People and Culture Lead

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR professional to progress their career in an established New Zealand design practice.

The role will be responsible for a number of key staff, studio, and HR processes, and contributing the broader People, Culture & Environment Committee to deliver high quality HR advice and services to support the business.

You will have a genuine passion for people, significant understanding of the wellbeing requirements of staff, and the experience and dedication to help create and deliver great employee experiences. 

In particular, you will

• Be the first point of contact for employees with HR-related queries
• Provide HR support and direction for the CEO, Commercial Support team, and Chow:Hill’s People, Culture & Environment Committee
• Manage key processes, including the probationary, long service, and employee exit processes
• Collaborate with the Commercial Support team by drafting employment documentation, updating policies, and attending relevant meetings
• Support annual projects, for example, career conversations, salary reviews, team training and wellness initiatives
• Support the ongoing implementation of initiatives promoting agile working processes, for both the company and individuals
• Actively seek out opportunities to optimise systems and processes to enhance staff engagement and team wellbeing and create efficiencies in the way that we     work – enabling a positive one-studio approach while supporting the distinctive culture and vibe of each. 

To ensure the success of this role, you must have

Exceptional communication skills. These are critical to the success of this role. You must also be able to demonstrate your ability to have courageous conversations across all areas of the business and the ability to listen with a neutral perspective. You will know when to ask questions and, just as importantly, when to listen.

We would also like you to have

• An ability to engage effectively with staff of all levels and experience
• 7-10 years of experience working in HR, employee training or people and culture roles
• A good level of resilience, an empathetic nature and demonstrable compassion of others
• An understanding and awareness of the wellbeing requirements of different cultures within our team
• Strong organisational skills and a willingness to embrace challenges head-on
• An understanding of the challenges our post-pandemic world has placed on employees and company cultures, and ideas and initiatives to support staff in their     adjustment to a ‘new norm’
• A solution-focused approach to problem-solving
• A proactive, positive approach and “can do” attitude
• An ability to think outside the square and work effectively within a fast-paced changing environment
• Advanced computer skills, MS Word and Excel
• Competence in Teams Comms and Engagement Tools such as MS Teams, Survey Monkey etc
• A desire to utilise technology to improve efficiency and user experience
• A willingness to travel regularly between our three studios to support positive studio connectivity.

You must also exhibit trustworthiness and discretion, and an awareness of the importance of confidentiality within the role. You must be confident in knowing how to achieve successful outcomes in challenging situations.

Ideally,your background and experience will include

• Strong communication skills (verbal and written)
• Extensive administration experience, preferably within a fast-paced dynamic human resource and recruitment environment
• Experience supporting and interacting with people from all cultural backgrounds and levels of seniority
• Demonstrated time management skills, with the ability to remain calm under pressure and manage numerous tasks throughout the day
• Strong attention-to-detail
• Excellent relationship skills
• Previous experience creating and administering documents
• Experience using the Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel
• Relevant tertiary study in HR, business or commerce is preferred but not essential