About us

Pollination Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that puts humanity at the heart of climate and nature solutions.

We are part of the climate change investment, advisory and legal firm Pollination, which works with corporates and governments to accelerate towards net zero.

At the Foundation, we partner with Indigenous and local communities on projects that bring people to the heart, to navigate our pathway to a climate resilient, nature positive future. We invest time and secure the resources needed to develop strong and long-lasting partnerships that can effect real intergenerational change.

We live and breathe our values: catalytic collaboration, courageous creativity, diverse perspectives and thoughtful transformation. Along with the climate smarts we bring, we always act with integrity, empathy and compassion.

Through ReefTO, we are supporting Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef to develop community-led and Country-centred solutions. The successful scaling and people-management of the ReefTO team will form a large part of your role and we’re currently in recruitment phase to fill multiple remote positions across Queensland. Most, if not all, of these roles will be filled by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with a preference for Reef Traditional Owners. Find out more about how we’re working together here.

The role

We are looking for a part-time People and Culture Manager to join the team on a Fixed Term Contract until 31 December 2026.

The role will be 4 days per week and ideally based in Brisbane or Melbourne. If you’re in one of these two cities (where much of our team is based), the role will be hybrid; if you're elsewhere in Australia, we're open to a fully remote arrangement.

In essence, you’ll be leading all things HR across the Foundation (and in particular ReefTO), throughout the employee lifecycle from recruitment through to exit interviews, via onboarding, performance management, goal-setting and incentives, culture initiatives, coaching, training etc.

It’ll be both a strategic and hands-on role, supported by the P&C team at Pollination. You’ll be collaborating with internal and partner stakeholders to deliver the best employee experience as well as resolving workplace issues, ensuring legislative compliance and overall building a high performing and happy team.

You’ll get to flex your relationship-building, organisational and communication muscles, work with a team of passionate like-minded people and be an integral part of building something really special. Plus, you’ll learn so much - you’ll be working directly to the Co-CEO, managing P&C across a remote team of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, playing your part to strengthen stewardship of the Great Barrier Reef via the self-determination of Traditional Owners, and working to grow and develop the team at Pollination Foundation. This is a career-defining role for the right person, and we can’t wait to have you on board.

Key responsibilities include

• Champion a culturally safe, inclusive, and positive workplace culture.
• Drive recruitment, onboarding, and retention to attract and retain diverse talent across remote locations in Australia (particularly in Queensland for ReefTO).
• Provide expert guidance on employee relations, performance management, and workplace practices.
• Lead performance management and reviews across the team.
• Manage employment changes thoughtfully and ensure compliance with employment laws.
• Develop training and coaching programs after helping to identify any skills gaps across the team.
• Oversee salary benchmarking, benefits, and compensation planning, ensuring fairness and market competitiveness.
• Effectively communicate HR frameworks and policies across the organisation.

What do you need to apply?

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least 5+ years of experience in an HR Generalist role managing the entire employee lifecycle including recruitment and performance management.
• We’d love someone who has worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and/or organisations and has developed a confidently high level of cultural competency.
• Strong program management capability with experience designing, launching, and scaling people processes/programs.
• Strong facilitation skills and the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and in-person (including virtual!) – we’re looking for someone really personable and discreet with a high EQ, attention-to-detail and who is super organised.
• Experience using applicant tracking and employee software such as Bamboo HR.
• Bonus points if you’ve worked in a NFP and/or have managed teams that work remotely.

You’ll love this role if:

You’re a curious and ambitious HR generalist who is passionate about the environment and supporting the leadership and self-determination of Indigenous communities at the same time as creating our own high performing yet empathetic culture.

How to apply

Please apply by submitting a cover letter addressing the above (1 page maximum) and CV (maximum 2 pages) via the "Apply Now" button.

We warmly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

You must live in and hold the right to work in Australia.

Applying with Pollination Foundation

Pollination is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application. We will then work with you to identify the best way to assist you through the recruitment process.