People Consultant

At ARENA, we accelerate Australia’s transition to net zero by supporting innovation that makes real impact. Delivering on that ambition requires a capable, adaptable workforce supported by strong, fit‑for‑purpose people practices in a complex and evolving environment.

We’re seeking a People Consultant to play a critical role in advancing ARENA’s strategic workforce agenda by partnering with leaders to build an engaged, capable and high performing workforce.

About the role

The People Consultant plays a critical role in advancing ARENA’s strategic workforce agenda, partnering closely with leaders to strengthen capability, performance and culture. As a trusted advisor, the role provides people and workplace health and safety advisory support across the employee lifecycle, helping leaders navigate complex people, wellbeing and risk‑related matters. The role supports leaders to establish and maintain safe, inclusive and high‑performing teams by promoting effective people practices, contributing to sound risk management and enhancing organisational performance and sustainability.

Working collaboratively across the People Group, the People Consultant contributes to shared priorities, draws on collective expertise and supports initiatives that enable people to thrive. Through this work, the role helps ensure ARENA’s mission is achieved through its people.

This is a 12-month fixed term contract role.

Responsibilities include

In this role, you will work as a strategic people advisor to: 

•  Deliver evidence-based HR advice that supports leaders to navigate complex people matters, including:  
  • Performance management and behavioural concerns  
  • Leadership capability, capability development and career pathways  
  • Conflict management and grievance resolution  
  • Psychological safety, wellbeing and WHS risk mitigation  
  • Workforce transitions including onboarding, offboarding and change impacts  
  • Remuneration, classifications, entitlements and workforce planning considerations  
  • Interpretation and application of employment frameworks, HR policies and governance requirements.  
• Provide authoritative guidance on emerging risks, recommending actions that balance people, operational and organisational priorities.  
• Contribute to the design, review and implementation of high impact workforce initiatives including: 
  • Enterprise remuneration and performance review processes  
  • Recruitment, onboarding and employee experience improvements  
  • Learning and development strategies and capability uplift  
  • Engagement, diversity, culture and organisational development initiatives  
  • Workforce data, analytics and metrics that support strategic decision-making.  
• Coach and influence leaders to strengthen capability and accountability, driving consistent, high quality people management aligned with organisational values and regulatory obligations.  
• Partner across the agency to equip leaders with practical insights and frameworks, anticipate workforce challenges, identify systemic issues, and shape effective people related decisions. 
• Provide strategic input on workforce trends, culture drivers, risk indicators and opportunities for organisational improvement.  
• Support consistent people practices across the agency, ensuring alignment to broader HR objectives.  
• Provide input to learning, development and capability-building initiatives.  
• Coordinate WHS governance structures, including committees, reporting cycles and compliance activities.  
• Oversee and support key safety roles (e.g. first aid officers, wardens, HSRs) to maintain operational readiness and safety compliance.  
• Provide insights and recommendations to improve systemic WHS outcomes and promote a culture of wellbeing.  
• Maintain high-quality data governance and ensure accurate administration of workforce movements, remuneration changes and position management.  
• Support compliance with statutory obligations and internal policy frameworks.  
• Contribute to reporting and analysis that inform senior leader and Board-level decision-making.  
• Contribute to development of papers and insights for the Senior Leadership Team, CEO, People and Culture Committee, and Board.  

Key skills, experience and qualifications

This role requires an experienced HR professional who will bring: 

•  Well-developed HR knowledge across the employee lifecycle, including but not limited to people operations, capability development, organisational culture, performance management and wellbeing.  
• Understanding of relevant employment legislation, including the Fair Work Act 2009, workplace policies, and contemporary HR practice.  
• Demonstrated experience delivering high quality HR advisory and workforce support services within complex, fast paced environments.  
• Proven ability to manage sensitive and multifaceted people matters, including performance issues, workplace conflict, grievances and workforce transitions.  
• Experience building and maintaining effective business partnerships that foster trust, collaboration and confidence among leaders and teams.  
• Experience contributing and leading on workforce programs, projects or operational processes that enhance organisational capability and employee experience.  
• Ability to provide clear, balanced and practical HR advice that supports consistent, fair and inclusive people management practices.  
• A proactive approach to identifying workforce needs and contributing to practical, compliant and future-focused solutions.  
• Strong communication, influencing and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and support well-reasoned decision-making.  
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a focus on constructive engagement, relationship building and issue resolution.  
• High level stakeholder engagement skills, to influence and support leaders at all levels of the organisation.  
• Strong planning, coordination and organisational capabilities, to anticipate future workforce needs and manage operational priorities effectively.  
• Adaptability to shift between detailed operational tasks and broader strategic considerations in a dynamic environment.  
• Proficiency in interpreting workforce data and insights to support planning, reporting and decision-making.  
• Capability to translate business priorities into meaningful workforce actions, advice and outcomes.  
• Demonstrated sound judgement, discretion and empathy in managing highly sensitive or complex people matters.  
• Constructive approach to feedback and continuous improvement, with a commitment to professional growth and development.  

 Qualifications  

Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience, with a demonstrated commitment to ongoing learning and professional development.  

Why us 

At ARENA, we are committed to providing an inclusive culture so our employees can bring their whole selves to work and have a sense of belonging. You don’t need to be an expert in renewable energy or energy markets, but a keen interest in advancing an ambitious energy and climate agenda will be helpful.   

In addition:  

• We have flexible working arrangements 
• You will have front row tickets to leading edge technology in the sector 
• Work in an impactful and evolving environment 
• Be part of a team that collaborates and makes a difference 
• Invest in your career and your future

We encourage applications from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We strongly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and background will lead to a better environment for our workers and better outcomes for Australia.

How to apply

Download and read the Position Description: Position Description_ People Consultant.pdf

Applicants must be Australian Citizens and will be required to undergo a national police check.

Please apply with your CV by Wednesday 20 May 5:00PM AEST.