We’re proud to be partnering with the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute to appoint their next General Manager, People & Culture. A newly created role and a rare prospect to build and lead a strategic, high‑performing People & Culture function.
As GM of People & Culture, you’ll play a pivotal role in defining and delivering Baker’s people strategy, building leadership capability, strengthening engagement, and shaping a values‑driven culture that empowers over 600 scientists, clinicians, and professionals to lead with impact.
About the Baker Institute
The Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute is one of Australia’s most respected independent medical research organisations, dedicated to addressing the world’s most pressing health challenges: heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
At Baker, research isn’t just about discovery; it’s about transforming lives. With an unwavering commitment to scientific excellence and purpose‑driven impact, the Institute is helping people live longer, healthier lives through breakthrough science, education, and community health.
About the Role
As the GM People and Culture, you will shape a progressive, high‑performing, and values‑led workforce that enables Baker’s 2030 vision. You’ll elevate the People & Culture function from operational to strategic, building capability, driving engagement, maintaining compliance and ensuring the systems and culture are in place to deliver lasting success.
You’ll lead initiatives that attract, develop, and retain exceptional talent, strengthen leadership capability, and embed a culture of inclusion, accountability, and continuous learning.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and deliver the People & Culture strategy aligned with Baker’s 2030 vision.
- Elevate P&C; from operational service to strategic enabler, driving capability, workforce planning, and performance.
- Shape and embed a high‑performance, values‑based culture that fosters inclusion and wellbeing.
- Provide strategic leadership in ER/IR and compliance, balancing governance while maintaining an agile and pragmatic approach.
- Lead organisational development programmes, performance frameworks, leadership development, and succession planning.
- Drive operational excellence and evidence‑based decision‑making through systems and analytics.
- Build and lead a high‑performing P&C; team and act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership.
About You
You are a strategic, people‑centred leader who understands how culture, capability, and performance come together to drive organisational success. With business acumen, emotional intelligence, and a pragmatic approach, you create environments where people thrive.
Purpose‑driven and action‑oriented, you see People & Culture as a strategic enabler, fostering alignment, accountability, and trust while ensuring strong governance and clarity. You partner confidently with leaders, shaping culture and translating strategy into actions that elevate performance.
To be successful in this role, you will need:
- Degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related discipline ; postgraduate qualifications desirable.
- 10+ years of senior P&C; leadership experience in health‑related, NFP, academia or highly‑regulated environments.
- Proven success in developing and implementing strategic people initiatives that enhance capability, culture, and performance.
- Solid leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence, coach, and build trust across all levels of the organisation.
- Demonstrated experience leading cultural transformation and organisational change with a strong focus on people experience and engagement.
- Strategic oversight of ER/IR and employment governance, ensuring compliance while maintaining agility and pragmatism.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, able to navigate diverse stakeholder groups with empathy, credibility, and confidence.
What will you get in return?
At Baker, you’ll join a collaborative, high‑impact organisation where people and purpose meet. You’ll have the autonomy and support to shape the Institute’s future while contributing to research that saves lives.
You will also benefit from:
- Competitive total remuneration with access to full NFP salary packaging entitlements.
- A positive, flexible working environment with strong learning and development support.
- Leadership development for the successful candidate.
- A workplace guided by our values: Human‑centred, Empathy, Accountability, Respect, Transformative.
- A meaningful opportunity to shape the future of medical innovation in Australia.
- A central base at the Alfred Hospital precinct and an active presence in Melbourne’s west.
- Modern offices and laboratories in the Alfred Research Alliance precinct, located opposite beautiful Fawkner Park; and within walking distance to Chapel Street and St Kilda Road.
- EAP program and an active social club.
This is more than a P&C; leadership role; this is an opportunity to lead with purpose, where every initiative directly contributes to improving health globally.
Want to know more? To request a candidate pack, contact kristina
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