the most effective and efficient processes for getting things done with a focus on continuous improvement.
• A highly developed capacity to coordinate business efforts to ensure synchronised and fully integrated outcomes across DRA.
• A strategic thinker that understands the DRA vision, to identify possibilities that will create sustainable value.

Location: Adelaide, South Australia or hybrid

Salary: $50-55,000 p.a. + superannuation, salary packaging if eligible

Work pattern: MONDAY TO FRIDAY - HOURS TBA