Capability Partner (People Business Partner)

Octopus Energy; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexibility and trust

Coaching and mentorship

Values-driven team

Job summary

A leading technology company based in Melbourne is looking for a PeopleOps Lead to support teams across Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. This strategic role will involve providing tools and support to managers, guiding performance conversations, and driving PeopleOps initiatives. The ideal candidate has experience in APAC people practices and strong communication skills. Flexible work environment with a focus on employee well-being.

Qualifications

• Experience as a senior practitioner in the People space focused on APAC.
• Strong knowledge of employment practices and labor laws in Australia and New Zealand.
• Excellent communication and coaching skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide managers with tools and support to lead their teams.
• Help teams navigate performance conversations and growth opportunities.
• Drive People Strategy and prioritize PeopleOps initiatives.

Skills

Coaching

Communication

Problem-solving

Cultural awareness

Job description

Overview

Capability Partner (People Business Partner) with Kraken. We are a technology company focused on creating a smart, sustainable energy system, supporting renewable generation, intelligent grids, and excellent customer experiences. We are seeking a PeopleOps Lead to support our teams across Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, helping managers build strong teams, enable growth and development, and deliver a consistent, high-quality employee experience. This is a strategic and hands-on role that works with our global PeopleOps team and local leaders to ensure our people feel supported, empowered, and connected across geographies and cultures.

What you’ll be doing

• Provide managers with tools, resources, and support to lead their teams with confidence.
• Help teams navigate performance conversations, growth opportunities, and, when needed, tough decisions or uncomfortable topics—always with empathy and fairness.
• Work closely with global career development and performance frameworks to ensure they apply and are utilised in a local context.
• Leading Mobility and Cross-Team Movement: ensure employees have a great experience when relocating, going on secondments, or moving between teams and countries; act as the go-to facilitator for mobility questions and cross-border coordination in APAC.
• Driving People Strategy: prioritise and roll out PeopleOps initiatives with global Ops and regional leaders; use data, insights, and feedback to shape approaches to performance, engagement, and team development.
• Coaching and Team Design: coach leaders through team changes, organisational planning, and leadership challenges; support mediation and conflict resolution to build stronger, healthier teams; collaborate with L&D to shape learning programs based on field insights; monitor wellbeing, engagement, and team health, and take action through managers and leaders; help build inclusive, people-first practices aligned with global values.
• Lead or support initiatives that build belonging and bring our culture to life across remote and hybrid teams; participate in global PeopleOps initiatives and support integration when new teams or businesses join Kraken; represent our brand in external people-focused events or partnerships in the region.

Qualifications

• Experience as a senior practitioner in the People space with a strong focus on the APAC region (especially Australia and New Zealand).
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with doing, and strong knowledge of employment practices and labor laws in Australia and New Zealand (Japan experience preferable).
• Strong communicator who regularly reports to and updates the People and Capability team globally.
• Excellent coaching, listening, and problem-solving skills, especially in tricky situations.
• Comfort working across cultures and time zones in a fast-paced, remote-first environment with autonomy.

Why you’ll love working here

• Impact from day one: shape the experience of our teams across three dynamic markets.
• Values-driven team: focus on people, inclusion, and a workplace where everyone can thrive.
• Flexibility and trust: results-focused with emphasis on work-life balance.
• Growth and connection: coaching, mentorship, and global collaboration with opportunities to influence and support our people.

Kraken is a certified Great Place to Work in several regions and has strong external recognition. If you have accommodations or interview preferences, contact us to discuss options.