HR Business Partner

We are a growing early childhood education group, with an ambitious agenda to expand our centres and strengthen our support office capability. With no current HR function in place, this is a unique opportunity for an experienced professional to step in and establish the People & Culture function from the ground up.

This is a standalone HR Business Partner role (internally titled People Partner), reporting directly to the CEO and working closely with the leadership team. You'll be our first dedicated HR professional, responsible for laying the foundations of HR and People practices across the group.

The role is hands-on: getting the basics right, implementing practical processes, and ensuring compliance across the employee lifecycle. Beyond the fundamentals, you'll work alongside leaders to shape organisational culture, support future acquisitions, and standardise employee engagement practices across our centres.

This position offers a hybrid working model - primarily working from home, with requirements to attend our Liverpool workhub and visit centres as needed. Some occasional travel to centres across NSW, and occasionally QLD, will be required.

• Establish and embed core HR processes, systems, and workflows to ensure compliance and efficiency.
• Provide pragmatic, compliant advice on employee relations, workplace relations, and award/legislative requirements.
• Lead the HR aspects of future acquisitions, including employee integration, aligning and standardising terms and conditions, and ensuring a unified engagement structure across all centres.
• Partner with the CEO and leadership team on workforce design, organisational change, and culture-building initiatives.
• Coach and support leaders to drive positive people outcomes and strengthen engagement across the group.
• HRIS leadership: finalise the implementation of Employment Hero, manage ongoing system use, and ensure the HRIS underpins a seamless employee experience. (Previous Employment Hero experience highly regarded and strongly sought after.)
• Leverage your external HR network to keep across industry changes and evolving best practice.
• Act as a trusted partner to employees and leaders, balancing the needs of the workforce with the commercial realities of the business.

• At least 8 years' HR experience, including 2+ years in a standalone or similar HRBP role.
• Strong grounding in workplace relations, with the ability to navigate complex ER/IR matters confidently (experience in the early childhood sector is highly desirable).
• Proven ability to roll up your sleeves to set up systems and processes from scratch, while also operating strategically.
• Experience working directly with senior leaders, contributing to discussions and ensuring HR initiatives align with business goals.
• Experience with Employment Hero HRIS is highly desirable, and considered close to essential.
• Commercially minded with a passion for building positive, compliant, and sustainable people practices.
• Resilient, resourceful, and proactive – comfortable working autonomously and making an impact from day one.

• A rare opportunity to build and own the HR function from the ground up.
• Direct exposure to the CEO and leadership team, with involvement in shaping people-related aspects of the business.
• A hybrid work arrangement, combining work from home with regular engagement at our Liverpool workhub.
• Occasional travel to centres across NSW (and at times QLD) to connect with centre leaders and support integration.
• A role where your expertise will set the foundations for culture and employee experience across the group.

If this sounds like the opportunity you've been looking for, we'd love to hear from you. Please apply with your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted to complete a short questionnaire as part of the pre-screening selection process. The successful shortlist will then be contacted for a first interview to discuss the role in more detail. We anticipate at least two interview stages for this role.

We can't wait to hear from you