Manager Human Resources

South32 Group Operations Pty Ltd; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

South32 is seeking an experienced HR Manager for a fixed-term, full-time appointment with a 4:3 day shift roster and FIFO from Darwin, Cairns or Brisbane. Reporting to the VP Operations, you will lead a HR team and deliver strategic people priorities across workforce planning, organisational design, and talent development.

You will manage industrial and employee relations, coach leaders to embed South32's values, and drive performance, succession and development programs.

Qualifications

• Deep industrial and employee relations expertise across IR theory and practice.
• Ability to influence senior leadership on people matters with legally compliant guidance.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Strategic thinker who balances short-term needs with long-term impact.
• Change management experience leading transformation initiatives in heavy industry.
• Proven capability to develop and coach high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead workforce strategy and talent alignment with leadership objectives.
• Deliver industrial and employee relations expertise and negotiations.
• Coach leaders to embed South32 values and drive performance.
• Empower a high-performing HR team delivering business-focused services.

Skills

IR expertise

Executive influence

Communication

Strategic thinking

Change management

People leadership

Education

Degree in HR/IR

Job description

At South32, we're meeting the challenge of enabling a sustainable future through our focus on responsibly producing commodities critical for a low-carbon world.

As a collaborative, caring and inclusive company, there's no better place to make a genuine difference. Together we're making a positive, global impact that has the potential to change lives.

Whatever career path you choose, we'll support you every step of the way to learn, grow and succeed. So join us, step towards a brighter future and leave your legacy.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This role is a Fixed-Term Full Time position on a 4:3 day shift roster, FIFO from Darwin, Cairns or Brisbane.

As the HR Manager, you'll lead your team in delivering strategic people priorities, partnering with leadership on workforce planning, organisational design, and talent development. You'll manage industrial and employee relations, while coaching leaders to embed South32's values and facilitate performance, succession, and development programs.

Reporting to the Vice President Operations, other key responsibilities include, but aren't limited to:

• Lead workforce strategy and capability by partnering with leadership on talent alignment, organisational design, and succession planning that deliver business objectives.
• Deliver industrial and employee relations expertise through strategic advice, Enterprise Bargaining negotiations, investigations, and proactive compliance management.
• Enable cultural transformation by coaching leaders, and leveraging metrics to drive performance and accountability.
• Empower and guide a high-performing HR team that delivers business-focused services, collaborates across South32, and maintains safety culture excellence.

ABOUT YOU

You will have experience and demonstrate capability in the following:

• Deep industrial and employee relations expertise across IR theory, practice, and heavy industry applications, with a track record of successfully navigating Enterprise Bargaining negotiations and delivering strategic advice that aligns business objectives with legal compliance and workforce outcomes.
• Proven ability to influence and partner with senior leadership on critical people matters, providing credible guidance that challenges assumptions, shifts thinking, and drives empowering management practices that elevate performance and engagement.
• Exceptional communicator who articulates complex concepts with clarity and precision, builds collaborative partnerships across all levels, and constructively challenges decisions to protect business interests while maintaining a solutions-focused approach.
• Strategic thinker with sharp analytical capabilities who identifies root causes, develops innovative solutions, assesses risk effectively, and delivers commercially astute advice that balances immediate priorities with long-term impact.
• Change management specialist with practical expertise in transformation methodologies, skilled at influencing cross-functional teams, facilitating enterprise-wide shifts, and implementing new approaches that capture opportunities and mitigate risk.
• Accomplished people leader who selects, develops, and coaches high-performing teams, builds capability and diversity, drives engagement, and creates outcomes-focused environments that accelerate learning and improvement.

Qualifications for this position are:

• Relevant degree or appropriate experience (preferably in HR/IR Organisational Behaviour, Change Management)

South32 is committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we operate. We provide a recruitment process that is fair, equitable, and accessible to all, and we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

This job advert will close on 2nd November 2026

South32 is global mining and metals company, creating value by producing different commodities that are used in many aspects of modern life. Our operations, development options and exploration programs are diversified by commodity and geography.

South32's head office is based in Perth, Western Australia and has operations based across Australia, Southern Africa, North America and South America.