Human Resources Manager - Performance & AI Transformation

Breville | Sage; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Breville | Sage is seeking a Human Resources Manager to drive HR transformation in engineering and technical functions. You will partner with senior leaders to align people strategies with business growth and operate in a fast-evolving environment.

This role requires a credible understanding of AI's impact on workflows and a strong capability in employee relations, performance management, and data analysis. You will work across the US and Canada, reporting to the Global Head of HR in Sydney.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive HR experience, especially in tech environments.
• Ability to influence at Director and executive level.
• Experience in people metrics and data storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders to develop people strategies.
• Lead workforce and succession planning.
• Manage complex employee relations matters.

Skills

HR experience

Analytical skills

Employee relations expertise

Communication skills

Job description

Human Resources Manager - Engineering & Technical Functions

This is a high-impact HR role at the heart of Breville’s fastest-evolving functions. You’ll partner with senior technical and operational leaders (including our Chief Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer) to align people strategy with business growth and operational targets across a fast-growing, multi-country organization.

Breville’s Technology Services, Customer Support, and S&OP teams are adopting AI tools that are fundamentally changing how work gets done. Our people frameworks are evolving thoughtfully to facilitate this transformation. We need an HR leader who can drive this change agenda and business partner to support our executive team and AI-augmented workforce.

You’ll bring deep credibility with technical teams, the judgment to operate independently, and the ability to translate complex people signals into insights that drive action. The role blends partnership with execution—you’ll advise leaders and personally drive outcomes, leveraging AI to enable efficient operations and day-to-day management of an expansive remit. You’ll report to the Global Head of HR in Sydney, Australia and work day-to-day with stakeholders across the United States, Canada, and Australia.

What You’ll Do

Performance & AI Transformation

• Assess how AI adoption is evolving roles and output among our technical teams. Build the evidence base for what needs to change in how we set objectives, evaluate performance, and design rewards.
• Bring a point of view on how HR itself can leverage AI and analytics to improve decision-making and service delivery, and act on it in your own work.

Business Partnership & Organisational Effectiveness

• Partner with executive and senior leaders across Tech Services, Operations, and other functions to develop people strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Coach leaders on performance, accountability, and building high-performing teams within technical disciplines.
• Lead workforce planning, succession planning, and role clarity; own and evolve levelling frameworks, job architecture, and compensation structures, ensuring consistency, equity, and market competitiveness.
• Independently manage complex employee relations matters, including investigations, corrective action, and terminations.
• Ensure compliant application of HR policies and US/Canadian employment law across multiple jurisdictions.
• Deliver cyclical HR programs including performance reviews, engagement surveys, and reward cycles for supported groups.
• Analyse people data to identify trends, diagnose issues, and tell a compelling story that drives action.
• Partner with the HR Manager leading business partnering for Sales & Marketing, and the Americas HR team including Payroll & Recruiting, on leadership of the Americas People agenda.
• Work day-to-day with leaders across the United States, Canada, and Australia. You’ll report to the Global Head of HR in Sydney.

Departments Supported

• Technical Services, including Software Engineering and Product Development
• Legal & Accounting (select groups)

What You’ll Need

• 12+ years of progressive HR experience, with time supporting software engineering or product teams in tech or tech-adjacent environments.
• Credible understanding of how AI is changing engineering and operations workflows and output.
• Proven ability to influence people and business outcomes at Director and executive level.
• Expertise in employee relations, investigations, performance management, and compliance.
• Experience with workforce planning, levelling frameworks and job architecture.
• Analytical skills with experience in people metrics and data storytelling.
• Excellent executive communication, discretion, and influencing skills.
• Comfortable leading through change, ambiguity, and fast-moving priorities.
• Ability to work effectively across time zones, particularly with leadership in Sydney, Australia.

Breville Group is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.