Leonardo.Ai is looking for an experienced People &amp; Talent leader to guide our HR function while our Chief People Officer is on parental leave. The contract will run for 11 months (January 2026 - November 2026). You’ll lead a small, high-performing team and partner with the Executive team to support our growth plans, nurture an inclusive culture, and ensure everyone at Leonardo can do their best work.This role is based in Sydney with a hybrid work setup. We spend time together in our waterfront North Sydney office at least once per week. <h2>What you’ll do</h2><ul><li>Lead a team of three across People and Talent Acquisition, giving clear direction, coaching and support.</li><li>Act as a strategic partner and coach to the Executive team and Senior Leadership Team (SLT), offering data‑led insights and trusted advice on people, culture and organisational design.</li><li>Oversee delivery of the headcount plan, ensuring hiring volumes, budgets and delivery timelines stay aligned with our quarterly and annual roadmaps.</li><li>Run our twice-yearly Growth &amp; Impact performance cycle, coordinating calibration, feedback and Exec approvals, resulting in fair and equitable reward outcomes.</li><li>Continually optimise our People tech stack – Hibob (HRIS), Ashby (ATS) and Deel (employer of record) – championing automation and reporting that delivers value to employees and leaders.</li><li>Support compensation, benefits and global mobility for a distributed workforce, partnering with finance on budgeting and forecasting in alignment with Canva’s policies and overall philosophy.</li><li>Measure and iterate on engagement, DEI and retention initiatives, using insights to recommend actionable and results-driven improvements.</li><li>Collaborate with Canva’s People Team as needed to support shared efforts and maintain strong alignment across the two companies.</li></ul><h2>What we’re looking for</h2><ul><li>Proven experience leading People &amp; Talent functions within a technology / SaaS environment.</li><li>Empathetic, inclusive leader with outstanding communication skills; you demonstrate a high degree of ownership and build trust quickly at all levels of seniority.</li><li>Track record of supporting a scaling team through headcount growth delivery and org design.</li><li>Experience as a power user of HR tech – you can configure workflows, extract data and champion adoption. Even better if you have experience working with AI workflows in HR.</li><li>Expertise delivering performance management and compensation programmes.</li><li>Solid grasp of Australian employment law, experience with global EOR arrangements (e.g. Deel) is a plus.</li><li>Analytical and commercial mindset; comfortable turning data into clear narratives and action.</li></ul>Our Culture:<ul><li>Inclusive Culture: We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered. At Leonardo AI, your unique perspectives and experiences are welcomed and essential to our success.</li><li>Flexible Work Environment: We understand the importance of work-life balance. Enjoy the flexibility to work remotely or from our vibrant offices. We have employees all over Australia, ensuring you can thrive personally and professionally.</li><li>Empowering Growth: Your development is our priority. We offer continuous learning opportunities and career growth tailored to your goals. You’ll be encouraged to grow and excel in your career.</li><li>Impactful Work: Join us in shaping the future of AI. Youll work on innovative projects that have a meaningful impact, and your contributions will help drive advancements in AI creativity.</li></ul>Leonardo.Ai Benefits:<ul><li>Impact the future of AI</li><li>Remote and hybrid work options</li><li>6 weeks working abroad</li><li>18 weeks of gender-neutral paid parental leave</li><li>Training and conference expenses</li><li>Fun and engaging company events, both virtual and in-person</li></ul>