General Manager, People & Culture

About Ruah

Ruah is a leading values-driven employer in Western Australia’s community services sector. Our staff go boldly, not just supporting people in need, but working to end homelessness, end domestic violence and create opportunities for people struggling with poverty and mental health challenges.

Our professional team of operational and corporate services staff is backed by one of WA’s biggest Peer support workforces. Our staff reflect our commitment to diversity and inclusion, where difference is valued, celebrated and embraced.

By choosing to work with us, you are helping transform the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our community.

About the Role

As the General Manager, People & Culture (P&C) you will help shape a positive, inclusive, and trauma-informed culture that empowers our dedicated team.

In this vital leadership role, you’ll be responsible for executing our People & Culture strategy, focusing on employee attraction, retention, engagement, and professional development, all while nurturing a culture of inclusion, psychological safety, and resilience. Your leadership will enable our people to continue delivering the compassionate, client-centered support that changes lives.

What you'll do:

• Lead with Purpose: Inspire and lead the People & Culture team to champion a values-driven, high-performing workplace.
• Strategic Leadership: Lead and deliver the People & Culture Strategy and ensuring goals are met. Play a key role in major organisational projects, including mergers, acquisitions, Organisational Culture transformation and other strategic initiatives.
• Data Integrity & Best Practices: Oversee the integrity of people-related data, ensuring the effective development and maintenance of policies, processes, and frameworks for People & Culture, including Organisational Development and Learning & Development.
• Annual Key People Activities: Oversee initiatives like the Engagement Survey, Staff Day, Remuneration Review, and WGEA reporting.
• Empower and Support: Lead diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) initiatives, while managing complex employee relations matter with care, professionalism and integrity.
• Reporting: Provide accurate, timely reports to Senior Leadership and the People & Diversity Committee, keeping them informed of progress, challenges and key outcomes.

This is a full-time permanent position based in Northbridge.

What we’re looking for

The successful applicants will be required to meet the following criteria:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organisational Development, Psychology, Employment Law or a related field.
• Significant senior leadership experience in People & Culture, ideally in community services sectors with proven success in developing and executing strategies to enhance employee engagement, performance, and well-being.
• Ability and passion for mentoring and coaching others.
• Strong understanding of the Fair Work Act 2009, ability to interpret award conditions and enterprise agreements. 
• Knowledge of Human Resource Information/Management Systems and their capabilities. 
• Highly collaborative approach, with effective communication and interpersonal skills and a can-do attitude.
• Strong understanding of leading high performance teams.
• Strong expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a track record of implementing inclusive hiring practices and fostering an inclusive culture.
• Extensive experience in leading organisational change and managing sector reforms to adapt to evolving service demands.
• Strong financial, operational, and workforce management skills, including budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation.

The following criteria are considered desirable:

• Relevant postgraduate qualifications
• Certification in HR, leadership, or change management 

What do we offer?

• Not-for-profit Salary Packaging (to extend your take home pay) with up to $15,900 core packaging, an additional $2,650 in meal entertainment packaging PLUS benefits for salary packaging travel, accommodation, parking fees, education expenses and more!
• 5 weeks annual leave 
• 16 weeks paid parental leave, with flexibility to take at 32 weeks half-pay (uniquely, new staff can access 4 weeks paid parental leave after just 6 months’ service). 
• Free, independent and confidential access for you and your family to our Employee Assistance Program.
• Free Ruah-paid Journey Cover (insurance for when you're getting to and from work).
• Opportunities to be active in the Ruah Community such as participating in a wide range of working groups, joining us at Pride events, being a part of a range of cultural events to promote and support reconciliation and much, much more! 

Required compliance documents:

• Current WA drivers’ license
• National Police Clearance Certificate (and International Criminal History Check, if applicable)

How to apply 

We’d love to hear from you!

Please click apply, create your LiveHire profile, and submit your current CV along with a cover letter of no more than two pages, helping us understand your fit for this role.

Closing date for applications: Wednesday, 12 March 2025.

For further information please contact Graham Donnelly, Chief Financial Officer, at Graham.Donnelly@ruah.org.au.

Unsolicited applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.

We are building a workplace where difference is embraced and encouraged - and to do this, we need people on our team who are representative of the clients we work with, who are passionate about change and courageous enough to stand up for what is right.  Everyone is welcome. Everyone belongs. 

We are committed to protecting children and young people from harm. All applicants will undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment.