Senior HR Consultant

Senior HR Consultant (Contract | 3–6 Months)

Location: Melbourne

Contract Duration: 3–6 months (Project-based engagement)

Company Overview

We are a fast-growing hair and skin science company operating across Australia. As we continue to scale nationally, we are seeking an experienced Senior HR Consultant to support a critical phase of organisational maturity. This engagement will focus on auditing existing HR systems, ensuring full compliance with Australian employment legislation, and building a scalable, standardised HR framework that can be successfully transitioned to an internal HR team.

Role Overview

The Senior HR Consultant will lead a comprehensive audit of our current people, payroll, and HR systems. You will identify gaps, risks, and inefficiencies, and design practical, compliant solutions that support long-term growth. A key outcome of this engagement is the successful handover of frameworks, knowledge, and capability to our internal HR team. This role requires deep expertise in Australian workplace legislation, remuneration frameworks, and HR best practices, combined with strong stakeholder management and change leadership skills.

Key Responsibilities

HR Audit & Compliance

• Conduct a full audit of existing HR policies, systems, employment contracts, and payroll structures
• Review compliance with Australian employment laws and regulations, including:
• Fair Work Act and Modern Awards
• National Employment Standards (NES)
• Superannuation and payroll obligations
• Workplace health and safety considerations
• Identify compliance gaps, risks, and exposure, and provide clear remediation plans

Remuneration & Role Framework

• Review and assess current salary structures, incentives, and benefits
• Design and implement standardised salary bands, grading frameworks, and role classifications
• Clarify roles, responsibilities, and reporting structures across all functions
• Ensure remuneration frameworks are fair, competitive, compliant, and scalable nationwide

Policy & Systems Development

• Update or create HR policies, procedures, and governance frameworks
• Recommend and refine HR systems and processes to support national operations
• Align HR frameworks with company growth strategy and operational realities Capability Building & Knowledge Transfer
• Provide structured training and coaching to internal HR staff
• Develop HR playbooks, documentation, and implementation guides
• Support the transition to a self-sufficient internal HR function
• Ensure a smooth and effective handover at the conclusion of the engagement Stakeholder Management
• Partner closely with senior leadership and department heads
• Communicate findings, recommendations, and progress clearly and confidently
• Support change management and adoption of new HR frameworks

Capability Building & Knowledge Transfer

• Provide structured training and coaching to internal HR staff
• Develop HR playbooks, documentation, and implementation guides
• Support the transition to a self-sufficient internal HR function
• Ensure a smooth and effective handover at the conclusion of the engagement

Stakeholder Management

• Partner closely with senior leadership and department heads
• Communicate findings, recommendations, and progress clearly and confidently
• Support change management and adoption of new HR frameworks

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 10+ years' experience in senior HR, HR consulting, or people advisory roles
• Proven experience conducting HR audits and compliance reviews in Australia
• Strong working knowledge of Australian employment law and industrial relations
• Demonstrated experience designing remuneration frameworks and salary banding
• Experience supporting multi-site or nationwide organisations
• Strong documentation, training, and handover capabilities
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills

Preferred Experience

• Experience in healthcare, medical, science-based, or regulated industries
• Background in scaling HR functions for growing organisations
• Experience mentoring or building internal HR teams

Key Deliverables

• Comprehensive HR audit report with risk and compliance assessment
• Standardised salary bands and role frameworks
• Updated HR policies and procedures
• Trained and empowered internal HR team
• Clear documentation and handover for ongoing internal management

Why Join This Engagement

• High-impact, strategic project with national scope
• Opportunity to shape and future-proof a growing Australian business
• Collaborative leadership team and strong mandate for change
• Clear project outcomes and defined handover