Senior People & Culture Advisor

_{04th August, 2026}

With over 25 years of experience across Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, Whittens is a family-owned national Australian civil construction contractor. We deliver both large-scale and technically complex FRP, concrete, earthworks and civil infrastructure projects for major mining and infrastructure clients.

Built on strong relationships and a team-focused culture, we are committed to creating a safe, supportive and respectful workplace where our people can develop their skills and contribute to successful project outcomes.

Your opportunity

Due to our continued growth and success, we are currently recruiting a Senior People and Culture Advisor to join our team.
 
Are you a seasoned HR professional who thrives on building strong relationships and making things happen?

Reporting to the Head of People and Culture, the Senior People and Culture Advisor will be our ‘go-to’ expert for all employment and industrial relations matters nationwide, with a core focus on our East Coast Operations. This is a hands-on role for a self-starter with the confidence to navigate complex workplace matters, the drive to deliver HR excellence, and the enthusiasm to spend time on the ground connecting with our people.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with Operational Leaders to provide best-practice HR/IR advice across the full spectrum of employment and industrial relations matters.
• Act as the primary point of contact for industrial matters, including Enterprise Agreement negotiation and interpretation, and managing union access across sites.
• Coach and upskill Operational Leaders on best-practice approaches to managing employee and industrial matters.
• Manage and resolve HR/IR issues, including grievances, disciplinary matters, investigations, and hearings.
• Drive cultural change through the execution and delivery of strategic HR initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with legislative requirements and proactively mitigate associated risks.
• Work closely with the Head of People and Culture on HR cyclical activities, including performance review cycles, remuneration reviews, and bonus schemes.
• Contribute to the Employee Value Proposition to ensure Whittens remains a great place to work.
• Review and update HR policies and procedures; lead initiatives that enhance employee engagement and well-being.
• Support Pre-Contracts by compiling HR management plans and providing relevant HR/ER/IR information for tenders.

ABOUT YOU

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a similar role within a comparable industry.
• Strong and proven expertise in Industrial and Employment Relations — essential.
• A proactive, self-starter with a hands-on approach to supporting Operations.
• Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources or a related field — preferred.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to partner effectively, influence stakeholders, and drive engagement.
• Highly organised, with outstanding time management and planning capabilities. 

WHAT WHITTENS OFFER:

Whittens are committed to investing in our people, offering learning and development opportunities to build on the skills and experience you bring. With a strong pipeline of future works upcoming, you can be assured that there are opportunities beyond the current project to build your career with us.

• Generous and competitive salary package paid weekly
• High-Performing and collaborative HR team
• Work amongst engaged leaders
• Safety being at the forefront of everything we do
• Paid Parental Leave
• Novated Lease options
• Employment Assistance Program
• Long term permanent role and the opportunity to work on a range of projects across Australia

Please note that this role is being sourced through Whittens directly and we will not accept applications via external recruitment agencies.