People & Culture Business Partner

Role overview

This is a newly established People & Culture Business Partner position for someone who enjoys partnering with leaders, solving workplace challenges and making a real contribution to the business. The role covers a broad mix of people work and offers strong variety, with the chance to help shape organisational change.

You will work closely with leaders across the Supply Chain portfolio and provide practical, trusted guidance across the full employee journey. That includes workforce planning, talent and capability development, performance, employment relations and change support. The role is suited to someone who likes pace, variety and building high-performing teams.

Based at the Dunsandel site in Canterbury, the position offers a modern workplace, an easy commute, free parking and good facilities, with more time spent where it matters most: working with leaders and employees on the ground.

Key duties

• Partner with leaders in your portfolio to strengthen team capability through hands-on coaching and dependable advice.
• Support all stages of the employee lifecycle, including workforce planning, development and succession planning.
• Guide leaders through performance and conduct matters, including investigations, disciplinary action and mediation processes.
• Help leaders manage organisational change and periods of transformation effectively.
• Support learning, development and engagement initiatives that build capability across the business unit.
• Collaborate with Safety and People & Culture specialists to deliver coordinated people solutions.
• Make sure people practices stay consistent, compliant and aligned with employment law.

What you need to bring

You should have experience as an HR Business Partner or Senior HR Advisor, with confidence supporting leaders and handling employment relations matters. The role calls for someone who can build strong relationships, influence positive outcomes and balance business priorities with positive employee experiences.

Ideally, you will also have around five years of relevant HR business partnering or senior advisory experience, solid knowledge of New Zealand employment law and HR best practice, and strong communication and problem-solving skills. Experience in a manufacturing or operational environment would be an advantage, though it is not essential. A tertiary qualification in Human Resources or a related field would also be beneficial.

If you do not meet every requirement, you are still encouraged to apply.

About Synlait

Synlait is a global milk nutrition business with a clear purpose: doing milk differently for a healthier world. The company culture is built around three core values. “Be The Difference” reflects curiosity, continuous improvement and a drive to add value. “We Move as One” focuses on teamwork, trust and doing what is right. “Right on the Mark” means accountability, courage and a focus on the things that matter most.

The company combines expert farming with advanced processing to produce high-quality nutritional products for customers around the world, including products that support some of the world’s most vulnerable people, such as newborn babies. Synlait aims to be an inclusive workplace where different perspectives support innovation and success.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage, along with access to partner-brand discounts and benefits.
• Strong parental leave support through the Matua policy.
• B Corp certified workplace.
• Opportunity to join social club activities.

Application notes

Applicants should submit a recent CV and a cover letter explaining their experience and what they can contribute to Synlait. Applications may be reviewed as they are received, and the advert could close early. Candidates from outside New Zealand will only be considered if they have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.