Director, People

About KBR

KBR is a global company providing science, technology, and engineering services to governments and commercial clients worldwide, operating in over 29 countries with a workforce of around 38,000 employees. In Australia, KBR boasts over 65 years of experience supporting major projects, focusing on critical infrastructure, national security, and energy transition with nearly 2,000 employees.

Role Overview

As the Director of People, you will serve as a senior leader responsible for shaping and delivering the company's people strategy aligned with business goals. This key position reports to the Chief People Officer and contributes to the People Leadership Team, partnering with executives to enhance workforce capability, leadership effectiveness, and organizational culture. The role entails steering transformation initiatives and supporting sustainable growth during a significant corporate transition.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute people strategies that align workforce capabilities, culture, and employee experience with business objectives.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to translate organizational priorities into workforce and organizational plans.
• Oversee workforce planning, organizational design, talent management, and succession planning programs.
• Offer strategic counsel on leadership development, organizational effectiveness, culture, and people-related risks.
• Lead change management and workforce transition efforts.
• Manage employee and industrial relations strategies, including enterprise agreements, workplace relations, and compliance.
• Promote leadership capabilities, employee engagement, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws, governance frameworks, and workforce risk standards.
• Work with global people leaders to implement consistent, scalable HR solutions.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing HR team.
• Influence decision-making at an enterprise level and cultivate strong relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Champion KBR's Zero Harm culture, fostering a safe, secure, and respectful work environment.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is an accomplished people executive with extensive leadership experience in managing strategic and operational HR functions across multifaceted, dispersed organizations. You are recognized as a trusted advisor with expertise in workforce planning, industrial relations, organizational change, and leadership development, demonstrating commercial insight and pragmatic judgment. Your leadership style is collaborative and authentic, thriving in transformative environments and capable of building high-performance teams.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• A tertiary degree in Human Resources, Employment Relations, Business, Law, or related fields.
• Proven senior-level leadership experience in complex, geographically distributed organizations.
• Strong track record of partnering successfully with executive and senior leaders to achieve strategic HR outcomes.
• Deep knowledge of workforce planning, organizational design, employee and industrial relations, and managing organizational change.
• Comprehensive understanding of Australian employment laws and industrial relations compliance.
• Experience crafting and executing HR strategies that drive measurable business results.
• Commercial acumen to balance business needs with workforce and risk considerations.
• Excellent stakeholder management, influence, and communication capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
• Capability to obtain and retain an Australian Government Baseline security clearance or higher.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in defense, government, or regulated sectors.
• Background in managing large-scale organizational transformations or restructures.
• Proven leadership in HR functions during significant organizational change.
• Postgraduate qualifications in HR, Business Administration, or related discipline.
• Professional certifications such as AHRI accreditation or equivalent.

Additional Information

• This is a permanent, full-time, onsite role based in Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, or Adelaide.
• An active Baseline Defence Security Clearance is mandatory.
• KBR is committed to a workplace culture certified as a Great Place To Work, offering flexible work arrangements and competitive salary with annual reviews, paid parental leave, income protection, employee benefits such as stock purchase plans, salary packaging, health programs, and career development opportunities.
• As a major Australian Defence Force service provider, compliance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) applies.
• Applications may close early once suitable candidates are shortlisted.
• KBR does not accept unsolicited resumes or recruitment agency fees without prior engagement.