National HR Manager

Metier Recruitment; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Metier Recruitment is seeking a National Human Resources Manager to lead the national people function across Australia, reporting to the Managing Director. You will shape the people strategy while remaining hands-on in industrial relations and workforce matters.

You will be a senior HR leader with experience in FMCG/manufacturing or other labour-intensive industries, capable of influencing senior stakeholders and delivering tangible people outcomes across a dispersed national workforce.

Qualifications

• Senior HR leadership experience with national or multi-site responsibility.
• Extensive industrial relations experience and knowledge of employment legislation.
• Experience in labour-intensive or industrial environments.
• Strong workforce planning and organisational development expertise.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive results.

Responsibilities

• Lead the national HR function and act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive team.
• Oversee HR operations, industrial relations, learning and development, and workforce planning.
• Ensure compliance with modern awards, legislation, and governance frameworks.
• Drive culture, performance, risk management and organisational development across a dispersed national workforce.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Industrial relations

HR strategy

Stakeholder management

Workforce planning

Education

Tertiary qualifications in HR or related discipline

Tools

HR systems

Job description

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced and commercially astute Human Resources leader to take ownership of the national people function within a successful and growing Australian organisation.

With a workforce of more than 300 employees operating across multiple locations and industries, we are seeking a seasoned National Human Resources Manager who thrives in complex, fast-paced and operationally driven environments.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director/CEO, this is a highly influential senior leadership role responsible for leading the organisation's people strategy while remaining closely connected to the day-to-day realities of managing a diverse national workforce.

We are particularly interested in hearing from experienced HR leaders who have worked within FMCG, manufacturing, logistics, industrial, labour-intensive or other complex multi-site national organisations.

The Opportunity

As the National Human Resources Manager, you will lead and oversee the full national HR function and act as a trusted strategic advisor to the CEO, executive leadership team and senior operational leaders.

This role requires someone who can operate confidently at both a strategic and operational level. You will be responsible for developing and implementing national people strategies while also providing hands‑on leadership across complex industrial relations, workplace matters, organisational change and employee performance.

You will lead a broad HR portfolio encompassing:

• Human Resources Operations
• Industrial and Workplace Relations
• Learning and Development
• Organisational Development and Workforce Planning
• Employee Engagement and Culture
• Risk, Compliance and Governance
• Workplace Health and Safety
• Workers Compensation and Return to Work
• HR Systems, Policies and Capability

This is a role for a leader who is comfortable making decisions, managing complex people matters and influencing senior stakeholders across a geographically dispersed organisation.

About You

You will be an accomplished and highly credible Human Resources leader with experience operating within a complex, multi‑site and operationally focused organisation.

You will bring a strong combination of strategic capability, commercial awareness and hands‑on

HR expertise.

You will be confident working with senior executives while also remaining comfortable dealing directly with challenging employee and industrial matters.

Ideally, your background will include experience within FMCG, manufacturing, logistics, industrial services or another large, fast‑paced organisation where workforce complexity, industrial relations and operational performance are critical to business success.

You will demonstrate:

• Significant experience in a senior Human Resources leadership role, ideally with national or multi-site responsibility.
• Extensive industrial and employee relations experience.
• Strong knowledge of employment legislation, Modern Awards and workplace relations frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex disciplinary, performance and employee relations matters.
• Experience working within a labour‑intensive, operational or industrial environment.
• Strong understanding of workforce planning, organisational development and employee engagement.
• Experience leading workplace health and safety, workers compensation and Return to Work processes.
• Exposure to risk, compliance and quality management frameworks.
• An understanding of ISO standards and national compliance requirements.
• Proven ability to develop and implement HR strategy while maintaining strong operational involvement.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• The confidence and judgement to provide clear, commercially sound advice to executive leadership.

Relevant tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Employment Relations, Business or a related discipline. (Not essential)

What’s on Offer

You will have:

• Direct access and exposure to the CEO and executive leadership team.
• Genuine influence over the organisation’s people strategy and future direction.
• Responsibility for a diverse national workforce of more than 300 employees.
• The opportunity to work across multiple industries and business operations.
• A broad and varied leadership portfolio spanning HR, industrial relations, organisational development, compliance and workforce strategy.
• A highly attractive remuneration package, commensurate with the seniority and experience of the successful candidate.