Director, Employee Experience

Category: People & Governance, People and Culture

Director, Employee Experience

At Sydney Water, we are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued and connected. We recognise the enduring connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country and are committed to advancing reconciliation through meaningful action, inclusive leadership and equitable opportunities.

We are seeking an experienced Director, Employee Experience to lead the strategy and delivery of programs that strengthen workforce capability, foster belonging, and support our people to grow and thrive throughout every stage of their career journey.

In this influential leadership role, you will lead talent management, capability and leadership development, retention and succession planning, inclusion and belonging initiatives, and performance and reward programs. Working closely with leaders across the business, you will help shape an employee experience that reflects our values, embraces diverse perspectives and ensures our people have access to the support, recognition and opportunities they need to succeed.

You will hold accountability for the employee experience portfolio, leading the development and implementation of Sydney Water's Employee Value Proposition (EVP) and embedding it across key people processes. Through data-informed insights and stakeholder engagement, you will identify opportunities to improve systems, processes and employee outcomes while driving operational excellence and long-term workforce sustainability.

You will bring these priorities to life through capability and leadership programs, coaching and mentoring initiatives, succession planning and retention strategies that support the development of current and future talent. You will also guide the evolution of our performance and reward frameworks, ensuring they are fair, transparent, inclusive and aligned with our workforce and organisational goals.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Experience working or volunteering within, or in partnership with, First Nations organisations, businesses or communities, with demonstrated cultural capability and an understanding of First Nations perspectives, values and ways of working, including the ability to contribute to culturally safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces.
• Significant strategic HR leadership experience in senior roles such as Director, Talent & Organisational Development; Director, Employee Engagement & Experience within complex organisations.
• Demonstrated experience leading and delivering programs across the full employee experience remit, including performance management, talent management, leadership development, inclusion and belonging initiatives, reward and benefits, and Early Careers Programs (ECP)
• Proven ability to lead and be accountable for the end-to-end delivery of talent management and capability growth initiatives that support organisational strategy and evolving workforce needs.
• Experience designing and managing succession and retention programs, as well as coaching and mentoring frameworks.
• Demonstrated success in managing performance management frameworks and remuneration processes that support business objectives and employee development.
• Skilled at providing trusted advice and guidance that helps influence and shape decisions, with a strong customer focus and a collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
• Experience working across a diverse workforce, with an understanding of different roles and working environments and a strong track record of building trusted relationships with stakeholders across office, field and operational settings.
• Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources or Business.

This role is internally titled Principal Manager Employee Experience, as outlined in the job profile. Please see the job profile for the role’s full accountabilities here

Does this sound like you? Apply now. Closing date: Friday 23rd October 2026 11.59 AEST

We support you through the application process and can modify as needed – let us know what you need. For more information, you can contact Talent Partner Connor May [email protected] 

Why join us:

At Sydney Water, your work will make a real difference in people’s lives—and your own. With diverse projects and roles, you'll find ample career growth opportunities. At Sydney Water, we actively seek and celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and individuality., fostering a safe environment where everyone can thrive and shape impactful community projects. We offer flexible working arrangements and opportunities for career progression among our many benefits.  

Dive into Our Great Benefits:

• Competitive Remuneration: We’ll ensure that your skills and contributions are valued and rewarded appropriately.
• Hybrid Work Environment: We offer a hybrid work model that balances remote work and office collaboration, supporting our team's productivity and well-being.
• Continuous Professional Growth: We will invest in your career with leadership and development programs to propel your success.
• 24/7 Wellbeing Support: Access for you and your family to free and confidential mental health and general health support through our EAP portal.
• Discounted Private Health Insurance: Unlock affordable access to top-tier health coverage with our discounted insurance plans.
• Family First: Prioritise your family with up to 18 weeks of fully paid parental leave and a childcare allowance.
• Fitness Passport: Achieve your physical fitness goals using our Fitness Passport, granting you access to a multitude of gyms and pools across NSW.
• Novated Leasing: Get in the driver's seat of your financial future with our novated lease options.

As part of the application process, Sydney Water will be collecting your personal information to assess your suitability for the role. Your personal information may also be used to establish a Dayforce talent profile. Your personal information will be collected in accordance with Dayforce’s Terms and Privacy Policy and Sydney Water’s Privacy Collection Statement – recruitment.