Senior HR Business Partner

Hunter New England Local Health District

Reference number

REQ679388

Occupation

Consulting and Generalist HR

Work type

Full-Time

Location

Newcastle, Hunter & Region

Salary Information

$118821 - $140201

Closing date

30 July 2026 at 11:59pm

Employment Type: Temporary Full Time Until Oct 2027

Position Classification: Health Manager Level 2

Remuneration: $118,821.00 - $140,201.00 + Super + Salary Packaging

Hours Per Week: 38

Requisition ID: REQ679388

Closing Date: Thursday 30th July 2026

Location | Waratah Campus

Interview Date: Monday 3rd August 2026

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

Reporting to the Manager, HR Business Partners, with a team of Senior and HR Business Partners, you will be a trusted advisor to executives, senior leaders, and line managers, delivering high-quality strategic and operational HR support across Maitland and Belmont, and other areas within 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.

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

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.

Be part of a supportive, flexible and enjoyable team that combines professionalism with personality, embraces individuality, and ensures every team member feels respected, valued and empowered to succeed.

An eligibility list will be created for future full time and part-time temporary vacancies.

Benefits:

Proximity to shopping and other services

Monthly Allocated Days Off (for full-time employees)

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

Paid parental leave (for eligible employees) - giving you the opportunity for true Worklife balance

Salary packaging options - up to $11,600 plus novated leasing

Fitness Passport for health and well-being - discounted gym options for you and your family

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members

Opportunity to work and collaborate with a range of non-clinical and clinical professionals

Need more information?

about applying for this position

For role related queries or questions contact Melissa Booth on Melissa.Booth@health.nsw.gov.au

Information for applicants:

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 Rebecca.Caldwell@health.nsw.gov.au for confidential support to ensure an equitable, barrier-free application process.

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. by contacting SalaryPackagingPLUS! via nswhealth@salarypackagingplus.com.au or 1300 40 25 23.

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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