Country HR Business Partner | Australia

Job description

The Country HR Business Partner (Australia) acts as the strategic and operational HR lead for both the corporate office and the retail network in Australia. Managing the entire scope of operations, the ideal candidate brings end-to-end expertise across all HR processes, a strong command of Australian employment law, and a hands-on, autonomous approach across the full employee lifecycle 1. Talent Acquisition & Onboarding: Manage end-to-end recruitment for headquarters and retail store positions. Drive proactive candidate sourcing, structure inclusive selection processes, and deliver seamless onboarding programs to integrate new talent effectively. 2. Payroll Management & Statutory Compliance: Oversee end-to-end payroll operations in collaboration with external Australian payroll providers. Transition current payroll processes to standard Australian systems/software (e.g., ADP or local standard tools). Manage statutory contributions including Superannuation, leave entitlements (annual, personal, long service), and tax compliance. 3. Retail Operations & Employee Relations (ER): Act as primary HR partner for retail store managers. Handle employee relations, grievances, disciplinary actions, and performance improvement plans (PIPs). Oversee employment disputation and litigation support in close coordination with external legal counsel. 4. HR Systems, HRIS & Process Standardization: Supervise HRIS accuracy and maintain compliant digital employee records. Standardize HR processes across leave tracking, benefits administration, and evaluation frameworks, upgrading from legacy ad-hoc tools. 5. Talent Management & Performance Evaluation: Implement performance evaluation frameworks tailored for office and retail teams to foster engagement and productivity. Identify training needs and promote career progression across store networks. 6. Policy & Compliance Management: Maintain and update the Australian Employee Handbook, ensuring strict adherence to Modern Awards, National Employment Standards (NES), Fair Work Australia compliance, and workplace safety standards. Requirements: - Experience Level: Senior HR Generalist / HRBP background with proven ability to operate strategically while executing daily operational tasks. - Industry Background: Ideally 5 years of HR experience. - Australian Employment Law & Payroll Expertise: Strong operational understanding of Australian employment law and local payroll/benefits structures. - Matrix Organization Experience: Proven ability to thrive in a dual/matrix reporting setup - Language Skills: Fluency in English is essential. Proficiency in Italian is considered a strong plus to interface effectively with HQ. - Communication & Stakeholder Management: Exceptional interpersonal and influence skills to build strong partnerships with store managers, local executive leadership, and HQ.