HR Business Partner

Tribe Group; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted lease car and fuel.

Discounted health insurance.

Free parking onsite.

1-day WFH flex

Job summary

Ford New Zealand invites an HR Business Partner to act as the local strategic partner to the leadership team and the Ford Australia HR network. You will drive end-to-end HR activities across NZ Head Office and NPDC, champion safety culture, and implement people strategies aligned with organisational goals.

The role offers high visibility, leadership exposure and ownership across employee relations, talent development and engagement initiatives while collaborating with remote regional teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years in HR Generalist or BP roles with NZ employment law knowledge.
• Hands-on union & employee relations experience, including negotiations.
• Ability to lead autonomously while partnering with remote regional teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Standalone HR leadership as primary SME for NZ leadership and MD.
• Collaborate with Ford of Australia HR to align local processes with regional governance.
• Manage labour relations, union negotiations and ER activities.
• Drive talent, culture, and engagement initiatives and coach managers through restructures.
• Support safety, compliance, and health & safety meetings with leadership.

Skills

HR generalist

NZ Employment Law

Health & Safety

Union & ER experience

Autonomous mindset

Stakeholder management

Job description

About The Opportunity

We’re proud to be partnering with an iconic brand in their search for a HR Business Partner. As the HR Business Partner for Ford New Zealand, you will serve as a key strategic partner to the local Leadership team and the broader Ford of Australia HR team. Covering Ford NZ’s Head Office and National Parts Distribution Centre (NPDC) operations (~60 employees across salaried and unionized hourly teams), you will lead end-to-end HR activities, champion a robust safety culture, and deliver people strategies that align directly with organisational goals.

This is a true end-to-end generalist position offering high visibility, leadership exposure, and ownership across employee relations, union negotiations and talent development.

Key responsibilities of this role will include:

• Standalone HR Leadership: Serve as the primary HR subject matter expert and trusted advisor for local People Leaders and the Managing Director in NZ.


• Regional Collaboration: Partner with the broader Ford of Australia (FoA) HR team to align local processes with regional governance and frameworks.


• Labour & Union Relations: Lead union relationships (FIRST Union), manage employee relations, and co-lead hourly enterprise bargaining alongside FoA HR support.


• Talent & Culture: Facilitate end-to-end recruitment, drive Performance+ initiatives, lead engagement surveys (Voice+), and coach managers through structural/organisational shifts.


• Health, Safety & Compliance: Support Directors, Safety and Training Specialist and Managing Director to manage the Health & Safety meetings and compliance needs.

What You’ll Bring

• Min 5+ years HR Generalist / BP experience with strong NZ Employment Law & H&S knowledge.


• Hands-on Union & ER Experience: Demonstrated background managing union relationships and industrial negotiations.


• Autonomous Mindset: Proven ability to thrive as a standalone HR lead while collaborating seamlessly with remote regional teams.


• Stakeholder Management: Excellent communication skills with the capability to influence at all levels.

What’s on Offer

• Discounted lease car and fuel.


• Discounted health insurance.


• Free parking onsite.


• 1-day WFH flex