Head of People

About Svitzer
 

At Svitzer, we have been helping keep global trade moving since 1833, when we were founded to make sea trade safer and support the prosperity of coastal communities. Today, with over 400 vessels operating across 37 countries, we are a global leader in towage and marine services. In Australia, we are proud to be the largest employer of Australian seafarers, operating in 23 ports and 7 terminals across two countries. Our crews and shore teams deliver critical services with deep local knowledge, passion for serving our customers, and a strong culture of safety and care.

Our story is one of problem-solving, partnership, and performance. It is a living system built on trust – shaped every day by the actions and mindset of our people at sea and ashore.

The Opportunity
 

Now, as we enter a new chapter as a standalone, privately owned business with a bold growth strategy, we are looking for a Head of People & Culture – Australia to help unlock the golden link between thriving people and thriving customers at our largest region globally. This is a critical, high-impact, strategic role – shaping the culture, capabilities, and choices that will define how we perform, grow, and thrive together with and for our customers.

The Head of People & Culture will play a pivotal role in driving Svitzer's growth strategy by leading a people agenda that empowers crew and our shore team - our greatest enabler - to think and act with an owner's mindset, make decisions, and take accountability for outcomes. This role is central to creating the conditions for our people and our business to grow together, strengthening trust, leadership, and performance across every level of the organisation.

As a key member of the Regional Leadership Team, you will lead the end-to-end People & Culture strategy for Australia and Papua New Guinea, partnering closely with leaders across ports, operations, and the global People & Culture team.

Your role will be to

• Be a strategic Business Partner and trusted advisor to the Managing Director and the rest of the Regional Leadership Team 

• Be a core member of the Regional Leadership Team you will together with the rest of the team lead the region to perform, grow and thrive

• Set the right People & Culture strategy and lead the delivery of this in the region – in line with our global strategy and regional business goals

• Lead, inspire and support a high performing, human centered team of People & Culture professionals across the region to deliver our people priorities and provide a consistent people experience and capabilities across all our ports – growing P&C as partners for the future

• Encourage and enable a mindset of growth and curiosity amongst all our colleagues – one where we continuously obtain systemic people insights and drive actions that help leaders address root causes beyond the surface level issues

• Take responsibility and ownership of key enablers of long-term performance: leadership development, workforce planning, talent development & succession, diversity, equity & inclusion

• Play an active role in the Global People Leadership Team, helping shape the future of People & Culture across the whole of Svitzer

Who you are

You are a People & Culture leader who brings curiosity, courage, and care to everything you do – someone who makes others stronger and leads with integrity. You see the system, not just the symptoms. You understand how people, structures, culture, and context interact - and you make decisions that serve the whole, not just the parts.

You balance strategy and execution. You both set direction and know how to get things done - translating insight into fast, focused, and lasting action. You build trust, uncover hidden dynamics, and create the conditions for others to grow - so that change is not just led, but lived, every day.

You connect across boundaries - between sea and shore, across geographies and functional teams. You listen deeply, challenge constructively, and hold space for the difficult conversations that move us forward. You are a culture builder at heart – clear on values, human in your approach, and unafraid to stretch yourself and others toward what is truly needed.

You share our belief that performance and care go hand in hand. You hold high standards and enable real accountability - while making people feel seen, heard, and valued. You put purpose before ego. You are not "corporate" - you are human, grounded, and here to help shape something that matters.

What you bring

• Experience (10+ years) as senior People & Culture leader in Australia, with at least some experience working in a global matrix covering the full breath of P&C functional capabilities

• A proven ability to lead transformation – helping organisations shift mindsets and align relevant reinforcing structures, unlock new ways of working, and grow at every level: individuals, teams, and the organisation as a whole, including how we engage with customers and partners.

• Comfort operating at both executive and operational levels – from strategy meetings to vessel visits

• Capability in culture design and facilitation, organisational design, leadership development, DEI, and workforce planning

• Experience from the maritime industry or relevant infrastructure or operations-intensive industries, allowing you to quickly understand our business drivers and the complexity of the environment we operate in

• Willingness and flexibility to travel regularly interstate and to regional ports to connect with our colleagues at the front

What you will get

• A chance to shape our company's future during a period of bold reinvention and growth

• A leadership team committed to learning, performance, and building something meaningful – together

• A human centric culture that sees safety, belonging, inclusion, and care as foundational to performance

• A fantastic opportunity to grow your own leadership to the next level

Are you ready to help us lead what's next?
 

If you are a people leader who sees the system, acts with purpose, and leads with heart, we would love to hear from you.

We know diverse leadership teams perform better. If you see yourself in this role - even if you don't tick every box - we encourage you to apply. If you are curious, committed, and ready to help shape something new, do not miss the opportunity to apply.

The MD of Australia says:
 

"This is an important and defining appointment. I'm looking for a leader who listens deeply, sees the system clearly – especially what's beneath the surface – and dares to challenge where needed. Someone who can hold space for integrity and growth when tensions arise and translate insight into grounded action. A leader who leads with both courage and care and helps us grow stronger – together."

 

Building a Diverse Workplace

In Svitzer we value the diversity of our talent and will always strive to recruit the best person for the job – we value diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to gender, age, nationality, race, sexual orientation, disability, or religious beliefs. We are proud of our diversity and see it as a genuine source of strength for building high performing teams.

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that members from some under-represented groups are less likely to apply for jobs if they don't meet every single qualification. At Svitzer we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles, and we are excited about hearing from you

How to Apply

To apply for this role, please click on the 'Apply Now' button and create a Candidate Home to manage your applications.