Human Resources Manager

Buttercups Childcare; Western Australia; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Buttercups Childcare, a leading Western Australian childcare provider, seeks an experienced Human Resources Manager to lead the HR function across our network of centres. You will own the full employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding through to employee relations, payroll, performance, capability and exit, with a focus on compliant, scalable people processes.

You will combine industrial relations expertise with a process mindset to map how things work, identify gaps, and implement

Qualifications

• A tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Business or a related field.
• 5+ years' generalist HR experience, including at least 2 years in an HR Manager or senior HR role leading a team.
• Strong knowledge of the Fair Work Act, National Employment Standards and Modern Awards; early childhood award experience is highly regarded.
• Proven experience managing complex employee relations, investigations and performance matters through to resolution.
• A demonstrated track record of designing, mapping and improving end-to-end HR processes and systems, with measurable outcomes.
• Working knowledge of WHS, injury management and workers' compensation.
• Advanced HRIS, Excel and reporting skills, and confidence using data to inform decisions.
• Excellent communication, influencing, coaching and project management skills, with sound judgement and discretion.
• A National Police Clearance and Working with Children Check (or the ability to obtain them).

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the HR team, setting priorities and ensuring consistent, high-quality service across all centres.
• Translate people strategy into an annual HR plan and deliver HR projects on time and within scope.
• Oversee payroll coordination, remuneration and award compliance.
• Map and redesign HR processes across the employee lifecycle to remove duplication and build consistency.
• Optimise our HRIS and related systems to automate workflows and improve data quality.
• Establish HR metrics and reporting that give leaders clear workforce insights.
• Advise and coach leaders on employee relations, performance management, grievances and terminations.
• Manage complex cases end to end, including investigations, redundancies and Fair Work matters.
• Interpret awards and legislation, and address the root causes of recurring issues.
• Lead end-to-end recruitment and onboarding, ensuring childcare-specific compliance requirements are met.
• Partner with Operations on learning and development, and build manager capability through coaching and training.
• Drive engagement, retention, recognition and culture initiatives.
• Develop and maintain HR and WHS policies, procedures and compliant employee records.
• Lead the WHS management system, including audits, risk assessments and incident investigations.
• Manage injury management, workers' compensation and return-to-work processes.

Skills

HR Leadership

Industrial Relations

Payroll

HR Analytics

Policy & Compliance

Employee Relations

Training & Development

Change Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources / Industrial Relations / Business or related field

Tools

HRIS

Excel

Job description

Human Resources Manager

Build your brighter future with Buttercups Childcare

Buttercups is one of Western Australia's leading childcare providers, operating a network of centres across Perth. We are committed to providing exceptional early learning experiences while building a high-performing, values-driven organisation.

We are seeking an experienced Human Resources Manager to lead our HR function and team, and to shape how our people process work across our network of centres.

The Opportunity: Human Resources Manager

Reporting to the Chief Corporate Services Officer, you will be accountable for the day-to-day operation and continuous improvement of HR and Work Health and Safety across the organisation, and will lead the HR team. You will own the full employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding through to employee relations, payroll, performance, capability and exit.

We are looking for more than a strong advisor. You will bring solid industrial relations expertise together with a process and systems mindset: someone who thinks end to end, maps how things work, identifies where they break down, and builds practical, lasting solutions.

In this role, you will:

HR Leadership and Operations

• Lead and develop the HR team, setting priorities and ensuring consistent, high-quality service across all centres
• Translate people strategy into an annual HR plan and deliver HR projects on time and within scope
• Oversee payroll coordination, remuneration and award compliance

Processes, Systems and Reporting

• Map and redesign HR processes across the employee lifecycle to remove duplication and build consistency
• Optimise our HRIS and related systems to automate workflows and improve data quality
• Establish HR metrics and reporting that give leaders clear workforce insights

Employee and Industrial Relations

• Advise and coach leaders on employee relations, performance management, grievances and terminations
• Manage complex cases end to end, including investigations, redundancies and Fair Work matters
• Interpret awards and legislation, and address the root causes of recurring issues

Talent, Capability and Culture

• Lead end-to-end recruitment and onboarding, ensuring childcare-specific compliance requirements are met
• Partner with Operations on learning and development, and build manager capability through coaching and training
• Drive engagement, retention, recognition and culture initiatives

Policy, Compliance and Work Health and Safety

• Develop and maintain HR and WHS policies, procedures and compliant employee records
• Lead the WHS management system, including audits, risk assessments and incident investigations
• Manage injury management, workers' compensation and return-to-work processes

What you'll bring to the table

• A tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Business or a related field
• 5+ years' generalist HR experience, including at least 2 years in an HR Manager or senior HR role leading a team
• Strong knowledge of the Fair Work Act, National Employment Standards and Modern Awards; early childhood award experience is highly regarded
• Proven experience managing complex employee relations, investigations and performance matters through to resolution
• A demonstrated track record of designing, mapping and improving end-to-end HR processes and systems, with measurable outcomes
• Working knowledge of WHS, injury management and workers' compensation
• Advanced HRIS, Excel and reporting skills, and confidence using data to inform decisions
• Excellent communication, influencing, coaching and project management skills, with sound judgement and discretion
• A National Police Clearance and Working with Children Check (or the ability to obtain them)

Why Buttercups?

• Senior role with genuine ownership of the HR function and the ability to influence decisions
• Flexibility, including hybrid working
• Opportunity to shape the people practices of a growing, values-driven organisation
• Make a meaningful contribution to the lives of children and families across Western Australia

Ready to make an impact?

If you're an HR leader who combines industrial relations expertise with a passion for building better processes and systems, we'd love to hear from you.