Head of People, Threat Representation

QinetiQ is a global defence and security company and employs more than 8000 people in more than 50 locations around the world. We offer our customers premier expertise in advice, services and creative technology-based products and help solve some of their most challenging problems.

Our determination to deliver and improve today and anticipate and shape tomorrow, makes QinetiQ a very exciting, rewarding and respected place to work and learn. Globally QinetiQ has four Sectors, one of which is the ‘Australia Sector’’. The Australia Sector has more than 1,200 employees operating across four countries, namely Australia, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. 

Over the past ten years QinetiQ has been investing in threat representation capabilities, including un-crewed aerial and maritime drone, and piloted adversarial air and aerial training support. Under the Australia Sector’s ‘Threat Representation’ business unit we bring together this strategic capability to deliver an integrated service offering to our global customer base.    

Reporting to the Director of People Function: Business and Operations, the Head of People Threat Representation leads a team of People Partners providing contemporary human resources advice, solutions and coaching to business leaders. With operational and performance oversight of the multi geography Threat Representation based People Partners, this role works to coordinate and align the development of People Plans that consider the full lifecycle of employment and human resources practices including organisational effectiveness, workforce planning, culture, change, talent, career growth, employee relations and wellbeing.

This new role will be based in our QinetiQ head office in Farnborough.

In terms of key responsibilities, you will:

• Contribute as part of the People Function leadership Team to the development of the Australian Sector People and People Centres of Expertise (CoE) strategies with a focus on the unique needs of Threat Representation
• Work with the Threat Representation Team to develop and implement organisation design to build the capacity and capability of the business unit
• Leads on strategic activities and projects for the Threat Representation business
• Leads a team of People Partners in the development and execution of an appropriate business unit People Plan supporting employee experience across the entire employee lifecycle
• Support the planning and execution, transition and integration for mergers and acquisitions, new business and other significant change in the Threat Representation business
• Work with Threat Representation leaders to prepare and recommend the target state operational model for an integrated global threat representation business
• Partner with the other People Function CoEs and People Partners to integrate Threat Representation resourcing requirements and hold a depth of understanding of future capability requirements
• Guide and support the geographically dispersed team to ensure all required People governance is in place and are locally applicable and act as a point of escalation for complex People issues

As our ideal applicant, you will present with:

• Experience as a business leader, balancing the role of functional and business level focus coupled with experience in a People Leadership role and as a senior Human Resources professional collaborating and influencing across complex business and multi-location HR teams
• Significant experience undertaking substantial change management activities as a partner/ leader
• An understanding of how to collaborate cross-culturally, adaptability, a growth mind-set and as someone who is responsive to their environment
• Experience developing team performance, standards of work and maturing HR systems and processes in complex environments/ across geographies
• Highly developed interpersonal skills and a consultative leadership style
• Functional management skills including budget management skills for delivery of projects, headcount and planning
• Strong experience building an organisational values based culture and brand that fosters high performance, inclusiveness, collaboration, trust and engagement
• Comprehensive and varied Human Resources technical and professional experience in multiple environments and contexts or locations
• Eligibility for security clearance appropriate to your geography

Whilst not essential, tertiary level qualifications in HR or a relevant discipline is desirable as is experience and/or qualifications in communications, change management or project management, learning and development.  Experience with mergers and acquisitions will be viewed favourably.

Confidential enquiries are welcome and may be directed to Narica Chappel, Talent Acquisition Specialist via email: nchappel@qinetiq.com.au.  A position description is available upon request.

Applications close 30th June, 2024.

Why join QinetiQ? 

Joining QinetiQ offers you an opportunity to work on a broad range of interesting defence-based projects with vast career progression across a global organisation in addition to competitive personal and professional benefits. You’ll receive a highly competitive salary and benefits package: our basic salaries are very attractive as we constantly review what’s happening in the market. The range of benefits that we offer include, adaptive and flexible working, generous holiday entitlements, Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance and much more.