Senior HR Business Partner – National Healthcare Organisation

Client Profile
National healthcare provider operating across New South Wales and Victoria
2,400 employees across clinical, operational, and corporate functions
Highly regulated workforce environment with ongoing workforce shortages

Role Appointed
Senior HR Business Partner

Context

The organisation was undergoing significant operational expansion, including the opening of new facilities and expansion of clinical service delivery. This growth increased workforce complexity, employee relations activity, and leadership support requirements across operational divisions.

The Senior HR Business Partner role was critical in supporting operational leaders across a workforce exceeding 900 employees within clinical and operational functions.

Challenge

The organisation had attempted to fill the role for over three months using internal recruitment channels and generalist recruitment providers, without securing a suitable appointment.

The primary challenges included:

• Limited availability of experienced HR Business Partners with healthcare workforce experience
  
• Strong competition from adjacent sectors, including aged care and disability services
  
• Requirement for candidates with demonstrated experience supporting complex, multi-site operational environments
  
• High demand for HR Business Partners capable of managing employee relations, workforce change, and operational workforce planning
  

The vacancy was placing increased pressure on the existing HR team and operational leadership, increasing risk across workforce management and employee relations.

Approach

Civitas Talent conducted a targeted search focused on experienced HR Business Partners operating within regulated and operational workforce environments.

The process included:

• Mapping 167 HR Business Partners across healthcare, disability services, and adjacent sectors
  
• Direct engagement with passive HR professionals not actively seeking new roles
  
• Detailed assessment of workforce experience, stakeholder management capability, and employee relations expertise
  
• Advisory support to refine role scope and positioning to maximise candidate engagement
  

Within 14 days, Civitas Talent presented a shortlist of five highly qualified candidates.

Solution Delivered

The successful candidate brought over 11 years of HR experience within healthcare and regulated workforce environments, including responsibility for supporting workforces exceeding 1,200 employees.

The individual demonstrated strong capability across employee relations, workforce planning, and operational stakeholder management.

Measured Impact

Within the first 9 months of appointment:

• Supported workforce growth of 320 employees
  
• Reduced employee relations escalation rates by 23%
  
• Improved resolution time for employee relations matters by 31%
  
• Strengthened leadership confidence in HR support capability
  

Strategic Outcome

The appointment strengthened HR leadership capability across operational divisions, improving workforce stability, leadership support, and organisational performance during a period of significant workforce growth.