HR Manager

Tandem Partners; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Tandem Partners partners with a well-established Australian manufacturing business to seek an HR Manager who can balance strategic initiatives with hands-on workforce support. You’ll work across Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Technical functions for a ~300-employee site, shaping culture, capability and operational performance.

You'll lead industrial relations, change initiatives and succession planning, coaching leaders, and acting as a visible HR presence on the frontline workforce, partnering

Qualifications

• Experience leading HR in manufacturing/FMCG or industrial environments.
• Deep expertise in employee and industrial relations.

Responsibilities

• Partner with operational leaders to drive performance, capability and engagement.
• Lead employee and industrial relations matters, including enterprise agreement interpretation, union engagement and workplace investigations.
• Support organisational change, workforce planning and succession initiatives.
• Coach and develop leaders to build stronger people capability.
• Influence workforce strategies that support both operational and business outcomes.
• Be a visible, trusted HR presence across a large frontline workforce.

Skills

HR leadership

Industrial relations

Union experience

Stakeholder influence

Operational HR

Job description

We're partnering with a well-established Australian manufacturing business with a proud heritage, strong market position and an ongoing commitment to investing in its people, products and operations. Employing a large frontline workforce and backed by the scale and resources of a global parent organisation, the business continues to evolve and grow while maintaining a practical, people-first culture.

As HR Manager, you'll partner with leaders across Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Technical functions, supporting approximately 300 employees and contractors within a fast-paced operational environment. You'll be a key member of the site leadership team, balancing strategic HR initiatives with hands‑on coaching, problem solving and workforce support.

What you’ll be doing

• Partnering closely with operational leaders to drive performance, capability and engagement
• Leading employee and industrial relations matters, including enterprise agreement interpretation, union engagement and workplace investigations
• Supporting organisational change, workforce planning and succession initiatives
• Coaching and developing leaders to build stronger people capability
• Influencing workforce strategies that support both operational and business outcomes
• Being a visible, trusted HR presence across a large frontline workforce

We're partnering with a well-established Australian manufacturing business with a proud heritage, strong market position and an ongoing commitment to investing in its people, products and operations. Employing a large frontline workforce and backed by the scale and resources of a global parent organisation, the business continues to evolve and grow while maintaining a practical, people-first culture.

As HR Manager, you'll partner with leaders across Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Technical functions, supporting approximately 300 employees and contractors within a fast-paced operational environment. You'll be a key member of the site leadership team, balancing strategic HR initiatives with hands‑on coaching, problem solving and workforce support.

What you’ll be doing

• Partnering closely with operational leaders to drive performance, capability and engagement
• Leading employee and industrial relations matters, including enterprise agreement interpretation, union engagement and workplace investigations
• Supporting organisational change, workforce planning and succession initiatives
• Coaching and developing leaders to build stronger people capability
• Influencing workforce strategies that support both operational and business outcomes
• Being a visible, trusted HR presence across a large frontline workforce

About you

You are likely an experienced HR Manager or a Senior HR Business Partner who enjoys being close to the operation and partnering directly with leaders to solve complex people challenges.

You’ll bring:

• Strong HR leadership experience within manufacturing, FMCG, supply chain, logistics or another industrial environment
• Deep employee and industrial relations expertise
• Experience working within unionised workforces and interpreting enterprise agreements
• A practical, commercially minded approach and the confidence to influence senior stakeholders
• The ability to build credibility across both the leadership team and frontline workforce
• Resilience, pragmatism and a genuine passion for operational HR

Why this opportunity?

• Join a recognised market-leading organisation with an established Australian footprint
• Play a highly visible leadership role supporting a large operational workforce
• Partner with experienced operational leaders who value HR as a strategic contributor
• Balance strategic initiatives with meaningful day‑to‑day impact

If you're looking for an opportunity where you can influence culture, capability and operational performance while remaining connected to the workforce, we'd love to hear from you.