About Studio Schools of Australia Ltd
Studio Schools of Australia (SSA) was established in 2019 to bring about a “system” level change in secondary education for Indigenous students in remote communities across northern Australia. This “system level” reform is based on well-established evidence of what works for Indigenous students, their families and communities, in a scalable, proven work-related model of education introduced at the Yiramalay / Wesley Studio School in the Kimberley, Western Australia, in 2010.
SSA’s mission is to enable Indigenous students to lead their own advancement and to take a valuable and meaningful place in their own communities and within Australia.
SSA is committed to being a child safe environment, and we actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students. All staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment.
Overview
The Human Resources Manager is a strategic HR leader responsible for the full employee lifecycle at SSA. This role ensures all HR functions – from talent acquisition to compliance – align with our educational mission, cultural values, and operational needs while meeting all legal requirements.
The ideal candidate will be a hands-on HR generalist comfortable working in a remote Indigenous community setting, with expertise in developing systems that engage and support a distributed workforce.
Key Responsibilities
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Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
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Manage end-to-end recruitment including sourcing, screening, interviewing, testing, hiring and onboarding
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Develop and implement Indigenous employment strategies to increase local workforce participation
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Ensure all job descriptions are current, accurate and legally compliant
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Oversee visa/sponsorship processes for international hires (if applicable)
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Employee Development & Performance Management
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Develop and implement training programs to ensure employees understand job responsibilities and legal/safety requirements
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Design and manage performance management systems that align with organisational goals
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Provide coaching to line managers on performance improvement strategies
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Pay & Benefits Strategy
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Conduct regular market analysis and salary surveys to inform the pay and benefits strategy
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Develop and maintain competitive remuneration packages for remote staff
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Employee Relations & Compliance
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Investigate and resolve employee issues, concerns and conflicts
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Ensure all employment practices comply with national, state and local regulations
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Maintain up-to-date knowledge of employment law and best practices
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Manage workplace investigations with sensitivity and discretion
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HR Strategy & Analytics
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Compile and analyse HR metrics to inform strategic planning
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Develop initiatives to enhance employee engagement and retention
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Implement HRIS systems to streamline processes and reporting
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Other
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In collaboration with Indigenous partners, develop cultural onboarding programs for staff
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Support local employment initiatives with Traditional Owners
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Ensure HR practices respect Indigenous kinship systems and protocols
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Other tasks as directed by the Director of Business Operations & CFO or the CEO
Key Selection Criteria
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Labour Relations (or equivalent)
- HR certification (e.g., AHRI, SHRM) highly regarded
Experience
- 5+ years in senior HR generalist roles, preferably in education/NGO/remote settings
- Proven experience in:
- End-to-end recruitment and talent acquisition
- Performance management system development
- Compensation strategy development
- Employee relations and conflict resolution
- Experience with HRIS systems
Skills & Knowledge
- Expertise in Australian employment law (Fair Work, Child Protection, discrimination)
- Advanced Microsoft Office skills
- Data analysis and reporting capabilities
- Cultural competency in Indigenous contexts
Personal Attributes
- Resilient and adaptable to remote work challenges
- Strong communicator across diverse stakeholders
- Problem-solver with sound judgement
- Passionate about Indigenous advancement
Working Conditions
- At least 50% on-site work during school term time in remote Kimberley location required plus work from home
- Accommodation provided during on-site rotations
Employment
Due to Australian immigration regulations, applicants must have Australian work rights. We especially welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Applicants will be required to provide a current WA Working with Children Check (WWCC) and National Police Check (NPC).
All appointments at Studio Schools of Australia are subject to child protection legislation and pre-employment screening.