Senior Human Resources Business Partner

Employment Type: Permanent Full Time

Position Classification: Health Manager Level 2

Remuneration: $109, $129, % Super + Salary Packaging

Hours Per Week: 38 (or part-time of at least 20 hours pw)

Location: Armidale Hospital or Tamworth Hospital

Requisition ID: REQ595166

Applications Close: 19th of October

Join Our People & Culture Team

We're looking for a confident and capable Senior Human Resources Business Partner to join our high-performing and collaborative HR Business Partnering 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

Requirements:

• Eligible to drive in NSW and willingness to travel for work purposes.

Additional Information:

• The Welcome Experience helps you and your family connect with local people and resources, making it easier to settle in and feel at home in your new community.
  
  Learn more at
• To be eligible for permanent employment in this position you must be an Australian Citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport. Employment of a temporary visa holder may only occur if no suitable local candidate is identified for the position; in this instance, you may only be offered employment in line with the conditions and expiry date of your visa.

Need more information?

1) Click here for the Position Description

2) Find out more about applying for this position

For role related queries or questions contact Carmen Jones on

At Hunter New England Local Health District, we are an inclusive employer dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace. Our commitment to a workforce that reflects the community we care for is essential for delivering the highest quality healthcare to our community. We encourage people with diverse lived experiences to apply. If you require any accommodations or adjustments to the recruitment process please let us know when you apply or at any stage of the process. We will work with you to meet your needs and create the best possible experience. Please contact for confidential support to ensure an equitable, barrier-free application process.

Applicants will be assessed against the essential requirements and selection criteria contained within the position description (link below). For assistance addressing selection criteria visit:

Stepping Up Website is a resource designed to help indigenous job applicants apply for positions in NSW Health. For more information, please visit:

This is a Category B position. Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance with NSW Health policy directive PD2024_015: Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases for Category B positions prior to offer. All new employees must agree to comply with the requirements outlined in the policy.

Salary Packaging: is beneficial to most Hunter New England Health employees and may increase your take-home pay Salary package a range of personal expenses including novated motor vehicle leases, relocation expenses, and HECS/HELP debt. Find out more by contacting SalaryPackagingPLUS via or

Hunter New England Health employees may be eligible for a range of benefits such as allocated days off (ADO) for full time employees, long service leave, paid maternity leave, and salary packaging options including meal expenses.

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