Role: Divisional Director People, Culture and Safety - Taronga Zoo
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Located at Taronga Zoo Mosman
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Ongoing, Full-time Senior Executive Role
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Senior Executive Band 1 (SE1)
Taronga Zoo is looking for an experienced and motivated Divisional Director – People, Culture & Safety to lead our People Culture & Safety team! Shape culture, champion safety, empower the future. As Divisional Director of People, Culture and Safety, you'll lead transformative programs that foster a thriving workplace, support wellbeing, and strategically align Taronga’s workforce with its bold mission for wildlife and people.
About the Role…
To lead, develop and deliver best practice People, Culture and Safety programs and services, to provide a safe and healthy workplace and sites, and to ensure Taronga’s current and future workforce needs are met to achieve Taronga’s strategic business objectives.
Key Accountabilities…
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Create an organisation performance focused culture with improved leadership effectiveness where the vision, values and roles of Taronga underpin every behaviour and decision.
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Provide a safe and environmentally responsible workplace ensuring structures and processes enable people to best achieve objectives.
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Deliver comprehensive, timely and professional People, Culture and Safety services ensuring Taronga operations and its management are supported by contemporary and highly effective HR strategies and services; industrial relations, negotiated agreements and conditions of employment meet Taronga’s operational and business needs; and appropriate organisational change programs and workplace reforms are implemented successfully and achieve their objectives.
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Deliver efficient and accurate HR, payroll and scheduling services, ensuring compliance with awards and legislation.
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Taronga’s staffing establishment and associated budgets are managed and maintained effectively across the organisation including ensuring payroll operations and systems are reliable, accurate and efficient.
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As a member of Taronga’s Executive Team provide expert advice, recommendations and services to Taronga’s Chief Executive, Board, Minister and NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), lead by example, represent Taronga’s interests, contribute to whole of business planning and governance, and achieve in Taronga’s strategic focus areas.
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Provide effective Divisional leadership and management of staff and operations ensuring appropriate systems, policies, procedures, resourcing, performance management, risk mitigation, continuous improvement in a high-performance, values driven culture.
About You…
We are looking for candidates that have:
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Senior management experience and achievement in strategic human resources, people and establishment management, organisational design and change, industrial and employee relations, training and development, recruitment and selection, payroll and HR information systems, and work health and safety.
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An understanding of HR practices within a government environment.
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Tertiary qualifications in a human resources, management, other relevant discipline or an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills and experience.
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Obtain and maintain a current paid NSW Working with Children Check at own expense.
Benefits…
Our employees enjoy generous employment conditions including some of the following:
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Flexible Hybrid work model - Taronga supports a blend of in-office, remote, and on-the-go workers!
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Complimentary family and friends passes across both Taronga’s Sydney & Dubbo Zoo’s
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Free onsite car parking, outside of peak periods
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A wide range of discounts on our award winning accommodation across both sites
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Discounted food and beverage purchases across the sites
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Discounted Fitness Passport
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We’re a social team - there’s always lots going on around the zoo that we get involved with!
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+ 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.
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Describe a time when you led the creation of a high-performance, values-driven culture. How did you embed the business or organisation’s vision, values, and roles into everyday behaviours and decision-making, and what measurable impact did this have on team performance?
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Explain how you have managed HR operations—payroll, scheduling, staffing budgets—and ensured compliance with legislation and awards. In your capacity as an executive team member, describe how you provided strategic advice and led divisional performance, driving continuous improvement in a high-performance, values-driven environment.
Applications Close: 11:59pm, Tuesday 12 August 2025