This 12-month secondment as General Manager – People & Culture offers a unique opportunity to play a critical role in shaping the people strategy across our redefined LWS East portfolio, including Chartwells, Healthcare, and ESS. You will work closely with sector leadership to embed a culture of care, respect, and performance accountability, while also providing strategic HR leadership and operational support.

About the Role
Reporting to the Executive Director – People, this position is responsible for:

• Acting as a strategic HR partner to business leaders across Chartwells, Healthcare, Defence and ESS East, ensuring alignment of people strategies with business goals.
• Leading cultural change and capability development across the region, aligned to Compass Group’s long-term strategic plan.
• Driving people-focused initiatives that enhance workforce agility and efficiency through the MAP framework.
• Supporting and developing high-performing leadership teams that operate safe, effective, and client-centric sites.
• Leading strategic workforce planning and performance management initiatives to uplift leadership capability and employee engagement.
• Collaborating with the broader HR function to design, implement, and review HR policies, programs, and initiatives across the LWS East portfolio.
• Partnering with the Workplace Relations team to manage risk, ensure compliance, and support effective resolution of employee relations matters.
• Supporting business development through client engagement, tender input, and leadership during mobilisation and retention of contracts.
• Championing inclusion initiatives aligned with our Indigenous, disability, and gender diversity strategies.

About You
We’re looking for a values-driven leader who brings:

• Proven strategic HR leadership across diverse, operationally complex businesses.
• Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• A minimum of 10 years in HR, with 3–5 years in senior HR or HSEQ business partner roles.
• Strong understanding of industrial relations frameworks and their business implications.
• Demonstrated experience in leading organisational change and uplifting leadership capability.
• Commercial acumen with the ability to influence, communicate, and present effectively to senior stakeholders.

Next Steps
If you’re ready to help shape the future of Living & Working Services in the East and are passionate about building strong, people-focused cultures, we’d love to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion, please contact:
Nicola Thistlewaite  nicolathistlewaite@compass-group.com.au 0437 832 749