Senior People Partner

Role Type:

12 month full time parental leave cover contract

Salary:

$140,000 - $144,745 per annum + superannuation + salary packaging benefits

Join the People & Culture team at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and help shape a thriving, values‑driven culture that empowers world‑leading research!

The Opportunity We’re seeking a Senior People Partner to provide strategic and operational HR leadership across three innovative research themes.

In this pivotal role, you’ll partner with people leaders, researchers, and professional staff to deliver responsive, high‑quality people and culture services aligned with MCRI’s mission. You’ll lead a small, agile team—including a People & Culture Advisor and a Recruitment Coordinator—while balancing strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery.

This role is offered on a 12 month full time parental leave cover.

If you are passionate about building capability, enabling high performance, and fostering an inclusive and positive employee experience, this is your opportunity to make meaningful impact in a globally recognised research environment.

Your Responsibilities Include

Partner with leaders to understand workforce needs and deliver aligned people strategies

Provide guidance across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, performance, capability, and organisational change

Lead and mentor a small P&C team to deliver responsive, high‑quality HR services

Manage employee relations matters, ensure compliance with awards and legislation, and oversee case management

Oversee workforce processes such as position descriptions, contracts, onboarding and off‑boarding

Support employee engagement and drive diversity, equity, inclusion and wellbeing initiatives

What We Need From You

Significant HR generalist or HR Business Partner experience with strong ER/IR knowledge

Ability to coach, influence and build capability in leaders

Strong communication, stakeholder engagement and problem‑solving skills

A growth mindset and commitment to high‑quality, inclusive people practice

Experience leading or mentoring team members in a collaborative environment

Tertiary qualifications and experience in research, healthcare or NFP settings (desirable)

What’s in it for you

Benefit from salary packaging, including entertainment and novated leases

Play a strategic role in shaping culture and workforce practices within large research themes

Lead and mentor a small, high‑performing people and culture team

Work in a mission‑driven organisation committed to improving child health and global wellbeing

Be part of a P&C team that values innovation, inclusivity, and continuous improvement

Enjoy flexible working arrangements that support work‑life balance (2 days WFH, 2 days onsite)

Who We Are Murdoch Children’s Research Institute envisions a transformative future for child health. Our institute is a hub of impactful scientific breakthroughs, particularly in early interventions, enhanced diagnosis, prevention and potential cures. We thrive on collaborative, multidisciplinary problem‑solving to address challenging queries in child health. Committed to inclusivity and respect, we foster a positive working environment that values diverse backgrounds and experiences. As a proud member of the Australian Network on Disability and a dedicated supporter of Science Australia Gender Equity (SAGE), we uphold principles of equal opportunity and diverse representation.

We are committed to the safety of children and young people and takes a zero‑tolerance approach to all forms of child abuse, exploitation and harm. Child safety is prioritised in our decision‑making at all levels of the Institute.

We welcome individuals of diverse genders, ages, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, abilities, religions and sexual orientations in our workplace. We actively encourage talented individuals from all walks of life to apply for our job openings. Our commitment lies in fostering a workplace that is barrier‑free and inclusive, aiming to attract the most skilled candidates.

Apply now! If you’re ready to lead with integrity, partner with purpose, and contribute to meaningful global impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Please Apply By Submitting

Your resume

A cover letter addressing why you would be a good fit for this role

Ensure these documents are combined into a single PDF file.

For any questions related to the recruitment process, feel free to reach out to our Recruitment team at recruitment@mcri.edu.au. Ensure that you include the position number and job title in the subject line. Please refrain from sharing your application to this email address.

Please note, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

No recruitment agencies please.

Applications close: 20 February 2026 AUS Eastern Daylight time

If you have any questions, please reach out to Jean Hughes at jean.hughes@mcri.edu.au.

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