Part-time, 0.6 FTE (3 days per week) | Reporting to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team | Up to 17% super
HR roles talk about being "people focused". This one was deliberately designed for it. With modern systems in place and a capable Senior People & Culture Advisor who owns day-to-day people operations, this role is free to do the work that actually changes how people experience their job: being present with teams across our hospitality venues, fitness, events, retail and student programs, coaching managers, supporting staff and shaping one of Sydney’s most varied workplaces.
ActivateUTS brings the UTS experience to life beyond the classroom. We are a not-for-profit of around 60 permanent staff and 100+ casuals, spanning hospitality, fitness, events, retail and student engagement, all in one organisation at the heart of the UTS campus. Our commercial venues include Aerial Function Centre, The Underground, The Loft on Broadway, The Terrace, ActivateFit.Gym and UTS Store, which receives more than 114,000 visits a year. We also run 190+ student clubs and societies with 39,000+ memberships, support 455 elite athletes across 44 sports, and delivered over 5,800 events last year. Revenue generated by our commercial venues is fully reinvested into student programs and experiences.
Reporting to the CEO and sitting on the Senior Leadership Team, the People & Culture Manager leads the People function for ActivateUTS. The role is hands-on by design: its centre of gravity is direct support for staff and managers, psychosocial safety and wellbeing, and the quality of the employee experience, supported by strong systems (Employment Hero) and a Senior People & Culture Advisor who owns day-to-day people operations and reports to you.
You will know our teams by name, from the kitchen at Aerial to the gym floor to the clubs team, and they will know you. You will mentor and develop your direct report, coach managers through difficult conversations, performance matters and periods of change, and give the CEO and Board clear, practical people advice.
This is an on-campus role, designed around being visible and present with people working across our venues, kitchens, gym and student spaces. Your three days each week will therefore be based at our Ultimo campus, a short walk from Central Station and the Haymarket light rail.
Staff Support, Wellbeing & Psychosocial Safety
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Be a visible, trusted and accessible point of support for staff and managers across all sites and work patterns, including casual staff.
- Lead the identification, control and monitoring of psychosocial hazards, including workload, role clarity, change load and workplace behaviours.
- Coordinate wellbeing initiatives and the Employee Assistance Program relationship, promoting early support and following through on themes it surfaces.
- Support staff and managers through periods of organisational change with clear information, genuine consultation support and individual care.
Advice & Employment Relations
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Provide timely, practical advice to the CEO, SLT and managers on people matters, policies and workplace issues.
- Manage complex employee relations matters end to end, including complaints, disputes, performance processes, workers’ compensation and consultation processes.
- Act as the escalation point above the Senior People & Culture Advisor for complex or sensitive matters.
People Practices, Remuneration & Compliance
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Maintain contemporary, legally compliant people policies and practices aligned with ActivateUTS values, including flexible work, inclusion and diversity.
- Run the annual remuneration review cycle and partner with Finance and Payroll on Award compliance across the Hospitality, Fitness and Retail Awards.
- Ensure compliance with Fair Work, privacy and WHS obligations across the employee lifecycle, including psychosocial hazard duties.
Leadership, Mentoring & Reporting
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Lead, mentor and develop the Senior People & Culture Advisor, who owns day-to-day people operations, recruitment coordination and systems administration.
- Contribute as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, bringing a people lens to organisational decisions.
- Provide concise people reporting and insight to the CEO and, through the CEO, to the Board: workforce trends, engagement outcomes, WHS and case activity.
- Partner with the CEO on workforce planning and the people implications of organisational strategy and budget.
About You
You are a warm, credible and genuinely personable HR professional who gets out from behind the desk. You understand the rhythm of an operational workforce: frontline teams, casual employment, changing rosters and busy service periods, and your advice works on the floor as well as on paper. You build trust quickly, from frontline casual staff to Board level, and you would rather have the conversation than send the policy. You are equally comfortable coaching a manager through a difficult discussion, mentoring a developing HR professional, and running a complex matter end to end with sound judgement and discretion.
Essential Criteria
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Substantial experience in HR management or senior generalist roles, with demonstrated end-to-end case management of complex employee relations matters.
- Relevant tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Business or a related field.
- Demonstrated capability in psychosocial risk management, wellbeing and supporting staff through organisational change.
- Up-to-date working knowledge of the Fair Work framework, modern Awards and WHS obligations, including psychosocial hazard duties.
- Strong interpersonal, coaching and mentoring skills, with credibility from frontline staff to Board level.
- Experience with digital HR platforms (Employment Hero or similar) and data-informed people reporting.
- A current NSW Working with Children Check, or the ability to obtain one prior to commencement.
Desirable Criteria
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Experience in hospitality, hotels, venues or similar operational environments with mixed permanent and casual workforces, or in not-for-profit or tertiary education settings.
- Experience leading or supporting formal consultation and restructure processes.
- Current AHRI membership or certification.
Our Values
Passion: Our heart is in everything we do. We bring energy and enthusiasm to every project, driving a positive culture and creating memorable experiences.
Growth: Our potential knows no bounds. We continuously seek innovative ways to improve and enhance our services, meeting our community’s evolving needs.
Collaboration: Our strength lies in unity. We collaborate internally and work closely with students, UTS, clients, and partners to create unified and engaging outcomes.
Trust: Our word is our bond. We build strong relationships through honest, transparent, and ethical practices.
Inclusion: Everyone has a seat at our table. We celebrate diverse backgrounds, ideas, and perspectives, fostering a welcoming community where everyone feels valued.
Why Join Us
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Up to 17% superannuation: 12% compulsory super plus a 5% additional benefit you can take as super or salary.
- A daily meal allowance at our campus venues and free ActivateFit.Gym membership.
- Additional paid leave days, paid parental leave and wellbeing benefits.
- A true 0.6 FTE senior role, 3 days per week, designed part-time from the start, not squeezed down from full-time, with flexibility on which days by agreement.
- A seat on the Senior Leadership Team and a direct line to the CEO.
- One direct report, a capable Senior People & Culture Advisor, and modern systems (Employment Hero) that reduce administration and leave you more time for people, leadership and complex work.
- One of Sydney’s most varied and energising workplaces, where revenue generated by our commercial venues is reinvested into student programs and experiences.
Life at ActivateUTS
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190+ student clubs and societies with 39,000+ memberships
- Major campus events including our O’Week festival, O’Day and O’Fest, with 5,800+ events a year
- Sports programs supporting 455 elite student-athletes across 44 sports
- Food and beverage venues, a commercial function centre, the UTS Store and ActivateFit, the on-campus gym
Learn more at activateuts.com.au
Follow us:@activateuts | @activatefit.gym | @theloftuts | @undergrounduts | @aerialutsfunctioncentre | @theutsstore
Applications Close
Applications close: 2 October 2026.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received. We encourage early applications, as interviews may commence prior to the closing date and the advertisement may close earlier if a suitable candidate is identified.
ActivateUTS brings the UTS experience to life beyond the classroom, supporting students, staff, and the wider community. We run 190+ clubs, support 380+ Elite Athletes, and host numerous events each year. Our commercial venues—including ActivateFit gym, The Underground Sydney, The Loft on Broadway, Aerial Function Centre, The Terrace Café, and the UTS Store—generate revenue that’s fully reinvested into programs and experiences that help students thrive.
