Employment Type: Permanent Full Time
Remuneration: $109, 857.00 - $129,624.00+12% Super + Salary Packaging
Hours Per Week: 38 (or part-time of at least 20 hours pw)
Location: Armidale Hospital or Tamworth Hospital
Applications Close: Sunday the 19th of October

Join Our People & Culture Team!
This role offers the opportunity to support effective leadership and engagement of a diverse and highly skilled health workforce.

Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) is home to more than 17,000 employees who provide healthcare to over 920,000 people. This is your opportunity to play a pivotal role in ensuring we remain a fair, inclusive, and productive workplace while making a tangible difference in the communities we serve.

About the Position

As a Senior HR Business Partner, you will be a trusted advisor to executives, senior leaders, and line managers, delivering high-quality strategic and operational HR support across Armidale Hospital and other areas in your portfolio.

This is a true generalist role in a complex, employee relations environment - your expertise will span the full range of human resources functions, with a strong focus on:

Navigating industrial relations, including interpreting Awards, engaging with unions and employee associations, and resolving issues in a collaborative way.

Leading or supporting complex workplace investigations, performance matters and case management, ensuring fairness, care for employees and affirming organisational standards.

Partnering with leaders to plan and implement organisational change initiatives that enhance culture, engagement, and workforce adaptability.

Driving diversity and inclusion strategies, providing practical advice to embed cultural respect and equitable employment practices across all teams.

Coaching and mentoring leaders to strengthen people leadership capabilities, resolve workplace issues, and uplift team performance.

Supporting leaders with workforce design, rostering practices and capability development to ensure a capable and cost-effective workforce.

This role is varied, hands-on, and offers the chance to influence outcomes at every level—balancing strategic workforce priorities with operational demands while actively shaping a positive workplace culture.

About You

You are an experienced HR professional with the skills and confidence to operate in a large, complex, and unionised organisation. You’re at ease handling sensitive workforce matters, negotiating industrial issues, and leading people through change with empathy and professionalism.

You will bring:

Relevant tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Law, or Business and/or significant experience in HR% generalist roles with exposure to industrial relations and union engagement.

Significant experience in HR generalist roles with exposure to industrial relations and union engagement

Demonstrated experience in workplace investigations, misconduct management, and performance improvement

Proven capability in organisational change management and workforce planning

Excellent communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills

A passion for diversity, inclusion, and building strong, collaborative relationships

A current driver’s licence and ability to travel within the district as required

Why Join HNELHD?

At Hunter New England Health, you’ll enjoy a career that’s both challenging and rewarding-working in a values-led organisation where your expertise will have a real impact.

We offer:

Monthly Allocated Day Off (ADO) for full-time employees

4 weeks annual leave (pro-rata for part-time)

Paid parental leave (for eligible employees)

Salary packaging – up to $11,600 + novated leasing options

Fitness Passport – discounted gym memberships for you and your family

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and their families

Opportunities to collaborate with diverse clinical and non-clinical teams

A commitment to sustainable healthcare and cultural respect