"Principal Consultant, HR Client Partnering"

Job Description:

• Human Resources
• Full-time, fixed-term positions from 6 months to 12 months
• Base salary will be in the range $102,565 - $111,686 + 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 7)
• Based at our St Lucia location

About This Opportunity

Locally known as Principal Consultant, HR Client Partnering our role has a focus on the entire employee lifecycle including job design and classification, employee relations, case management and staff wellbeing and development. You will take the lead on workforce analytics by providing insights to support workforce planning conversations and work closely with other areas of HR (Talent Acquisition, Workplace Relations, Learning & Development) in one of Queensland’s largest HR functions.

You will be aligned to a group of clients while working as one team to deliver exciting university-wide people priorities.

We have multiple fixed term opportunities from 6 months up to 12 months duration.

Key responsibilities will include:

• HR Service Delivery & Client Partnership – Partner with HR and business leaders to deliver an effective service model, proactively resolving issues and ensuring timely, compliant outcomes.
• Job Design, Classification & Workforce Planning – Provide specialist advice and training on job design, classification, and alignment with workforce plans, legislation and enterprise agreements.
• Employee Relations & Case Management – Manage low–medium complexity ER matters including grievances, investigations, misconduct, union consultation, dispute resolution and documentation.
• Performance, Development & Wellbeing – Support managers to address performance concerns, probation management, medical conditions affecting performance, and deliver development workshops and coaching.
• Organisational Analytics & Policy Assurance – Lead HR data analytics, reporting and audits, share insights and trends, ensure data integrity, and provide policy interpretation and compliance assurance.
• Employment Lifecycle & Separations – Provide advisory support across promotions and confirmations (LCPC) and manage voluntary and involuntary separations, including entitlements and separation packages.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world. Everyone here has a role to play. As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you will have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.

Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:

• Up to 26 weeks paid parental leave/paid primary care leave
• 17% superannuation contributions + 17.5% annual leave loading
• Access to flexible working arrangements including hybrid working options and flexible start/finish times
• Health and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family
• Career development opportunities –access to exclusive internal-only vacancies and our Study for Staff program
• On campus childcare options
• Salary packaging options

About You

We are looking for a confident HR advisory professional, who has worked in complex stakeholder and policy heavy environments. Someone who has the drive and passion to stay informed of contemporary HR trends, methodologies, and best practices, and apply this knowledge to drive innovative and effective HR solutions.

• You may have degree qualifications in HR, Business, Psychology or a related field and/or up to 4 years professional relevant experience in HR and on the job training.
• You will have strong interpersonal communication skills with the proven ability to engage across the employee cohort up to Executive level.
• You will be proficient in using HR systems and technologies to support workforce planning and reporting; and the ability to prepare and present that data to support insights and decision making.
• Experience in performance management and disciplinary matters with the desire to develop further expertise.
• You have the knowledge and autonomy to work independently but the capacity to work within a close team. Sharing, contributing and applying structured problem-solving approaches and good judgement to analyse, manage and resolve a diverse range of sensitive HR issues.

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of relevant pre-employment checks, which may include verification of the right to work in Australia and a criminal history check. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements.

You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.

Questions?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Jacquii Nicholls (Senior Manager, HR Client Partnering) at jacquii.nicholls@uq.edu.au

For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.

Want to Apply?

We welcome applications from all individuals and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. To be considered, please ensure you upload:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Please note that applications will be reviewed as received with interviews scheduled as soon as possible in January 2026.

Our strength as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent, particularly from Australia’s First Nations Peoples. If you require an alternative method to submit your application due to accessibility needs or personal circumstances, please contact talent@uq.edu.au.

Other Information

UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.

Applications close Sunday 11 January 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-60025)