Senior HR Business Partner: Remote & SME Client Focus

Essential HR; Adelaide; Remote; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work from home

Company laptop

Mobile phone

Commission opportunities

Annual incentive bonus

Wellness Leave

Job summary

Essential HR is a leading outsourced HR consultancy in Australia. We seek a Senior HR Business Partner to partner with business owners and senior leaders, delivering practical, commercially focused HR solutions across a diverse SME client portfolio.

You will manage complex employee relations, investigations, performance management and strategic HR activities while working autonomously within a supportive team. This role offers flexibility and a varied client mix across industries.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Human Resources and Industrial Relations.
• Extensive generalist HR experience.
• Proven experience independently managing complex IR and employee relations matters.
• Exceptional knowledge of Australian employment legislation and Modern Awards.
• Experience managing multiple clients or business units simultaneously.
• Strong commercial acumen—you understand business, not just legislation.
• Outstanding organisational and time management skills.
• Confidence using HR technology (Employment Hero experience highly regarded).
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Consulting experience is highly regarded but not essential.

Responsibilities

• This is a senior consulting role with variety, autonomy and trusted relationships with SME owners.
• You'll be the trusted HR advisor for your portfolio of SME clients.
• Provide advice across complex employee relations, workplace investigations, and performance management.
• Handle misconduct, disciplinary matters, redundancies and restructures.
• Guide HR strategy, workforce planning and organisational change.
• Utilise Employment Hero consulting and optimisation for clients.

Skills

Employee relations

HR generalist

IR expertise

Commercial acumen

Communication

Time management

Employment Hero

Tools

Employment Hero

Job description

Essential HR is a leading outsourced HR consultancy in Australia. We seek a Senior HR Business Partner to partner with business owners and senior leaders, delivering practical, commercially focused HR solutions across a diverse SME client portfolio.

You will manage complex employee relations, investigations, performance management and strategic HR activities while working autonomously within a supportive team. This role offers flexibility and a varied client mix across industries.