Experienced HR Generalist

At Cobb Lane we handcraft moments to savour, to share. Some are sweet, some are sour, some bitter, and some salty. In our world, they all taste good.

We have established a reputation as one of Melbourne's leading artisan bakeries, providing premium baked goods to the city's most renowned venues and our own retail stores. Your role will be an integral part of our story.

We're seeking an experienced HR Generalist who's confident, solutions-driven and ready to take ownership and accountability of the HR function on a 12 month parental leave cover. Reporting directly to our General Manager and HR Business Partner, you'll be the trusted partner to our team leaders, driving meaningful work across talent, onboarding, learning, workplace health and safety, and our culture.

About the Role

With multiple locations across Melbourne, including our headquarters in Yarraville and retail stores in Richmond Traders and the South Melbourne Market, our Experienced HR Generalist will be the key contact for end-to-end employee lifecycle management, including admin, recruitment, payroll reporting, workplace relations, and compliance. This is not just a strategy role – it's a hands-on, operational position with the ability to engage with the wider teams and make real, impactful change.

You'll be supported by our external HR Consultancy firm on all IR/ER matters, and join a small, close-knit leadership team. Our owners are actively involved in the day-to-day operations and provide great support and guidance to previous decisions and business direction and priorities.

Responsibilities:

• Managing the full employee lifecycle including recruitment, onboarding and offboarding
• Follow and review training and development programs and opportunities
• Assist managers with forecasting and budgeting future people needs.
• Develop, implement, and maintain HR policies, contracts, and processes
• Work closely with team managers to assess and improve on employee job satisfaction, skills, and identify opportunities for team career progression
• Ensuring employment records are accurately kept
• Assist the Finance Manager with payroll processes
• Oversee and manage team member visas, including co-ordinating any sponsorship applications
• Provide advice on employment law, compliance and Award interpretation and HR best practices
• Facilitate workplace issues/disciplinary processes, conflict resolution, and improvement opportunities.
• Ensure the company follows WHS obligations to ensure a safe workplace for all
• Keeping all company policies, procedures, and contracts up to date with employment laws and training management as required.

About us:

• We're an artisan bakery creating delicious breads and pastries for our three retail venues and for a range of wholesale customers across Melbourne
• We're family owned and run, and we're young, innovative and adaptive
• We have about 75 people working across three venues that you'll be interacting with regularly
• Growth is possible in all of our roles, and we're looking forward to mentoring, supporting, and training our new HR Generalist
• We're friendly and inviting, even though we're a bougie bakery

Your Experience and Skills:

• A 
  tertiary qualification
   in Human Resources or a relevant field is preferred
• At least 
  3+ years' experience
   in HR
• A 
  self-starter with a winning mindset and stress tolerant
   - comfortable planning your week and month 
  autonomously
  , whilst juggling curve-balls that HR throws at you
• You can 
  communicate clearly and effectively
   with all stakeholders
• Your ability to 
  maintain discretion, impartiality, diplomacy, and confidentiality
   is second to none.
• Strong experience in 
  high-level recruitment and payroll
   is important.
• You preferably have 
  experience with Employment Hero
   or a similar platform.
• Experience
  in the
  food and beverage or hospitality
  industries is preferred but not a deal breaker
• It's a bonus to have knowledge of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Manufacturing, Road Transport and Distribution, General Retail Industry, Miscellaneous, Commercial Sales and the Clerks Private Sector Awards.
• You are naturally 
  friendly, caring and approachable
   with an open-door policy whilst maintaining professional boundaries
• You are genuinely enthusiastic about creating a workplace where everyone feels safe, valued and motivated to actively contribute

Working arrangements

• This role is full time and working at our various locations with our teams is important to us to assist with fostering strong relationships
• Due to operational requirements, the anticipated 
  start date
   for this position is 
  22 September 2025
  . Please consider whether this suits your availability prior to applying.
• There may be an opportunity for an extension of this contract by mutual agreement depending on the operational requirements of the business.