Employment Relations Manager

Tahua Group; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing & Leave Benefits

Takapuna office with beach views

Tahua Family Discount

Job summary

Tahua Group is seeking an Employment Relations expert to join its People & Capability team in Auckland. You will provide expert advice on complex ER matters, lead high-risk investigations and partner with leaders to strengthen capability across the business.

You'll balance legal risk with commercial outcomes, develop practical policies, and help shape best practices while reducing organisational risk in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years Employment Relations experience in large, fast-paced environments.
• Current practising certificate to practise as an employment lawyer in New Zealand.
• Deep knowledge of NZ employment law, investigations, mediation and dispute resolution.
• Strong commercial judgement and ability to balance legal risk with practical business outcomes.
• Experience building leader capability and guiding others through complex people matters.

Responsibilities

• Providing expert advice, leadership and sound judgement on complex Employment Relations matters across the Group.
• Leading high-risk investigations, restructures, mediations and other complex employment matters, including collective bargaining where appropriate.
• Partnering with leaders and People Business Partners to build Employment Relations capability and confidence.
• Developing policies, frameworks and practical guidance that strengthen consistency and minimise organisational risk.
• Identifying trends and opportunities to continuously improve Employment Relations practices across Tahua Group.

Skills

Employment Relations

Investigations & Mediation

Stakeholder management

Commercial judgment

NZ employment law

Education

Law degree

Practising certificate

Job description

At Tahua Group, we're proud to be home to some of NewZealand's most recognised retail, hospitality and health brands, includingBurger King, Starbucks, Popeyes, Number One Shoes + Hannahs, The Outlet andResonate Health.

Our People & Capability team partners with leadersacross the Group to build high-performing teams and create great places towork. Guided by our values of Better, Manaakitanga and Whanaungatanga,we believe great people practices create great business outcomes.

Why you'll love this role

This newly created role is an exciting opportunity to becomeTahua Group’s trusted Employment Relations expert.

Reporting to our Chief People & Capability Officer, andpartnering with BP team, you'll help leaders navigate complex people matterswith confidence, fairness and sound judgement.

You'll relish balancing legal expertise with commercialthinking, coaching leaders through complex, high-risk ER matters whilestrengthening Employment Relations capability across the business. Working in afast-paced operational environment, you'll influence best practice, reduceorganisational risk and help ensure our people practices remain practical,consistent and aligned with our values.

If you enjoy solving complex people challenges, influencingleaders and making a genuine organisational impact, this is a rare opportunityto establish a newly created specialist role where your expertise will shapethe future of Employment Relations at Tahua.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Providing expert advice, leadership and soundjudgement on complex Employment Relations matters across the Group.
• Leading high-risk investigations, restructures,mediations and other complex employment matters, including leading collectivebargaining where appropriate.
• Partnering with leaders and People BusinessPartners to build Employment Relations capability and confidence.
• Developing policies, frameworks and practicalguidance that strengthen consistency and minimise organisational risk.
• Identifying trends and opportunities tocontinuously improve Employment Relations practices across Tahua Group.

What you’ll bring

Pragmatic, approachable and commercially minded, you’ll bean experienced Employment Relations professional who enjoys solving complexpeople challenges and helping leaders make confident decisions. You’ll alsobring:

• Extensive Employment Relations experience (8+years), ideally within large, fast-paced operational environments.
• A current practicing certificate, with the abilityto practise as an employment lawyer in New Zealand.
• Deep knowledge of New Zealand employment law,investigations, mediation and dispute resolution.
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability tobalance legal risk with practical business outcomes.
• Exceptional influencing, coaching and stakeholdermanagement skills.
• Experience building leader capability and guidingothers through complex people matters.
• A collaborative, pragmatic approach and genuinepassion for developing best practice.
• Curiosity about technology and AI, and how they cansupport better People & Capability outcomes.

What we offer

• Wellbeing& Leave Benefits – We offer Life and Trauma insurance, enhancedparental leave, your birthday off and long service recognition.
• StunningTakapuna office with beach views, an onsite Starbucks café and free parking
• TheTahua Family Discount provides exceptional discounts across Burger King,Starbucks, Popeyes, Number One Shoes, Hannahs, and Resonate Health.

Closing Date: Thursday, 10 September 2026