HR Specialist - Ballarat

McCain Foods; Ballarat; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

McCain Foods Ballarat is looking for an HR Specialist to provide hands-on, site-based HR support across key people processes at our Ballarat plant. You will work closely with leaders and staff to deliver employee experience, lifecycle activities, and culture initiatives.

This on-site role connects with the broader HR Specialist community, supporting onboarding, relationships, and HR systems while contributing to McCain’s Winning Culture strategy and regional HR frameworks.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years’ experience in an HR Generalist or similar HR role.
• Tertiary qualification in Human Resources or related field (preferred).
• Sound understanding of employment legislation, policies, and HR practices.
• Experience supporting employee relations and lifecycle activities.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Confidence working with HR systems and digital tools.
• Strong attention to detail with a practical, solutions-focused mindset.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leaders to manage employee relations matters, including investigations and actions.
• Support labour relations and employee relations activities in line with local legislation and policies.
• Deliver end-to-end recruitment and onboarding in partnership with Talent Acquisition.
• Coordinate and execute effective onboarding experiences for new team members.
• Manage in-scope employee lifecycle activities, including separations.
• Administer leave of absence processes with HR systems.
• Support employee engagement, wellbeing, and retention initiatives at site level.
• Share insights and trends with stakeholders to improve HR service delivery.
• Promote adoption of HR systems and self-service tools within the HR operating model.
• Contribute to HR programs, projects, and initiatives that strengthen McCain’s culture.

Skills

HR Generalist experience

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

HR systems

Attention to detail

Education

HR qualification

Tools

HR software

Job description

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and interested in helping each other create good work experiences. We think about the customer and make doing business with McCain easy.

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and interested in helping each other create good work experiences. We think about the customer and make doing business with McCain easy.

About the role.

As HR Specialist, you will provide hands‑on, site‑based HR support across key people processes at our Ballarat plant. Working closely with leaders and employees, this role supports employee experience, talent processes, employee relations, and lifecycle activities while contributing to McCain’s Winning Culture strategy.

This is an on‑site role and forms part of the local plant HR team, with strong connection to the broader HR Specialist community of practice.

What you’ll be doing.

• Partner with leaders and employees to manage employee relations matters, including investigations, corrective actions, and appeals
• Support labour relations and employee relations activities aligned with local legislation and McCain policies
• Deliver end‑to‑end support for high‑volume recruitment and internal hiring processes in partnership with Talent Acquisition
• Coordinate and execute effective onboarding experiences for new team members
• Manage in‑scope employee lifecycle activities, including voluntary and involuntary separations
• Administer employee leave of absence processes, working closely with external vendors and HR systems
• Support employee engagement, wellbeing, and retention initiatives at site level
• Share insights and trends with stakeholders to improve HR service delivery
• Promote adoption of HR systems and self‑service tools in line with the HR operating model
• Contribute to HR programs, projects, and initiatives that strengthen McCain’s culture

What you’ll need to be successful.

• 1–3 years’ experience in an HR Generalist or similar HR role
• Tertiary qualification in Human Resources or a related field (preferred)
• Sound understanding of employment legislation, policies, and HR practicesl
• Experience supporting employee relations and lifecycle activities
• Strong relationship‑building, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Confidence working with HR systems and digital tools
• Strong attention to detail with a practical, solutions‑focused mindset.

About the team.

You’ll be part of the plant‑based HR team, supporting operational leaders and employees while collaborating closely with the HR Business Partner, Service Delivery teams, and the wider HR community. This role plays an important part in delivering consistent, people‑focused HR support locally while aligning to regional and global HR frameworks.

About McCain.

Visit www.mccain.com.au/about-us/our-purpose-values to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.

Leadership principles.

At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

AI & Digital Capabilities.

At McCain, AI and digital capabilities are part of how we work and innovate. We value curiosity toward emerging technologies and the thoughtful, responsible use of AI‑enabled tools to improve outcomes as part of our future‑ready culture.

The McCain experience.

We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we’re better together.