Director, People and Culture - NSW Health Pathology

Director, People and Culture

NSW Health Pathology

Band 1

Role Title: Director, People and Culture

Join the leadership team at NSW Health Pathology for an exciting opportunity and help shape the future of health in New South Wales!


About us

- Join the executive team at NSW Health Pathology influencing workforce strategy that enables our team to improve care for communities through safe, inclusive and high‑performing people and culture.
- Opportunity to shape strategic people and culture priorities that protect the public by underpinning reliable, high‑quality pathology and forensic services across NSW.
- Supporting the Chief Executive, Strategic Leadership Team and medical and scientific leaders to partner across the health and justice system, enabling organisational performance, integration and transformation


This role will be located in Newcastle or Sydney. 


About this role

The Director, People and Culture is a senior executive leadership role responsible for leading the development and delivery of contemporary people, culture and workforce strategies that enable NSW Health Pathology to achieve its strategic objectives. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the role provides authoritative advice to the Executive Team and Board on workforce matters, and oversees a portfolio of people and culture functions, including strategic workforce planning, talent and recruitment, leadership development, industrial relations, work health and safety, injury management, and staff engagement.

This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished people and culture leader to influence organisational strategy, drive cultural change, and partner with senior leaders to build a capable, engaged and future-ready workforce within a complex, statewide health environment.

With your skills and experience, you can contribute to the millions of ways we’re enriching health and develop your career as part of the largest health organisation in Australia.

This is an ongoing, full time, Band 1, Health Service senior executive (HSSE) role. An attractive remuneration package within the range of $218,617 to $243,563 per annum (SOORT 2025), with annual performance reviews, will be negotiated with the successful applicant.

For further information, download the role description.  


About you 

We are seeking a highly credible and strategic senior leader with:

- Extensive experience leading people and culture, workforce or human resources functions at a senior executive level in a large, complex organisation, preferably within the public or health sector
- Proven capability in developing and delivering integrated workforce, talent, culture and organisational transformation strategies aligned to business objectives
- Strong knowledge of public sector employment frameworks, industrial relations, work health and safety, and relevant legislative and regulatory requirements
- Highly developed influencing, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to partner effectively with executives, boards, unions and external stakeholders
- A leadership style that models integrity, collaboration, inclusion and accountability, and inspires high performance and engagement across diverse teams


Applying for this role

Please review the role description and submit:

1. Your up-to-date resume, and
2. A brief cover letter (1–2 pages) addressing the following target questions:

- Your experience leading strategic people and culture or workforce initiatives in a complex organisation, and the impact achieved.
- How do you ensure people and workforce strategies actively enable organisational performance, safety and public trust during periods of transformation?

For role-related enquiries, please contact Vanessa Janissen on vanessa.janissen@health.nsw.gov.au and quote REQ663241.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment process, please contact the recruitment team.

Closing Date: 11:59pm Sunday 7 June 2026