People and Safety Manager

- Broad, hands-on operational role
- Melbourne – Northern Suburbs: Onsite
- Heritage, Brand & Reputation in a 120 year old business
- Salary negotiable to experience circa $150,000 + super

Why You Will Be Excited About This Role

Imagine stepping into a newly created role where you're not just maintaining systems - you're building the people and safety framework for a 120-year-old family business that's ready for its next chapter of growth.

You'll work directly with the CEO and fourth-generation family leaders who genuinely care about their 230+ team members across manufacturing, retail, and 75 franchise partners. Your work will be visible, valued, and directly connected to supporting people in a safe, engaged manner to perform at their best.

What makes this opportunity stand out:

- Genuine autonomy and impact – You'll shape HR and safety strategy from the ground up, not inherit layers of bureaucracy. Your recommendations go straight to the CEO and Board

- Diverse operational exposure – No two days look the same moving between the manufacturing bakery, head office functions, and retail network.

- Early wins that matter – Consolidate HR & Employee Relations practices and build momentum as a trusted advisor that staff can turn to when challenges arise.

- Real influence, not just advisory – Support change, coach managers, and see your initiatives translate directly into stronger team performance and safer workplaces.

Why You Will Like Working Here

You’ll gain the strategic exposure of a broad business, with the agility and personal connection of a close-knit family operation. Management is genuinely invested in creating a workplace with an emotional connection in an environment where your work can enhance the daily working lives of all within the organisation. You’ll get to know people's names, understand their challenges, and see your impact without wading through endless approval chains.

You’ll become the trusted advisor across multiple business domains including manufacturing on safety initiatives, support on employment compliance, and partnering with management on people priorities and performance development. This breadth of exposure accelerates your growth in ways a siloed corporate role simply can't match.

What You Will Be Working On

With one direct report the focus will be on the work that matters most - building a safe, compliant, and engaged workforce across a multi-site operation;

- HR operations and compliance

- Recruitment, onboarding and retention

- Lead end-to-end safety and wellbeing agenda

- Performance & development cycle

- Employee relations & case resolution

- Retail & franchise partner compliance & payroll integrity

- Reporting, systems and governance

What Type Of Person Will Be Successful

You're a hands-on People and HR generalist who thrives in operational environments where agility, pragmatism, and personal impact matter more than corporate hierarchy. You've built your career in lean, fast-moving settings, ideally spanning food manufacturing, retail, or franchise operations. You've learned to balance care for people with commercial discipline and compliance rigour and understand the importance of a safety mindset.

You'll bring:

- Broad HR experience covering employee relations, recruitment, performance management, and safety & compliance in manufacturing and/or retail environments (franchise exposure highly valued)

- Solid working knowledge of Fair Work legislation, Modern Awards, WHS obligations, WorkCover management, and payroll processes - not just theory, but practical application

- An understanding of workplace investigations, managing disciplinary matters, and resolving employee relations issues with fairness, confidentiality, and sound judgment

- Strong relationship-building skills that earn trust quickly across factory floors, retail stores, franchise partners, and boardrooms alike

- Ability to maintain accuracy in documentation and reporting while keeping systems simple and accessible

- Tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Business, or related discipline (or equivalent practical experience)

If you've been curious about roles such as HR Manager, People & Culture Manager, Safety & HR Coordinator, Employee Relations Manager, we'd love to hear from you.

This is an onsite role based in Melbourne northern suburbs.

How To Apply

If this sounds like the kind of hands-on, high-impact role where you can genuinely make a difference, we'd love to hear from you. Even if you don't tick every single box, we're looking for the right cultural fit and proven capability.

Please submit your resume and a brief cover note explaining what excites you about this opportunity and how your experience aligns with our needs.

We're committed to building an inclusive, respectful workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.

Confidential enquiries welcomed by Ian Hamilton on 0418 249 869

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