Lead People Partner

Deputy is a global SaaS remote-first workforce management company with hubs in Sydney, Melbourne, San Francisco and London, plus team members working remotely across the United States. Our platform serves over 1.5 million workers and 375,000 workplaces across 100+ countries. We are backed by top global investors and recently achieved Unicorn status.

At Deputy, we’re improving the world of work, one shift at a time, for 80% of the world’s workforce: hourly workers. These are the dedicated employees who keep our world running – from baristas to nurses, cleaners to delivery drivers, florists to factory workers. Despite their vital role in society, most workplace technology has focused on those workers who sit behind a desk, but at Deputy, we transform the frontline. When businesses use Deputy, their workplaces thrive – the business is more profitable, compliant, and productive, while the workers are more engaged and happier at work.

We're becoming an AI-native company, a commitment that means you'll be empowered (and expected) to use AI tools and thinking in your day-to-day work. You'll have the training, support, and freedom to use AI responsibly and creatively to spark ideas, solve problems faster, and unlock new ways of working.

If you’re passionate about creating solutions that put people first and helping businesses and their teams thrive, join us at Deputy and make an impact where it matters most!

The Role

As a Lead People Partner, you will serve as a key advisor and coach to leaders and people managers within our DEP (Design, Engineering, and Product) and Trust (Legal, Compliance, Security & IT) teams across the APAC, EMEA, and Canada region. You’ll be instrumental in implementing core People programs, guiding performance and engagement initiatives, and helping shape the overall employee experience for some of Deputy’s largest and most dynamic teams.

You’ll play a critical leadership role in driving execution of people strategies, partnering cross-functionally with People Ops, Talent, and Comp & Benefits to build a high care, high-performance, inclusive, and people-first culture.

This role will be joining our Sydney team on a 12-18 month fixed term contract. \n

Responsibilities Act as a strategic business partner to our Chief Legal Officer, Chief Product Officer, and Chief Technology Officer and other DEP and Trust leaders and managers across APAC, EMEA and Canada, offering guidance on org health, performance, development, and engagement. Support people managers in applying performance frameworks (e.g., RAD, Radical Candor), enabled by AI, to build accountability, deliver feedback, and grow talent Lead and support programs including engagement survey action planning, org design changes, internal mobility, and succession planning conversations. Provide day-to-day HR support for team members including coaching, employee relations, performance management, and policy guidance. Collaborate with People team counterparts (Ops, Talent, TA, Comp & Benefits) to launch and embed key people programs in your region/function. Serve as the frontline owner for key initiatives across the employee lifecycle, from onboarding through offboarding, ensuring consistency and alignment with company business objectives and values. Analyse people data to spot trends and make recommendations that strengthen team performance and engagement. Partner closely with leadership on organisational planning, change management, talent acquisition and team effectiveness discussions. Advocate for inclusion, trust, and team belonging through role modelling and thoughtful program delivery. Identify repetitive and manual HR tasks suitable for automation. Contribute to the integration of AI-powered solutions to streamline areas like employee query resolution, document generation, and initial talent screening. Prompt Engineering & Optimisation: Design effective 'prompts' and instructions for generative AI tools used within HR workflows, ensuring accuracy and compliance.

Skills & Experience 5–8 years of experience as an HR Business Partner or People Partner in a fast-paced, high-growth environment (preferably SaaS or tech). Strong background supporting DEP (Design, Engineering and Product) teams, including with strategic talent acquisition would be highly regarded. Skilled in coaching managers, navigating complex people issues, and guiding strategic organisational change. Confident in giving and receiving direct, compassionate feedback and operating with discretion. Strong knowledge of AU employment law; global experience (US, Canada, and UK experience is a plus). Effective communicator who can influence at all levels and thrive in a collaborative, global team. Proficient with modern HR systems and tools (Rippling, Lattice, Lever preferred). A people-first mindset combined with strong business acumen and curiosity. AI fluency to identify and implement daily process efficiencies and bring data-informed, innovative ideas to the team for strategic advancement.

\n Employee Perks

• Enjoy a flexible remote-first work policy (with a work-from-home stipend to set you up for success!)
• Own A piece of Deputy via our Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Take paid parental leave to support you and your family
• Stay protected with Group Salary Continuance Insurance
• Access support through our Employee Assistance Program
• Enjoy additional leave days — including study assistance, celebration days and volunteering
• Join our global working groups focused on collaboration, belonging and connection
• Get creative at our annual Hackathons
• Take advantage of our novated leasing for electric vehicles, internet reimbursement and more!
• Deputy believes in equal opportunity and that inclusiveness and diversity promotes innovation. Our global team members are from a variety of cultures. And we welcome different perspective and skills.

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