Head HR ANZ

About the Role

 

As Head of HR ANZ, you will be the senior HR People Partner to the ANZ Leadership Team, playing a pivotal role in translating Group HR strategies into impactful local execution. This is a high-visibility, high-impact role that sits at the heart of the ANZ business — balancing strategic contribution with hands-on operational excellence, all while championing a strong and inclusive people culture.

 

This role complies with Australian regulatory requirements, including the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority's (APRA) Prudential Standard CPS 511 Remuneration and the Financial Accountability Regime Act 2023 (Cth). This role is classified as an Accountable Person under section 21 of the Financial Accountability Regime Act 2023 (Cth), with specific obligations outlined in an Accountability Statement. FAR accountability is derived from prescribed responsibilities under subsection 10(2) of the Act, and sections 5(2) and 9(2) of the FAR Minister Rules

 

In this role you will:

• Translate strategy into action — Interpret and adapt Group and regional HR strategic directions into practical, locally relevant implementation plans within defined governance frameworks
• Drive local HR initiatives — Where Group or regional frameworks do not fully meet local requirements, propose and implement targeted local HR solutions, subject to regional HR governance alignment and approval
• Lead at the table — Serve as an active member of the ANZ Leadership Team, contributing meaningfully to discussions on performance, transformation, people development, succession planning, leadership capability and culture
• Govern with purpose — Act as Secretary to the ANZ Board People & Culture Committee, supporting governance through preparation, coordination and follow-up of people-related topics
• Develop and inspire your team — Lead and develop the local HR team, ensuring effective HR business partnering and high-quality local delivery for the ANZ workforce
• Ensure operational excellence — Oversee the effective delivery of operational HR services through global and shared service models
• Advise with confidence — Support line management on day-to-day and complex HR matters including performance management, employee relations, resourcing and reward, applying sound judgement within existing policies
• Build trust across the organisation — Act as a trusted intermediary between employees and leaders in disputes or conflicts, facilitating fair, compliant and pragmatic resolutions
• Shape the workforce — Partner with leaders to ensure the organisation is staffed with the right capabilities by supporting recruitment, selection and internal mobility
• Champion HR best practice — Recommend and implement HR programmes, policies and procedures that support local business needs while maintaining alignment with Group standards
• Deliver on ad hoc projects — Take on additional HR activities and projects as directed by the Group

 

​About the Team

 

The HR ANZ team is a dedicated group of HR professionals committed to making Swiss Re a great place to work across Australia and New Zealand. The team partners closely with business leaders and employees to deliver people solutions that are both globally aligned and locally relevant — spanning talent acquisition, employee relations, remuneration, benefits, and organisational development.

 

At Swiss Re, we believe our people are our greatest strength. We offer modern, flexible working arrangements that allow everyone to adapt to evolving work preferences. Our Sydney office is a vibrant, collaborative environment where ideas are valued and contributions are recognised. We offer a competitive benefits package including 25 days annual leave, 15 days personal leave, flu vaccinations, and annual health checks.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

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About You

The skills and experience for this role include:

 

• Deep HR expertise in a professional services or financial services environment, with broad technical knowledge across key HR disciplines including performance management, talent, reward and employee relations
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment law and confidence in managing complex employee relations matters (knowledge of New Zealand employment law is a plus)
• Demonstrated experience leading organisational change and restructuring, translating Group or regional direction into effective local execution
• Proven people leadership capability, including coaching, mentoring and developing HR teams in a matrix or multinational environment

• Experience as a senior HR Business Partner to executive or leadership teams, including a strong senior stakeholder management capability with the ability to contribute to strategic business discussions beyond the HR, remit

These are additional nice to haves:

• Experience working within a multinational company with a multicultural and geographically dispersed workforce
• Familiarity with APRA regulatory requirements or experience in a regulated financial services environment
• Competency in behavioural-based interviewing techniques, facilitation and remuneration systems
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills, with experience engaging senior stakeholders and Board-level committees
• Adaptability and comfort working in a fast-paced, matrixed organisation with cross-functional collaboration
• Knowledge of New Zealand employment law and HR practices

 

 

 

 

About Swiss Re

 

Swiss Re is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. We anticipate and manage a wide variety of risks, from natural catastrophes and climate change to cybercrime. Combining experience with creative thinking and cutting-edge expertise, we create new opportunities and solutions for our clients. This is possible thanks to the collaboration of more than 15,000 employees across the world.

Our success depends on our ability to build an inclusive culture encouraging fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. We embrace a workplace where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and develop professionally regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, skillset, thought or other characteristics. In our inclusive and flexible environment everyone can bring their authentic selves to work and their passion for sustainability.

If you are an experienced professional returning to the workforce after a career break, we encourage you to apply for open positions that match your skills and experience.

 

We may use AI-powered tools to support the review and evaluation of applications for this position. These tools provide additional insights to our recruitment teams, but all hiring decisions are carefully reviewed and made by people. To learn more about how we use AI in recruitment and how we handle your personal data, please review our Data Privacy Statement before applying.

 

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