In this pivotal role, you'll partner with people leaders, researchers, and qualified staff to deliver responsive, high‑quality people and culture services aligned with MCRI's mission. You'll lead a small, agile team—including a People & Culture Advisor and a Recruitment Coordinator—while balancing strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery.
If you are passionate about building capability, enabling high performance, and fostering an inclusive and positive employee experience, this is your opportunity to make meaningful impact in a globally recognised research environment.
Your responsibilities include
Partner with leaders to understand workforce needs and shape people strategies that enable teams to thrive
Provide guidance across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, performance, capability, and organisational change
Lead and mentor a small P&C; team to deliver responsive, high‑quality HR support
Manage employee relations matters with confidence, ensure compliance with awards and legislation, and guide people leaders through effective case management
Oversee workforce processes such as position descriptions, contracts, onboarding and off‑boarding, ensuring a smooth, consistent experience
Champion employee engagement and drive diversity, equity, inclusion, and wellbeing initiatives
What we need from you
Significant HR generalist or HR Business Partner experience with strong ER/IR knowledge
Ability to coach, influence and build capability in leaders
Strong communication, stakeholder engagement and problem‑solving skills
A growth mindset and commitment to high‑quality, inclusive people practice
Experience leading or mentoring team members in a collaborative environment
Tertiary qualifications and experience in research, healthcare or NFP settings (desirable)
Benefit from salary packaging, including entertainment and novated leases
Play a strategic role in shaping culture and workforce practices within large research themes
Lead and mentor a small, high‑performing people and culture team
Work in a mission‑driven organisation committed to improving child health and global wellbeing
Be part of a P&C; team that values innovation, inclusivity, and continuous improvement
Enjoy flexible working arrangements that support work‑life balance (2 days WFH, 3 days onsite)
Who we are Murdoch Children's Research Institute envisions a transformative future for child health. Our institute is a hub of impactful scientific breakthroughs, particularly in early interventions, enhanced diagnosis, prevention, and potential cures. We thrive on collaborative, multidisciplinary problem‑solving to address challenging queries in child health. Committed to inclusivity and respect, we foster a positive working environment that values diverse backgrounds and experiences. As a proud member of the Australian Network on Disability and a dedicated supporter of Science Australia Gender Equity (SAGE), we uphold principles of equal opportunity and diverse representation.
We are committed to the safety of children and young people and take a zero‑tolerance approach to all forms of child abuse, exploitation and harm. Child safety is prioritised in our decision‑making at all levels of the Institute.
Apply now! If you're ready to lead with integrity, partner with purpose, and contribute to meaningful global impact, we'd love to hear from you.
Please apply by submitting:
Your resume
A cover letter addressing why you would be a good fit for this role
Ensure these documents are combined into a single PDF file.
We welcome individuals of diverse genders, ages, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, abilities, religions, and sexual orientations in our workplace. We actively encourage talented individuals from all walks of life to apply for our job openings. Our commitment lies in fostering a workplace that is barrier‑free and inclusive, aiming to attract the most skilled candidates.
For any questions related to the recruitment process, feel free to reach out to our Recruitment team at recruitment@mcri.edu.au. Ensure that you include the position number and job title in the subject line. Please refrain from sharing your application to this email address.
No recruitment agencies please. We reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
Applications close:
12 December 2025
Interviews will be conducted:
Mid December 2025 Start date:
Early January 2026
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