CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER

• Executive Chief People Officer role, reporting directly to the Chief Executive

• Lead enterprise-wide people strategy, culture, capability and organisational performance

• Major Victorian public sector entity delivering nationally significant events and substantial economic impact

About the organisation

The Victorian Centre and Event Trust (VCET) is a significant Victorian public sector entity with more than 30 years of industry leadership, operating two landmark venues and employing approximately 1,200 people at peak periods. Generating more than $700 million in annual economic impact, VCET plays a pivotal role in positioning Victoria as a destination of choice for major exhibitions, conferences, galas and concerts. In February 2025, the governing body was renamed from the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust to VCET, reflecting an expanded dual-venue remit encompassing both the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and the newly opened Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Events Centre. With Nyall Banyule now open, the organisation is entering a defining period of strategic, cultural and commercial renewal, supported by a Leadership Team (LT) aligned to its next phase of growth and refreshed organisational values that reinforce a high-performance, commercially focused outlook.

About the role

Reporting to the Chief Executive (CE) and as a key member of the LT, the Chief People Officer (CPO) will lead the People & Culture function across a complex, permanent and highly casualised workforce. The CPO will have a clear mandate to elevate the function into a strategic, commercially oriented partner to the enterprise, modernising people practices, strengthening organisational capability and working closely with the CE and LT to enable performance, culture and growth. Core accountabilities span workforce strategy and planning, industrial and employee relations, organisational development and capability, culture and employee experience, governance and Trust engagement, and HR operations and technology, including the replacement of current HR systems. The CPO will also sponsor the Trust's People and Culture Sub-Committee, presenting a critical opportunity to engage with the Trust on people and culture matters at a strategically significant time. Leading a team of 16 and operating across two venues, including regular travel to Geelong, the CPO will combine executive-level strategic judgement with pragmatic operational leadership in a diverse, high-volume environment.

About you

You are an accomplished people and culture executive with experience gained in large, casualised or seasonally variable workforces, and operationally intensive environments. You bring a track record of designing and delivering workforce strategy, together with industrial and employee relations expertise, including negotiation, award interpretation and constructive union engagement. You possess the demonstrated judgement, nuanced approach and well-honed influencing skills to mature a people and culture function to one that is strategic, commercially astute and enterprise enabling. Your ability to build credibility and trust quickly along with your commercial acumen, underpin your capacity to engage and advise at CE, executive and board levels. Collaborative and adept at making the complex simple, you are comfortable operating in an environment that values pace and accountability. You are energised by the opportunity to shape the people agenda of an organisation at a pivotal time, lifting culture, capability and performance at scale, and delivering a future-fit workforce that brings Victoria together on a grand stage.

How to apply

To apply for this role, click ‘Apply’ to submit your CV. For more information prior to application, please contact Sam Richards at SHK via email on samira.richards@shk.com.au, quoting reference 3625393. Direct and third-party applications will be forwarded to SHK.