- Lead Council's People and Culture, Customer Service, WHS and Risk functions to shape a positive, high-performing organisational culture.
- Drive strategic people initiatives that strengthen employee experience, leadership capability and organisational outcomes.
- Play a key role in supporting a modern, progressive Council committed to community impact and continuous improvement.
About the role:
The Manager People and Culture is a key strategic leader at Whyalla City Council, responsible for guiding the organisation’s people strategy and strengthening a culture where staff feel supported and valued and empowered to perform at their best.
In this role, you will lead the full People and Culture portfolio, including organisational development, employee engagement, workplace culture, industrial relations, recruitment, customer service, Work Health and Safety and risk management. This role will champion the development of a proactive and robust training and development function, contemporary HR practices, enhance leadership capability across the organisation and ensure Council meets all legislative and compliance requirements.
You will work closely with executive leadership, managers and staff across all departments to embed positive culture, develop proactive people initiatives, and implement systems and processes that strengthen organisational performance. Your leadership will directly influence employee wellbeing, customer experience and Council’s ability to deliver excellent outcomes for the Whyalla community.
About you:
You are an experienced, forward-thinking leader who thrives on building strong relationships, leading change and shaping culture. You bring:
- Demonstrated capability in leading People and Culture functions in a complex or diverse organisation.
- A strong ability to motivate, coach and influence leaders at all levels.
- Proven experience in delivering cultural improvement initiatives and organisational development programs.
- Deep knowledge of contemporary human resource practices, industrial relations, WHS legislation and risk management.
- Strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into practical, effective outcomes.
- Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear, accurate and high-level reports and advice.
- Strong judgement, resilience, integrity and the ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters.
- Well-developed project and change management skills.
- Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources or a related field, with at least five years’ experience in a comparable leadership role.
- A commitment to living and modelling Council’s values: We Care, We Work Together, We Are Committed, and We Own It.
About the Whyalla City Council:
As a multifunctional regional Council, we manage Childcare services, a Library, an Airport, a Cemetery, a Crematorium, Infrastructure and recreational facilities including a Visitor Information Centre.
We are a progressive Council, committed to the pursuit of excellence and are always looking for opportunities to improve the quality of life for our community, now and into the future.
We stand by and embrace our core values in delivering each of our services: We Care, We Work Together, We are Committed and We Own It.
About the benefits:
- Competitive salary + 12% Superannuation with the ability to salary sacrifice.
- Flexible hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance and wellbeing.
- Company laptop + mobile phone supplied.
- Company vehicle available by negotiation.
- Opportunities for career growth and career development.
- Employee Assistance Program and wellbeing support.
- Commuting to work when living in Whyalla is no more than 15 minutes
Further Information:
For more information in relation to position responsibilities refer to the following:
Enquiries to Sue King, General Manager Corporate Services at ********@whyalla.sa.gov.au
The remuneration for this position will be negotiated and offered under a Common Law agreement, with a fixed term of five (5) years.
Apply:
- Applications must include a cover letter expanding on your suitability for this role, addressing the position criteria outlined in the Position Description in no more than three pages.
- Applications must include your current resume and must be submitted via Council’s recruitment portal. Scroll down (past the image below) to commence the application process. Please note, the application process will need to be completed in one session.
- Applications close 9.00am Monday 15 December 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.
The Whyalla City Council is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment free from discrimination and harassment. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, youth, and people living with a disability. All applicants will receive equal consideration for employment.
The Whyalla City Council is committed to providing a smoke, drug, and alcohol-free safe work environment. Our recruitment process includes a medical assessment including a Drug and Alcohol screen, and confirmation of experience/qualifications and may also include competency testing.