Your New Role:
Kempsey Shire Council is seeking an experienced People & Culture Advisor to join our People and Culture team in a full-time temporary capacity – until 28 May 2027.
This role offers the opportunity to work within a supportive and collaborative People and Culture team, contributing to meaningful HR work across a diverse organisation that services the community.
This opportunity has arisen due to internal secondments and parental leave within the team. The role reports to the Senior People & Culture Advisor and provides professional, practical HR advice and operational support to leaders and employees across the organisation.
This is a hands-on advisory role suited to a HR professional who enjoys variety, problem-solving, and partnering with leaders to deliver effective people outcomes.
The People & Culture Advisor provides high-quality HR support across a broad range of functions, including:
- Coordinating end-to-end recruitment and onboarding.
- Providing advice on awards, agreements, entitlements, and employment conditions.
- Supporting leaders with performance, conduct, and employee relations matters.
- Assisting with investigations, grievances and disciplinary processes.
- Supporting employee engagement initiatives and organisational development activities.
- Assisting with workforce planning, projects, and system improvements.
- Maintaining HR systems, registers and documentation.
- Supporting the coordination of Council’s Apprentices and Trainees.
- Preparing accurate reports, correspondence and HR documentation.
- Working collaboratively with Payroll and WHS to ensure coordinated employee support.
For a full list of the Key Accountabilities of the role, please refer to the Position Description.
About You:
You will bring:
- Relevant qualifications and/or demonstrated HR experience.
- Experience in a HR advisory/HR support role.
- Sound knowledge of contemporary HR practices and the ability to interpret awards, agreements and legislation.
- Demonstrated experience managing recruitment processes and onboarding.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective working relationships.
- Well-developed organisational skills and attention to detail.
- The ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
- Experience contributing to HR projects, policy work or employee engagement initiatives.
Local Government experience is highly advantageous but not essential.
About Us:
Kempsey Shire Council (KSC) is located on the Mid North Coast of NSW, known for its genuine hospitality, pristine beaches, sub-tropical rainforests, mountain ranges, rock river gorges, sprawling farmland and peaceful villages.
We are a progressive, proactive and dynamic organisation, and we pride ourselves on the respectful and supportive workplace we have cultivated. With 360+ dedicated staff managing $1.8 billion worth of assets across many sites throughout the Shire, KSC work closely with our community to build an inspired, connected Macleay Valley.
Why Join Us?
As the successful candidate, you’ll enjoy:
Interested?
If you are a capable HR professional looking for a varied advisory role where you can make a practical impact, we encourage you to apply!
Please apply via Council’s website http://careers.kempsey.nsw.gov.au/. Note that you will be required to prepare and submit:
- A short statement (maximum 2 pages) outlining how your experience, abilities, knowledge and personal qualities will enable you to achieve the key accountabilities of the role (as listed in the Position Description); and
- Your current resume.
Applications Close: Tuesday 28 April 2026
Please note that Council reserves the right to close this job advertisement before the stated closing date if a suitable candidate is found. Therefore, we encourage all interested applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible.
Have questions? Please contact Jenna Passmore – Senior People and Culture Advisor, for a confidential discussion on Ph: 02 6566 3200.
Please Note: Our recruitment notification process is primarily via system generated emails. Please ensure your email is correct before submitting your application to avoid missing crucial updates.
If you experience any difficulties applying online, please contact the Recruitment team on 02 6566 3200 or email jobs@kempsey.nsw.gov.au
Thank you and good luck with your application.
Kempsey Shire Council is an equal opportunity employer and we celebrate our diverse, inclusive and values-led workforce. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with diverse culture and linguistic backgrounds and people with a disability. In addition, Kempsey Shire Council will provide reasonable adjustments for suitably qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require additional assistance to participate in the recruitment process, please discuss with the advertised contact person. You can ask for reasonable adjustments to be made at any time during the recruitment process.
