Culture & Capability Partner

Synlait; Dunsandel; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Parental leave (Matua policy)

B Corp certification

Social Club

Job summary

Synlait is seeking a Culture & Capability Partner based at the Dunsandel site to partner with leaders, build workforce capability and drive cultural change. This role blends strategic HR partnering with organisational development and continuous improvement to deliver tangible outcomes on the floor and in leadership sessions.

You’ll collaborate with operational teams to strengthen leadership effectiveness, support change initiatives and drive people processes that improve performance and

Qualifications

• Experience partnering with leaders to improve organisational performance.
• Strong relationship-building, coaching and influencing skills.
• Experience driving culture, capability or organisational development initiatives.
• Hands-on, pragmatic approach turning strategy into action.

Responsibilities

• Build trusted relationships with leaders and teams across your portfolio.
• Develop and deliver people plans that support business performance.
• Provide practical, commercially focused people advice and coaching.
• Lead culture and capability initiatives to improve employee experience.
• Support succession planning and workforce capability initiatives.
• Lead organisational change initiatives and transformation programmes.

Skills

Leadership coaching

Stakeholder management

Org development

Culture change

HR business partnering

Change management

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

At Synlait, we're on a journey of transformation. We're building a culture where our people can thrive, our leaders can lead with confidence, and our teams can deliver exceptional results.

We're looking for a Culture & Capability Partner who is passionate about helping businesses perform at their best through people. This is a unique opportunity to combine strategic HR partnering with organisational development, leadership capability, culture transformation and continuous improvement.

As a trusted advisor and coach, you'll partner closely with leaders to build workforce capability, strengthen leadership effectiveness and drive positive cultural change. You'll be equally comfortable facilitating leadership discussions, coaching managers through challenging people matters, leading change initiatives, and getting out onto the floor to understand what's really happening in the business.

Based at our Dunsandel site, you’ll have the opportunity to work closely with our operational teams and leaders, making a visible impact where it matters most. This is a permanent opportunity, although we’re also open to considering candidates looking for a fixed-term opportunity.

What you'll be doing

• Build trusted relationships with leaders and teams across your portfolio.
• Partner with leaders to develop and deliver people plans that support business performance.
• Provide practical, commercially focused people advice and coaching.
• Drive initiatives that strengthen organisational culture and employee experience.
• Facilitate organisational development interventions that improve team effectiveness and performance.
• Support succession planning, talent development and workforce capability initiatives.
• Partner with learning and development specialists to deliver impactful capability programmes.
• Lead and support organisational change initiatives and transformation programmes.
• Drive continuous improvement in people processes, systems and practices.
• Provide expert guidance across the employee lifecycle.
• Support investigations, disciplinary processes, grievances, mediations and employment relations matters.

What you'll bring

We're open to candidates from organisational development, culture, capability, learning, HR business partnering or broader people and culture backgrounds.

• Experience partnering with leaders to improve organisational performance.
• Strong relationship-building, coaching and influencing skills.
• Experience driving culture, capability or organisational development initiatives.
• Confidence navigating complex people and organisational challenges.
• A pragmatic, hands‑on approach with the ability to turn strategy into action.
• Strong facilitation, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A solid HR foundation, including employee relations and complex people matters is preferred but not essential
• The courage to challenge constructively while building trust and credibility.

You’re an OD, Culture & Capability or HR professional who knows how to turn organisational challenges into practical change. You’ll have the confidence to challenge, influence and coach leaders, while building relationships based on trust and credibility.

Don't tick every box? We'd still love to hear from you.

This is more than a traditional HR role.

It's an opportunity to directly influence culture, leadership and business performance while partnering with a passionate team committed to building capability and creating a great employee experience.

At Synlait, you’ll have the freedom to challenge thinking, the support to grow your own capability, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a business that is actively transforming how it works and how its people succeed.

About us – The Synlait Spirit

Synlait is more than a global leader in milk nutrition – we're a purpose‑led team that’s Doing Milk Differently For A Healthier World. Our Synlait Spirit guides everything we do, from how we show up each day to the impact we create together. You’ll be joining an authentic, down-to‑earth team that lives the three values that underpin the Synlait Spirit.

Be The Difference

means we understand before we act – that means asking why, supporting each other to think differently, stay curious, and continuously look for smarter ways to deliver value. Whether it’s in the paddock, the plant or the boardroom, we’re driven by impact and inspired to make a meaningful difference every day.

Move as One

by working together with respect, trust and a shared commitment to doing what’s right. We collaborate across teams to deliver innovative solutions and create opportunity for those around us.

Right on the Mark

we have to be Right on the Mark. That means we take accountability seriously, act with courage and focus our energy on what matters most. We combine expert farming and state of the art processing to deliver high quality nutritional products to all over the world.

At Synlait you’ll be challenged and supported to grow. We know everyone brings something unique to the table so we’re an inclusive workplace, where diverse perspectives fuel innovation and success.

What we offer

• Health insurance cover & partnered with top brands for great benefits and discounts
• Excellent parental leave with our Matua policy
• B CorpTM certified
• Social Club membership opportunities

Together we will continue to create a workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute their best.