Posted 24 August, 2026
Manager - People & Culture
About The Company
We’re one of Australia’s leading coal producers and we’re proud of it. Coal is in our DNA and our work is critical for people, industries and communities both here in Australia and overseas.
ASX listed, we operate six mines across NSW and QLD, producing metallurgical coal that’s critical for steelmaking and thermal coal that will support the world’s energy security as we move through the energy transition.
Whitehaven Coal is poised for continued growth through the optimisation of existing assets and the assessment of future acquisition opportunities. Our people, values and performance culture underpin our success.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Manager - People & Culture to join our team at Vickery Mine, located 25km north of Gunnedah NSW. Reporting to the General Manager Vickery, this newly created leadership role has been established to support the increasing complexity of the site's people portfolio and to ensure a strategic, forward looking approach to workforce management, industrial relations and organisational capability.
As a critical member of the site leadership team, you will provide expert leadership across all aspects of People & Culture. This includes supporting operational growth, leading enterprise agreement negotiations, managing industrial and employee relations matters and ensuring alignment with Whitehaven's broader workforce and culture strategies.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape the people strategy for one of Whitehaven's key growth operations and play a significant role in building organisational capability, workforce readiness and leadership effectiveness.
What You’ll Do
• Lead the development and execution of the People & Culture strategy for Vickery Mine, aligned to operational objectives and Whitehaven's broader business strategy.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the General Manager and site leadership team on workforce planning, organisational design, change management and leadership capability.
• Lead industrial and employee relations matters, ensuring compliance and positive workforce outcomes.
• Provide strategic leadership for Enterprise Agreement negotiations and implementation.
• Support workforce aspects associated with future operational growth.
• Partner with corporate People & Culture teams to implement group-wide initiatives and ensure consistency of practices across the business.
• Drive culture, engagement, diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Lead talent management, succession planning and workforce capability strategies to support short and long-term operational requirements.
• Coach and develop leaders in performance management, employee engagement and leadership effectiveness.
• Monitor legislative, industrial and workplace developments, ensuring the site remains compliant and proactive in responding to emerging issues.
• Champion Whitehaven's STRIVE values and contribute to a safe, inclusive and high-performance culture.
What You'll Bring
• Degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations or a related discipline.
• Significant senior HR leadership experience within mining or heavy industry environments.
• Deep expertise in industrial and employee relations, including Enterprise Agreement negotiations and implementation.
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment legislation and industrial frameworks.
• Demonstrated capability in leading workforce planning, organisational change, leadership development and culture initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation skills.
Why Whitehaven
• Senior leadership opportunity in a growing ASX listed company
• Newly created role within expanding operation
• Attractive remuneration and industry leading incentive plans
We’re one of Australia’s leading coal producers and we’re proud of it. Coal is in our DNA and our work is critical for people, industries and communities both here in Australia and overseas.
ASX listed, we operate six mines across NSW and QLD, producing metallurgical coal that’s critical for steelmaking and thermal coal that will support the world’s energy security as we move through the energy transition.
Whitehaven Coal is poised for continued growth through the optimisation of existing assets and the assessment of future acquisition opportunities. Our people, values and performance culture underpin our success.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Manager - People & Culture to join our team at Vickery Mine, located 25km north of Gunnedah NSW. Reporting to the General Manager Vickery, this newly created leadership role has been established to support the increasing complexity of the site's people portfolio and to ensure a strategic, forward looking approach to workforce management, industrial relations and organisational capability.
As a critical member of the site leadership team, you will provide expert leadership across all aspects of People & Culture. This includes supporting operational growth, leading enterprise agreement negotiations, managing industrial and employee relations matters and ensuring alignment with Whitehaven's broader workforce and culture strategies.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape the people strategy for one of Whitehaven's key growth operations and play a significant role in building organisational capability, workforce readiness and leadership effectiveness.
What You’ll Do
• Lead the development and execution of the People & Culture strategy for Vickery Mine, aligned to operational objectives and Whitehaven's broader business strategy.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the General Manager and site leadership team on workforce planning, organisational design, change management and leadership capability.
• Lead industrial and employee relations matters, ensuring compliance and positive workforce outcomes.
• Provide strategic leadership for Enterprise Agreement negotiations and implementation.
• Support workforce aspects associated with future operational growth.
• Partner with corporate People & Culture teams to implement group-wide initiatives and ensure consistency of practices across the business.
• Drive culture, engagement, diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Lead talent management, succession planning and workforce capability strategies to support short and long-term operational requirements.
• Coach and develop leaders in performance management, employee engagement and leadership effectiveness.
• Monitor legislative, industrial and workplace developments, ensuring the site remains compliant and proactive in responding to emerging issues.
• Champion Whitehaven's STRIVE values and contribute to a safe, inclusive and high-performance culture.
What You'll Bring
• Degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations or a related discipline.
• Significant senior HR leadership experience within mining or heavy industry environments.
• Deep expertise in industrial and employee relations, including Enterprise Agreement negotiations and implementation.
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment legislation and industrial frameworks.
• Demonstrated capability in leading workforce planning, organisational change, leadership development and culture initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation skills.
Why Whitehaven
• Senior leadership opportunity in a growing ASX listed company
• Newly created role within expanding operation
• Attractive remuneration and industry leading incentive plans
