Human Resources Manager

JR Richards & Sons; Newcastle; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

JR Richards & Sons, a leading regional waste and recycling company in NSW, seeks a Human Resources Manager to lead a small HR team and partner with operational leaders to shape workforce capability, engagement, compliance, and performance.

You will manage employee relations, performance, recruitment, workforce planning, policy implementation and workplace investigations, delivering practical, commercially focused people solutions across a blue‑collar workforce.

Qualifications

• Experience leading HR strategy and a small HR team.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and industrial instruments.
• Proven ability in recruitment, performance management and workforce planning.
• Experience delivering policy implementations and workplace investigations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and implement HR strategies that support business objectives and workforce growth.
• Provide coaching and advice to leaders on employee relations, performance management, investigations and workplace matters.
• Partner with managers to strengthen workforce planning, talent attraction and employee retention.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding and succession planning initiatives.
• Drive learning and development programs to enhance workforce capability and leadership effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, industrial instruments and company policies.
• Lead HR projects, process improvements and people-focused initiatives that support business growth.
• Promote a positive, inclusive and high‑performing workplace culture.
• Support employee engagement, wellbeing and retention programs.
• Prepare workforce reporting and provide insights to support key business decisions.

Skills

HR leadership

Employee relations

Recruitment

Performance management

Workforce planning

Policy implementation

Workplace investigations

Coaching managers

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/IR

Job description

JR Richards & Sons is one of Australia's leading regional waste and recycling companies, servicing communities across NSW and Northern Victoria. We're committed to delivering exceptional service while creating rewarding careers for our people.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Chief People, Culture & Safety Officer, the Human Resources Manager will play a key leadership role in shaping and delivering our people strategy across the business. Leading a small HR team, you will partner closely with operational leaders to drive workforce capability, employee engagement, compliance and organisational performance.

In addition to providing strategic HR leadership, you will be actively involved in the day-to-day management of people matters, including employee relations, performance management, recruitment, workforce planning, policy implementation and workplace investigations. You will serve as a trusted advisor to leaders, ensuring practical, commercially focused people solutions that support operational success.

This role offers a rare opportunity to influence both strategic and operational HR outcomes within a large, diverse and predominantly blue-collar workforce, while maintaining hands‑on involvement in the day‑to‑day delivery of HR services across the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and implement HR strategies that support business objectives and workforce growth.
• Provide coaching and advice to leaders on employee relations, performance management, investigations and workplace matters.
• Partner with managers to strengthen workforce planning, talent attraction and employee retention.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding and succession planning initiatives.
• Drive learning and development programs to enhance workforce capability and leadership effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, industrial instruments and company policies.
• Lead HR projects, process improvements and people-focused initiatives that support business growth.
• Promote a positive, inclusive and high‑performing workplace culture.
• Support employee engagement, wellbeing and retention programs.
• Prepare workforce reporting and provide insights to support key business decisions.

Why Join Us?

• Make a genuine impact in a HR leadership role.
• Lead and develop an established HR team.
• Work closely with operational leaders and senior managers to influence business outcomes.
• Enjoy a diverse role that combines strategic planning with hands‑on people leadership.
• Contribute to a culture focused on safety, continuous improvement and employee development.
• Join an organisation that values its people and promotes career growth and professional development.