About SVA

Social Ventures Australia is a leading social impact organisation. They help solve challenging social problems by putting their extensive know-how to work re-designing systems. SVA helps institutions think differently and work hand in hand with their partners and communities to take real action on social change. Innovation is in their DNA. Where others see “too hard,” SVA sees opportunity to innovate, so systems work better for people and communities who are too often left behind.

For more than 20 years, SVA has worked alongside philanthropists, governments, businesses, communities and not-for-profits to drive meaningful change. They focus on where they can make the biggest difference including early years, education, employment, housing and disability.

SVA turns bold ideas into real-world impact—whether through demonstration projects, as an intermediary in innovative finance models, in consulting or in targeted policy and advocacy. They bring people together, elevate the voices that matter, and scale what works, always putting people at the centre. Last year alone, this approach supported more than 430,000 people across Australia.

The Role

The Head of People & Culture is a valued partner and trusted advisor to the organisation, supporting the delivery of its overall vision and strategic success. The position leads SVA’s people strategy and provides strategic and operational expertise to the CEO, Leadership Team, business areas and employees on end-to-end lifecycle practices, people related initiatives and matters. This includes performance and talent management, organisational design and development, diversity, equity and inclusion, engagement, reward and recognition, HR Systems, reporting and change management.

You will also:

• Report to the CEO, and as an integral part of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and the shared services Leaders’ team (finance, IT, Legal, Marketing, People & Culture), contribute to organisation-wide decision making, strategic planning, and cross-functional leadership;
• Lead People and Culture’s strategic direction and operational success, supporting a purpose-driven workforce of approximately 120 staff delivering complex and varied programs and initiatives;
• Lead and manage the People & Culture function, team of two, and an annual budget, aligning strategies, goals, and activities to SVA’s objectives, to drive organisational and people results whilst promoting a healthy, engaged and high performing workplace culture and employee experience; and
• Work collaboratively with business areas and subject matter experts in Consulting, Social Impact Initiatives, Policy & Advocacy, Partnerships & Fundraising and Connect (shared services) to embed effective people practices across the organisation in line with SVA’s vision and strategy.

To Be Successful

• Demonstrated experience leading and working across a range of contemporary end-to-end people and culture practice;
• Applied knowledge of Australian employment law including regulatory and statutory requirements;
• Ability to confidently advise the CEO and Executive Leadership Teams on broad-ranging people & culture related issues;
• Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Psychology, Law, or related business discipline or relevant professional and lived experience;
• Ability to work in cross-cultural settings and connect with diverse people across and outside the organisation, forming long-term relationships; and
• An alignment with SVA’s vision and values - Read more on their website here.

How to Apply

For more information or a confidential discussion please call Haylea Smith at u&u on 0411 666 265 quoting reference number 40998.

At u&u Recruitment Partners, we value diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and people with disability.

Should you require reasonable adjustments or have a preferred method of communication throughout the recruitment process, we encourage you to make a request via [email protected], using the subject line: Head of People & Culture - Social Ventures Australia enquiry via EthicalJobs, or phone the above-mentioned u&u consultant to discuss. In response to these requests, we will collaborate closely with you to implement the appropriate adjustments.

Additionally, for a barrier-free and inclusive online experience, you can access u&u’s opportunities using accessibility software Recite Me at uandu.com/jobs.