HR Business Partner

Peoplecorp; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Peoplecorp is seeking an HR Business Partner for a 6-month fixed-term contract based in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs with a hybrid model (3 days in the office). You will partner with branch managers nationwide across the full employee lifecycle, focusing on advisory support, performance and conduct matters, and ensuring procedural fairness.

You will engage in drafting ER correspondence, interpreting awards and contracts, and supporting upcoming HRIS and payroll implementations, along with a

Qualifications

• 4–5 years of generalist HR experience.
• Knowledge of employment legislation and procedural fairness.
• Ability to coach managers through performance and ER matters.
• Ability to read and interpret modern awards; retail award experience beneficial but not essential.
• Self-starter who can manage priorities with little supervision.
• Willingness to travel to sites across Victoria.

Responsibilities

• Provide advisory support to branch managers and staff; manage a shared HR inbox.
• Coach managers through performance management and ER matters.
• Ensure procedural fairness is followed in processes and investigations.
• Draft ER correspondence and interpret awards and contracts.
• Travel to Victorian branches for in-person meetings; support recruitment and onboarding when needed.
• Contribute to HRIS and payroll implementation, recognition programme, and branch manager development programme.

Skills

Generalist HR experience

Stakeholder management

Employment legislation knowledge

Coaching managers

Tools

HRIS

Payroll software

Job description

THE ORGANISATION

Our client is a well‑established, family‑owned national business with a large branch network across Australia and a strong presence in Victoria. It has a stable workforce and some of the longest staff tenure you’ll find anywhere. It is now in a growth phase, with expansion into new states planned. The business is investing in its People & Culture function to build stronger frameworks as it grows. The head office culture is relaxed and collaborative, with little hierarchy, quick decisions and a strong focus on training and development.

THE ROLE

Reporting to the People & Culture Manager, this newly created HR Business Partner role is a 6-month fixed‑term contract with an immediate start. It is based in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs with hybrid working (3 days in the office). You’ll join a small, hands‑on team and partner with branch managers nationally across the full employee lifecycle. Your main focus will be advisory: managing a shared HR inbox, coaching managers through performance management and conduct matters, making sure procedural fairness is followed, drafting ER correspondence, and interpreting awards and employment contracts. ER matters are mostly low to medium risk, with senior support on complex cases. The role includes regular travel to Victorian branches for in‑person meetings, and you may occasionally cover recruitment and onboarding. There’s plenty to get involved in, including an upcoming HRIS and payroll implementation, a new recognition programme, a branch manager development programme, and policy and wellbeing initiatives.

THE CRITERIA

To be successful in this role, you will have around 4–5 years of generalist HR experience. You might be an experienced HR Advisor ready for your first Business Partner role, or a Business Partner looking for broad, hands‑on exposure. You’ll need strong knowledge of employment legislation and procedural fairness, confidence coaching managers through performance and ER matters, and the ability to read and interpret modern awards (retail award experience is beneficial but not essential). You’ll be a self‑starter who manages your own priorities without close supervision, a genuine team player who’s happy to roll up your sleeves, and comfortable travelling to sites across Victoria. Immediate or short‑notice availability is highly regarded.

At Peoplecorp, we are dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in every recruitment process. We believe that a rich variety of perspectives drives innovation and success. We actively seek candidates from all backgrounds and encourage individuals of all races, genders, abilities, and experiences to apply.