Human Resources Business Partner

Mérieux NutriSciences AQ (formerly BVAQ); Melbourne; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nutritional science company is hiring an experienced Human Resources Business Partner in Melbourne. This role focuses on employee and industrial relations, ensuring compliance in a complex, regulated environment. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of HR experience, with strong expertise in ER and IR within unionised settings. This full-time position requires excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Qualifications

• 10+ years HR experience, with significant ER/IR exposure in a unionised, multi-site environment.
• Strong understanding of Australian labour law, Modern Awards, and Fair Work compliance.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).

Responsibilities

• Partner with P&C team and business leaders for strategic HR support.
• Manage employee life cycle administration and compliance.
• Lead recruitment and onboarding programs.

Skills

Employee Relations

Industrial Relations

Stakeholder Engagement

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Education

Degree in HR, IR, Law, or related field

Postgraduate qualification in HR, IR, or Law

Job description

Representing our client MNAQ, we’re hiring an experienced HR Business Partner to lead employee relations and industrial relations in a complex, regulated setting.

Position Title: Human Resources Business Partner

Reports To: HR and Communications Director

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Position Type: Full Time

Role Purpose

The HRBP will partner with the P&C team and business leaders to deliver strategic and operational HR support, ensuring workforce stability, compliance, and cultural alignment across MNAQ’s Victorian laboratory, technical, and operational sites. The role will have a strong emphasis on Employee Relations (ER), Industrial Relations (IR), and operational HR delivery, supporting a highly regulated, multi-site, and unionised environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Workforce Administration & Compliance
  • Manage employee life cycle administration: new hires, transfers, terminations, and contract changes.
  • Oversee staff turnover monitoring, providing analysis and retention recommendations.
  • Coordinate visa and immigration processes for international hires in line with Australian Government requirements.
  • Ensure compliance with Fair Work Act, National Employment Standards (NES), Modern Awards, and Enterprise Agreements.
  • Resolve payroll-related queries and provide required payroll inputs to Payroll Services.
  • Manage remuneration and benefits administration, including superannuation, insurance, and leave entitlements.
  • Prepare and maintain employment agreements, addendum letters, and contract variations.
  • Ensure remuneration and benefits practices are compliant with legislative requirements and company policies.
• HR Systems & Data
  • Manage HRIS and HR tools, ensuring data accuracy and process optimisation.
  • Maintain employee records in compliance with privacy and record-keeping obligations.
  • Prepare and analyse HR reports on workforce trends, turnover, absenteeism, and compliance metrics.
• Recruitment, Onboarding & Workforce Planning
  • Lead recruitment for positions in collaboration with hiring managers.
  • Coordinate onboarding programs to ensure new employees are fully inducted.
  • Support lab transfers and redeployment planning across sites.
  • Assist with the development and maintenance of the workforce plans to meet operational demands.
  • Partner with P&C team and leaders to design development and training plans for individuals and teams.
  • Implement performance review processes, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
• Employee Relations (ER) & Industrial Relations (IR)
  • Conduct investigations into misconduct, grievances, and workplace disputes.
  • Assist with the management of union relationships and act as a key point of contact for local workplace representatives.
  • Support Enterprise Agreement negotiations and manage industrial disputes.
  • Provide advice on IR strategies and legislative changes impacting the business.
  • Partner with HSE team to ensure compliance with WHS legislation and internal safety policies.
  • Support safety training, risk assessments, and incident investigations.
  • Promote health and wellbeing initiatives to maintain workforce engagement.
  • Partner with RTW coordinators regarding work-cover matters.
• Daily Relationship Management
  • Maintain a visible HR presence on site, engaging with staff at all levels.
  • Provide day-to-day guidance to leaders and employees on HR matters.
  • Act as a trusted advisor to business leaders in decision-making.

Key Relationships

• External: Unions, Fair Work Commission, Government Agencies (Immigration, WHS), Employment Lawyers, Recruitment Agencies, Schools and University Industry events.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Degree in HR, IR, Law, or related field
• 10+ years HR experience, with significant ER/IR exposure in a unionised, multi-site environment
• Strong understanding of Australian labour law, Modern Awards, and Fair Work compliance
• Demonstrated success in HR systems and workforce reporting
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).
• Exceptional planning and organisational skills.
• Analytical approach to problem solving.
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to effectively work within a team and independently when required including collaborating with staff and stakeholders at all levels of the business.
• Postgraduate qualification in HR, IR, or Law
• Experience in laboratory, food testing, or regulated technical industries
• Track record in integration or post-merger HR delivery