HR Director / Head of HR

HR Director / Head of HR job description

The HR Director/Head of HR leads the strategic and operational direction of the human resources function, aligning people strategies with organisational objectives. This role oversees all HR disciplines including talent management, employee relations, workforce planning, and compliance, while advising senior leadership on culture, performance, and organisational development.

HR Director / Head of HR job duties and responsibilities of the job

Key responsibilities of an HR Director/Head of HR include:

Developing and implementing HR strategies aligned with business goals

Leading and mentoring the HR team

Leading talent acquisition, retention, and succession planning initiatives

Overseeing performance management, remuneration, and employee engagement programs

Ensuring compliance with employment legislation and industrial relations frameworks

Advising senior leaders on workforce planning and organisational design

Driving cultural transformation and employee experience strategies

Overseeing HR operations, systems, metrics, and reporting functions

Building strategic partnerships with external consultants, legal advisors, and regulatory bodies

Championing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and workplace wellbeing initiatives

Typical HR Director / Head of HR job qualifications and requirements

A degree in human resources, business, or a related field is essential, along with extensive senior HR leadership experience, ideally gained in complex or multi-site environments. Formal HR qualifications, such as AHRI membership, are also required.

10+ years of experience in senior or strategic HR leadership roles

In-depth knowledge of Australian employment law, industrial relations, and HR best practices

Proven experience in leading organisational change, cultural transformation, and workforce planning initiatives

Strong commercial acumen with the ability to align people strategy with business objectives

Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills

Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and mentor high-performing HR teams

Proficiency in enterprise HR systems and data-driven HR reporting (e.g. Workday, SAP SuccessFactors)

Experience in talent management, succession planning, and executive leadership development

Strong stakeholder engagement skills, including collaboration with executive teams, board members, and external advisors

Commitment to driving diversity, equity, inclusion, and employee wellbeing strategies

Looking for a hr director / head of hr or a hr director / head of hr job?

Submit your resume or request talent now and our expert recruiters will be with you shortly.

Robert Half can assist you with your hr director / head of hr staffing needs.

Explore more salaries

Newest jobs

Search all jobs

Learning and Development Coordinator | 3-6 Month Contract

Learning and Development Specialist

Part-Time HR Manager - Temp to Perm role!

Looking to hire? Start here.

Access the skilled permanent and contract talent you need, from support roles to C-suite, with precision matching powered by Robert Half recruiters leveraging their experience together with our industry-leading AI technology.

Hire talent

More to explore

2026 Salary Guide Explore our Salary Guide to confidently benchmark 200+ salaries, plan your budgets and better understand compensation trends.

How to use a recruiter to help with salary negotiation If you’ve ever wondered, ‘Do recruiters negotiate salary?’ Discover why engaging a recruiter could be your best bet to maximise your salary.

First 30 days in a new job – 30 tips to remember Consider these 30 tips to follow to help maximise your first day at work in a new job to make the right first impression.

Resume skills to put on your CV What resume skills should you list on your CV? Learn what top employers want to see on your CV and how you should write about them.

How to respond to a salary increase (with sample responses) If you’ve ever wondered, “how do you respond to a salary increase?”, explore the tips, tricks and trusted templates that can maximise your response to a salary increase.

How to ask about the salary in a job interview Learn how to ask and have a discussion about the salary in a job interview.

Our starting salary projections come from a detailed, multistep process that ensures our numbers accurately reflect the marketplace. They’re based on real compensation data for job candidates our recruiters have matched with companies across the country.

The Salary Guide from Robert Half is the original. We’ve been publishing salary forecasts since 1950, and our guide has served as a trusted source for employers, job seekers, industry associations, government and educational institutions, and national and local media.