People and Culture Officer

• Location: Australia wide

• Term: permanent

• Full-time: 37.5 hours (0.8 FTE might be considered)

• Remuneration: SCHADS Level 5 ($94,550 - $101,900 per annum) + 11% super + 17.5% Annual Leave Loading

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are particularly encouraged to apply

Reporting to: Head of People and Culture

Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) is the leading environmental law practice in the Australia Pacific Region delivering legal solutions for peoples, nature and our climate. We have a big vision which is a world where nature thrives. We’ve got big ambition about the role we can play in delivering that vision and we’ve got an incredible team across the country working to achieve it.

We are dedicated to protecting our climate, communities and shared environment by providing access to justice, running ground-breaking litigation and leading law reform advocacy. Over our 30-year combined history we’ve developed a formidable track record of empowering communities and delivering effective protection of the environment through legal services.

As the region’s legal experts in our field, we aim to be a brave, unified, and focused team, committed to inclusion and excellence in all that we do. We strive to be a diverse and inclusive workplace supporting a highly skilled, engaged, and effective team, where everyone can feel that they belong.

The opportunity:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a talented, experienced, and motivated person to join EDO as the People and Culture Officer. Someone looking to make a big difference in a crucial space, at a crucial time.

This is a unique opportunity for someone with People & Culture, HR or extensive program administration experience. In this critical role, you will support the People and Culture Program to deliver contemporary human resources services as well as organisational design and Culture initiatives that will contribute to a high performing, cohesive and harmonious workplace.

Candidate Profile:

We are seeking an enthusiastic, efficient and highly capable administrator with an interest in Human Resources to join our team. Strong administrative and communication skills are a must for this role.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong initiative and have previous experience in providing high level administrative support to a team, with previous experience and interest working in a Human Resources environment being highly desirable.

To be suitable for this role you will also demonstrate values and behaviours aligned with our organisational culture and a strong interest in First Nations culture.

You will use your proven ability to build rapport with a wide range of people at all levels, in conjunction with your clear communication skills to help guide and work with staff and mangers promptly and sensitively.

You are great at reading the room, and can anticipate issues before they arise, and because you are a natural problem solver, you always bring a solution to any concern.

You’re effective in your role, because you build collaborative relationships with people at all levels of the organisation, you have a reputation for handling information with discretion, for getting things done, and you live the EDO values.

Key selection criteria:

We are looking for someone who is deeply passionate about the environment and climate change. Has experience or an interest in working in human resources or People and Culture. Has strong communication skills and is comfortable working with a diverse range of individuals over electronic communication and face to face. Has proficient team-working and organisational skills. In the role you will be required to take initiative and work independently.

Core skills

• At least 3 years’ experience in a Recruitment, Human Resources role or related field.

• Excellent organisational and administration skills.

• Excellent emotional intelligence and communications skills.

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make sound judgements and decisions based on consideration of different views.

• Demonstrated ability to handle information with discretion, and a clear understanding of privacy and confidentiality requirements.

• Demonstrated ability to promote a culture of continual improvement resulting in positive and best practice outcomes.

• Knowledge of relevant employment related laws, regulations, awards and enterprise agreements.

• Keen interest in mentoring volunteers

• Knowledge and passion for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Principles

• Demonstrated ability to work productively and to deadlines.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills suited to a range of audience.

• Demonstrated ability in exceptional customer services and business relationships.

• Demonstrated ability to meet multiple deadlines in a fast-based environment

Desirable experience

• Tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Commerce or Business or significant progress towards attaining a qualification.

• Demonstrated experience working with First Nations people or diverse communities.

• Mental Health First Aider.

• Understanding of the LGBTQI community.

• Understanding of the SCHADS awards.

Personal qualities and cultural competency

• A champion of EDO values

• Strong initiative and self-motivation

• Commitment to the protection of human rights and the environment

• A strong sense of ethics and understanding of professional obligations

• Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of First Nations and peoples from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations in both the delivery of our work and our internal culture

• Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative and team-based environment

Our Culture and Benefits: 

• We care deeply about creating a workplace where our team members feel valued, respected, and empowered. We are committed to providing equal opportunity regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or life stage. 

• The chance to be part of the largest environmental legal practice in the Australia-Pacific 

• A very flexible and family-friendly workplace 

• Option to work from home and the office 

• 8 weeks paid parental leave, regardless of gender or carer status

• 15 days personal/carer’s leave  

• 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave

• 3 days paid cultural leave

• Extra leave over the Christmas period

• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Ongoing professional development opportunities 

• EDO proudly has a JEDI (Justice, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion) Committee and a Mental Health Ambassador Committee, and has developed a First Nations Program with the aid of indigenous-led consultancies. 

• Affinity groups for the following: Global Majority*, LGBTQIA+ & People with Disability

*Global Majority is a collective term that first and foremost speaks to and encourages those so-called, to think of themselves as belonging to the majority on planet earth. It refers to people who are Black, African, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or, have been racialised as ‘ethnic minorities’.

Our Values

Commitment – We are committed to; a united organisation, to each other, to collaboration, to justice, to our communities and to creating a world where nature thrives. 

Diversity – We are respectful of and welcome diversity of staff, volunteers, offices, environmental regions, communities, stakeholders. 

Integrity – We work effectively, efficiently, strategically, professionally, and ethically; “justice is in our nature”. 

Vision – We lead change and environmental empowerment using innovation, creativity, and courage. 

Other Information

EDO particularly encourages applications from Frist Nations Pacific Island people, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, workers of all ages, people with disability and people who identify as LGBTQIA+. 

All offers of employment may be subject to satisfactory background checks including a National Police Check, disclosure of previous or current disciplinary action, referee checks, proof of eligibility to work in Australia and qualification checks.

Please note: Your application may be added to our EDO Talent Pool and considered for future roles at the EDO within the next 12 months without additional advertising. Please notify us in your application if you would not like to be considered for similar roles beyond this recruitment.

If you have any accessibility needs for the recruitment or interviewing process, please let us know in your application or by emailing ***********@edo.org.au.

To read the position please click here:

https://www.edo.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/EDO-Position-Description-People-and-Culture-Officer-Feb-2024.pdf