Role:  People & Culture Lead - Taronga Western Plains Zoo

• Located at Taronga Western Plains Zoo – Wiradjuri Country
• Ongoing, Full- Time position
• TCSA Salaried Employees Award, Clerk Grade 7/8, annual package from $128,726 (includes base salary $113,574 + plus superannuation & leave loading)

Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo is looking for an experienced and motivated People & Culture Lead to act as the primary onsite people partner, supporting leaders with day-to-day HR matters and people initiatives.

About the Role…

This role plays a pivotal part in shaping the employee experience and culture at Taronga Western Plains Zoo during one of the most exciting transformation periods in our history. As the People & Culture Lead, you will drive strategic people initiatives, support organisational change, and provide high quality HR guidance to leaders and teams across the zoo. Partnering closely with the Manager, People Operations and the Divisional Director – People, Culture & Safety, you will lead key culture, capability, and workforce projects while managing complex employee and industrial relations matters.

Key Accountabilities…

• Build strong partnerships with senior leaders to develop people-focused strategies and deliver solutions across the employee and volunteer lifecycle, including workforce planning, talent and capability development, performance and engagement. 
• Lead culture-building activities by delivering workshops, facilitating quarterly inductions, and coordinating training programs that support organisational learning and change.
• Coach managers on complex matters including absences, behaviour-related discussions, underperformance, and grievances and conduct investigations as required
• Lead workforce planning initiatives and projects in consultation with Taronga’s Management and Executive Team, providing advice and support to managers and employees regarding workforce composition, capabilities and organisational goals
• Provide expert advice to leaders and employees on people policies, employment legislation and industrial frameworks, ensuring consistent and compliant application across the organisation.
• Partner with unions and employee representatives, supporting effective consultation and constructive industrial relations.
• Provide support to the WHS team in regard to Workers Compensation and non work-related injuries as they impact employee relations issues
• Proactively source people data, drawing insights that impact business outcomes and mitigate risks to help inform people strategies, and
• Support core people processes including drafting employment contracts, letters and reports, updating organisational charts and position descriptions and maintaining employee files. 

About You…

We are looking for candidates that have:

• Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources or equivalent experience in a similar role
• Experience providing strategic and operational human resource advice.
• Well-developed experience in employee relations, investigations and case management, dispute resolution, and the ability to investigate incidents using a consultative approach.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills in coaching and developing teams and individual team members.
• Customer-focused with excellent verbal and written communication skills and are comfortable engaging both in person and virtually.
• Hold a valid clearance to work with children (Working with Children Check).
• Desirable: Mercer CED accreditation; Return to Work and Mental Health First Aid qualifications

Benefits…

Our employees enjoy generous employment conditions including some of the following:

• Flexible Hybrid work model - Taronga supports a blend of in-office, remote, and on-the-go workers!
• Complimentary family and friends passes across both Taronga’s Sydney & Dubbo Zoo’s
• A wide range of discounts on our award winning accommodation across both sites
• Discounted food and beverage purchases across the sites
• Discounted Fitness Passport
• We’re a social team - there’s always lots going on around the zoo that we get involved with!
• + more!

We Value Diversity…

Taronga is an equal opportunity employer, where we recognise the diversity of our workforce and community – be it on the basis of gender, age, culture, religion, language or personal circumstances.

Taronga is also committed to building on the perspectives, experience, knowledge and skills that this diversity brings to our organisation.

About Applying…

Please submit your resume and a cover letter of one page. You are also required to complete the two target questions as part of your application.

1. Tell us about a time you coached managers to improve the quality of performance conversations and drive positive performance or cultural change, particularly in a diverse or geographically dispersed workforce. What strategies did you use, and what impact did they have?
   
   
2. Provide an example of when you were required to conduct or coordinate an investigation into employee behaviour or performance. What steps did you take to ensure the findings were robust and defensible?

Applications Close: 11:59pm, Wednesday 4 February 2026