HR Business Partner

About the opportunity

This is the senior HR seat for a manufacturing business in Victoria. You will be the HR Lead for the whole division, based on site at the factory and partnering both the plant leadership team and the head office teams that sit within the business.

It is a genuine end-to-end HR Business Partner role. People strategy, performance, industrial relations, payroll oversight, compliance and culture all sit with you. You report to the Head of Human Resources for ANZ and have one direct report, a Payroll and Training Officer. If you are an HRBP, HR Manager or senior HR Advisor who wants to own a site rather than support one from a distance, this is the role.

Full-time, permanent. Candidates already living in Shepparton, Kyabram, Echuca, Benalla or the wider Goulburn Valley are well placed, and relocation to regional Victoria is worth a conversation for the right person.

About the company

Our client runs a key manufacturing site for its Australian and New Zealand operating under a site Enterprise Agreement with an active union presence and a long-term Factory Master Plan behind it.

The wider organisation runs on clear behaviours: care deeply, focus on what counts, stay three steps ahead, and deliver with excellence. That translates into an HR function that is expected to set priorities, deliver them to conclusion and be measured on outcomes.

Day in the life

No two weeks look the same on a manufacturing site, but the core of the role breaks down like this.

Strategy and partnering

• Partner with Foods leadership to build a high-performance culture across the factory and head office teams.
• Design and deliver the HR priorities for the site, aligned to the Factory Master Plan and global HR initiatives.
• Deliver HR processes, policies and projects that fit the site's business goals.

Performance and HR operations

• Validate workforce metrics and data for the Foods business.
• Run recruitment and onboarding activity for the site.
• Coach leaders on performance, feedback and continuous improvement.
• Provide day-to-day HR support to leaders and employees across the business.

Industrial relations and compliance

• Manage complex workplace matters including grievances, investigations and disciplinary processes.
• Facilitate site Enterprise Agreement negotiations and act as the key liaison with union representatives.
• Advise on the interpretation and application of the EA, Fair Work legislation, EEO requirements, employment contracts and site policies.
• Build open, trust-based relationships with union and employee representatives so issues get resolved early.
• Support audits and monitor legal compliance across the site.

Payroll, systems and compliance

• Oversee end-to-end payroll accuracy for EBA employees, including audits of pay classifications, back pay and allowances.
• Support compliance with global HR requirements.

Engagement and wellbeing

• Own the training budget and structured training programme.
• Own the health and wellbeing budget and the activities that sit under it.
• Coordinate wellbeing campaigns, recognition events and engagement initiatives.

What you will bring

• Solid HR generalist or HR Business Partner experience, ideally as the senior HR person on a site.
• Experience working in a factory, plant or manufacturing environment with a unionised workforce.
• Hands-on Enterprise Agreement experience: interpretation day to day, and ideally negotiation.
• A strong working knowledge of Fair Work legislation, EEO and employment compliance in Australia.
• Confidence managing grievances, investigations and disciplinary matters with fairness and rigour.
• Comfort with payroll oversight for EBA employees, including classifications and allowances.
• Clear, plain communication with everyone from the production floor to the ANZ leadership team.
• The ability to work on site in Tatura, VIC, full time.

Nice to have

• Tertiary qualifications in human resources or a related field.
• FMCG, food manufacturing or consumer goods sector experience.
• Experience leading or mentoring a small HR or payroll team.
• Exposure to global HR systems and reporting in a multinational environment.
• Experience running training or wellbeing programmes and budgets.

What is on offer

• Full-time permanent position, on site in regional Victoria.
• The senior HR role for a whole business division, reporting to the Head of Human Resources ANZ.
• One direct report and ownership of the training and wellbeing budgets.
• A site with real industrial relations work: a live Enterprise Agreement, union engagement and a Factory Master Plan to deliver against.
• The backing of a global consumer goods group, with the autonomy of a regional site.

FAQ

What is the salary for this HR Business Partner role in Tatura? The salary range is competitive base plus superannuation, depending on experience. Civitas Talent will discuss where you sit in the range during the first conversation.

Is this HR Business Partner job hybrid or on site? It is an on-site role at the Tatura factory. The role partners the production teams directly, so being present on site is part of the job. Occasional flexibility can be discussed with the hiring manager.

Do I need a degree to apply for this HR role? Tertiary qualifications in HR or a related field are desirable rather than mandatory. Hands-on experience in a unionised manufacturing environment carries more weight than the qualification.

Is this a permanent or contract HR role? It is a full-time permanent position.

Where is the role based? Regional Vic in hepparton and roughly two hours from Melbourne. Candidates from the wider region are ideal, and relocation can be discussed for strong candidates.

How do I apply for this HR Business Partner job? Apply through this page or contact Shane O'Neill at Civitas Talent directly. Every application is reviewed by a specialist HR recruiter, not a system.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply now via the link on this page, or contact Shane O'Neill, Director of HR and HSE Recruitment at Civitas Talent, for a confidential conversation.

Email: shane@civitastalent.com Phone: 0420 736 144

Civitas Talent is a specialist HR and HSE recruitment firm operating across Australia and New Zealand. All applications are treated in strict confidence.