Senior HR Advisor

At Jem Archaeology, we're a professional services business focused on recruiting and developing the best and brightest archaeologists. We're a team of 40 with plans to continue our strong growth and we need a Senior HR Advisor to help drive that growth and team engagement. In this role you'll work alongside the CEO, involved in all facets of people & culture, from strategy development through to career planning and recruitment. Essentially, you'll get your hands dirty and also sit around the boardroom table.

Jem Archaeology is more than an archaeology and heritage consulting company, we're a team passionate about respecting and supporting Victoria's cultural heritage industry. Based in our Bayswater office, we work closely with Traditional Owners, clients, and stakeholders to deliver thoughtful heritage outcomes. If you have an interest in preserving indigenous cultures, we're the front line in doing so.

We're quirky at times (Insta: @jem_archaeology_pty_ltd), but very serious when it comes to the important work we do. Our values revolve around collaboration, respect, and a commitment to quality.

If all of this aligns with who you are, then read on.

You'll be responsible for:

Recruitment and Onboarding:

• Managing the full recruitment process, from writing job descriptions and advertising roles to screening candidates, coordinating interviews, and conducting reference checks.

• Organising onboarding for new team members, including setup and introductions to ensure a smooth start.

Employee Performance and Development:

• Conducting staff reviews to set goals, track progress, and support growth, including maintaining a skills matrix and coordinating training programs.

• Overseeing performance management, including addressing behaviour or performance issues, issuing warnings, and facilitating terminations when needed.

• Supporting training and development initiatives to help our team build their skills.

Policy and Compliance:

• Developing and maintaining company policies, ensuring they align with Australian employment laws and Fair Work Award changes.

• Overseeing employment contracts, liaising with legal support as needed, and managing records like annual leave, sick leave, and personal documentation (e.g., letters, pay rises, agreements).

• Maintaining workplace health and safety processes, acting as the contact for OHS, handling claims, incident reports, and liaisons where required.

Employee Relations and Culture:

• Fostering a respectful, inclusive culture where all team members feel valued and supported.

• Managing employee relations with care, ensuring clear communication and resolution of issues.

Workforce Planning and Change Management:

• Planning workforce needs with the Director and leadership team to support our expanding projects.

• Developing and implementing change management strategies to guide the team through growth and transitions.

• Organising team days

HR Systems and Administration:

• Building and maintaining HR systems to keep employee records and processes organised, leveraging internal expertise to deliver results.

What we're looking for:

• 5 years' HR experience, ideally in a small to medium-sized business you've helped grow

• Knowledge of Australian employment laws and HR practices.

• Strong communication and problem-solving skills to connect with our diverse team.

• Experience in designing development frameworks and HR systems, leveraging internal expertise to deliver results.

• A degree in HR or a related field, or equivalent experience.

• A Victorian driver's licence.

• Someone who takes ownership, drives outcomes, and is eager to seize this opportunity to make a meaningful difference in our workplace.

• A belief in building a team where everyone feels valued.

The ideal candidate will come from a service-based organisation where people are the backbone and competitive advantage of the business. We'll want to leverage your corporate knowledge as you enhance the HR systems and policies we adopt, but we want someone who recognises the agility or a small/medium sized business and is prepared to jump in and work outside of their role description as the situation demands.

A Day in the Life

No two days are the same, but you might find yourself:

• Recognising team achievements and milestones to help nurture a positive workplace culture.

• Supporting the Director with HR-related administration and people planning activities.

• Collaborating with our internal technical experts to shape training frameworks that drive real professional growth.

• Conducting employee development reviews, updating skill matrices, and planning individual growth pathways.

• Organising team days that balance professional development with building genuine team connection.

• Keeping our HR systems running smoothly from onboarding new staff to ensuring policies stay up to date.

• Being a trusted go-to person for staff questions, supporting a workplace where everyone feels respected and heard.

Details

• Full-time role (38 hours/week), based in our Bayswater office.

• Start date: Ideally June 2025, flexible for the right fit.

• To be considered, applicants must submit a personalised cover letter.