HR Business Partner

Waikato Regional Council; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Waikato Regional Council in Hamilton seeks an experienced HR professional to partner with leaders and managers acrossDirectorates to understand workforce needs, people challenges and opportunities. You will provide trusted, practical HR advice across the employee lifecycle, including employee relations, performance, recruitment, remuneration and change.

You will coach and support leaders to strengthen capability and lead complex HR projects, enterprise-wide initiatives and culture programs.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Organisational Psychology, Business, Employment Relations or a related discipline.
• Significant HR experience, 6–8 years in a similar role partnering with managers and senior leaders.
• Strong knowledge of employment relations, employment legislation, remuneration principles and contemporary HR practice.
• Experience supporting organisational change, workforce planning, organisational design, performance and culture initiatives.
• Experience in local government, the public sector or a unionised environment would be an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leaders and managers across assigned Directorates to understand workforce needs, people challenges and opportunities.
• Provide trusted, practical HR advice across the employee lifecycle, including employee relations, performance, recruitment, remuneration and change.
• Coach and support leaders to strengthen capability, confidence and effectiveness as people leaders.
• Support workforce planning, talent management, succession planning, organisational design and culture initiatives.
• Lead or contribute to complex HR projects, employment relations matters and enterprise-wide people initiatives.
• Work collaboratively across People & Capability to deliver consistent, integrated and people-focused solutions.
• Report to the HR Manager and work alongside HR Business Partners, an HR Advisor, P&C Coordinators and a dedicated P&C Analyst.
• Collaborate closely with Learning & Development and Health, Safety & Wellbeing colleagues within the People & Capability team.
• Provide trusted HR support to a diverse organisation of around 700 employees.

Education

Tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Organisational Psychology, Business, Employment Relations or a related discipline

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.

Waikato Regional Council – Hamilton, North Island

Partner with leaders and managers across assigned Directorates to understand workforce needs, people challenges and opportunities

Provide trusted, practical HR advice across the employee lifecycle, including employee relations, performance, recruitment, remuneration and change

Coach and support leaders to strengthen capability, confidence and effectiveness as people leaders

Support workforce planning, talent management, succession planning, organisational design and culture initiatives

Lead or contribute to complex HR projects, employment relations matters and enterprise-wide people initiatives

Work collaboratively across People & Capability to deliver consistent, integrated and people-focused solutions.

An experienced HR professional who builds trust quickly and provides sound, practical advice

Enjoys partnering with leaders to solve people challenges and support strong organisational outcomes

Confident navigating complex employee relations, organisational change and sensitive people matters

Communicate clearly, exercise sound judgement and manage confidential information with care

Brings a collaborative, enterprise-wide mindset and contribute positively to a one-team culture

Committed to ongoing cultural capability and understand the importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in a local government context.

Tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Organisational Psychology, Business, Employment Relations or a related discipline

Significant HR, People & Capability or related experience, including partnering with managers and senior leaders, ideally 6–8 years in a similar role

Strong knowledge of employment relations, employment legislation, remuneration principles and contemporary HR practice

Experience supporting organisational change, workforce planning, organisational design, performance and culture initiatives

Experience in local government, the public sector or a unionised environment would be an advantage.

Mō te tīma | About the team

Report to the HR Manager and work alongside HR Business Partners, an HR Advisor, P&C Coordinators and a dedicated P&C Analyst

Collaborate closely with Learning & Development and Health, Safety & Wellbeing colleagues within the People & Capability team

Provide trusted HR support to a diverse organisation of around 700 employees.

We work hard to care for the mighty Waikato, so current and future generations will benefit from a healthy environment, strong economy, and vibrant communities.

Our mahi is as diverse as the region we care for and the people who share it. Our work helps look after our region's water, soil, air, geothermal areas and coasts - so we can all enjoy these precious resources for generations to come.

Customers sit at the heart of everything we do, and all staff have an important role to play in the delivery of exceptional customer service.

By partnering with iwi and working with many others in our communities, our collective kaitiakitanga will make the Waikato region even better. Together, we’ll create a sustainable future that will make a positive difference to people’s lives.

Applications will be reviewed as they come in, and this role will close on 23 August.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact ***************@waikatoregion.govt.nz