Assistant Director, People

EL 1 - $120,290 - $129,379 (From 13 March 2025, a 3.8% salary increase will take effect as per the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027)
- Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)
- Canberra - ACT, Melbourne - VIC, Sydney - NSW
- Make an impact by helping to shape ARENA's HR function.
- Drive meaningful change, ensuring ARENA's workforce is set up for long-term success.
- Work in an impactful and collaborative environment.

**Who we are**

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is a Corporate Commonwealth entity. ARENA’s main objective is to improve the competitiveness of renewable energy technologies and increase the supply of renewable energy in Australia. ARENA was established on 1 July 2012 under the Australian Renewable Energy Agency Act 2011 (the ARENA Act). ARENA has received significant additional funding over the past 3 budget cycles and is trusted by the Government to deliver many of its most impactful emissions reduction programs. ARENA supports the Government's emissions reduction goals of 43% reduction in net emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050, through its focus on technology innovation and commercialisation to the benefit of Australia. ARENA complements other funding bodies and provides financial assistance to renewable energy, energy efficiency and electrification technologies for research, development, demonstration and deployment projects. The provision of knowledge sharing forms an important part of ARENA’s functions. ARENA operates under its own Act of Parliament, and the ARENA Board and CEO are responsible to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon. Chris Bowen MP.

People and Culture plays a pivotal role in delivering both operational and strategic human resource (HR) programs that support the achievement of ARENA’s business objectives and the effective management of its workforce. Our team is structured into three key areas: People Strategy, Recruitment, and Data and Remuneration. Each of these teams works collaboratively to drive impactful HR outcomes across the agency. The agency is going through a dynamic period of change as we grow and evolve, and the People and Culture team is at the forefront of these transformations. Historically, ARENA has not had the legislative authority to directly employ staff (with the exception of our CEO and CFO). Our workforce is comprised APS employees seconded from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), as well as consultants and contractors. In December 2024, as part of the Future Made in Australia program, ARENA was granted new employment powers, which means we are now in the process of building an employment framework to transition to an ARENA-led employment model, which will see us build a sustainable, high-performing workforce that supports our critical mission in the renewable energy sector. This is an exciting time to join ARENA’s People and Culture branch, as we play a pivotal role in designing and implementing the HR foundations and frameworks that will shape our agency’s workforce for years to come.

**The Job**

This role presents a unique opportunity for an experienced HR generalist to drive strategic HR initiatives and capability uplift at a time of significant transformation. As Assistant Director, People and Culture, you will play a key role in building HR foundations and supporting the transition to a new employment model. As part of our small but impactful People and Culture branch, you will work across a broad portfolio of HR functions, supporting the agency’s shift to a more structured and integrated employment model. This includes ensuring best-practice HR governance, embedding key HR processes, and developing initiatives that enhance leadership, performance, and workforce capability.

Key opportunities in this role, you will have the opportunity to:

- Shape the future of HR: Be part of a once-in-a-career opportunity to build an HR function from the ground up, designing policies, frameworks, and strategies that will define ARENA’s workforce for years to come.
- Support a workforce transition: Play a critical role in transitioning ARENA from a secondment-based workforce to a direct employment model, ensuring a smooth and strategic shift to an ARENA-led employment framework.
- Drive meaningful change: Implement initiatives that enhance leadership capability, workforce planning, learning and development, and performance management, ensuring ARENA’s workforce is set up for long-term success.
- Foster culture and inclusion: Lead programs that shape and sustain a positive, inclusive, and high-performing organisational culture, ensuring employee engagement and wellbeing are at the core of HR strategy.
- Operate with autonomy: Work independently to develop and implement strategic HR initiatives, influencing senior leaders and delivering outcomes that have a lasting impact.
- Coach and develop talent: Mentor and upli