HR Advisor

About our role:

We are looking for a seasoned HR Adviser to join our Bendigo manufacturing site on a fixed term contract until 3 July 2026, reporting to the Site HR Manager. You will partner with the Bendigo Site leaders through the provision of proactive and customer focused HR/IR services and solutions that drive business performance and foster a culture aligned with Lactalis values. In this role you will provide HR guidance, lead key people initiatives, and act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, managers and employees across the Bendigo Site.

What you will do:

• Act as the first point of contact for all HR related enquiries effectively dealing with all walk-ins/call-ins to HR, effectively dealing with all HR issues in line with company policies and procedures, seeking advice from the Site HR Manager when necessary. Whilst at the same time ensuring managers are handling people related issues as much as possible.
• Lead all HR related processes and initiatives for the site. This includes - Annual performance process, talent mapping, succession planning, annual engagement survey (participation and help facilitate action planning) and other HR related processes and projects.
• Support Managers to proactively develop and implement communication, cultural and employee engagement improvement initiatives.
• Provide HR Partnering support to the Site Manager and Industrial Director to build an effective Site Leadership Team in the absence of the Site HR Manager.
• Coach Managers in all aspects of performance management with the goal of developing leadership competence, confidence and courage to enhance personal and team capability and accountability.
• Maintain a working knowledge of labour related cost measures including partnering with cost centre managers to more effectively manage their labour costs in line with budgets, forecasts and historical comparisons.
• Support the Site HR Manager in end-to-end Site EBA negotiations with the relevant industrial parties so as to achieve agreed outcomes.
• Liaise with Fair Work Australia and relevant Unions in relation to industrial disputes under the guidance of the Site HR Manager.
• Provide effective IR advice to site/department and line management.  Maintain a working knowledge of relevant legislation implicit and explicit to the employment relationship and be able to interpret any appropriate industrial instruments (e.g. EBAs, modern awards, contracts of employment).
• Pro-actively advise & assist recruiting managers to ensure integrity of Lactalis as an employer brand is maintained or improved and we recruit great talent.

About you:

• Tertiary qualification in HR/Business.
• 3+ years HR experience in a standalone HR role; manufacturing, blue collar, dairy industry experience will be well regarded.
• You have the knowledge and skills to be autonomous and the confidence to support a site of 200+.
• Experience supporting or managing EA negotiations, union negotiations and dispute resolution
• Experience managing performance management and disciplinary processes from start to finish

You will come equipped with:

• Proven experience in a generalist HR Business Partner/Advisor role, ideally supporting operational or blue-collar-heavy industries
• Strong expertise in employee and industrial relations, particularly within unionised environments, with confidence managing complex casework, grievances, and investigations.
• A solid understanding of Australian employment law and Fair Work processes.
• Experience coaching and advising leaders across the employee lifecycle.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build trust at all levels of the organisation.
• A collaborative and hands-on approach, committed to delivering best practice HR solutions.
• Pragmatic problem-solving skills and a data-informed mindset.
• Agility and adaptability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment with competing priorities.

Our story:

Ours is a STORY of a family business created by the Besnier Family in 1933 and is today the worlds' No. 1 dairy company. We are 85,000 loyal team members working across 100 countries and together we create the #LactalisExperience.​

Lactalis Australia's iconic and heritage brands are our PASSION, providing quality and nutritious products for all Australians. We are humble, proud and resilient. We care for our employees, land, farmers and consumers, which is our driving purpose to ensure a responsible and sustainable dairy industry. ​

We take pride in developing our internal talent and encourage entrepreneurship by bringing together pragmatic and tenacious personalities. Our accountability ensures we have ownership within our roles and with our EXPERTISE and dairy "know how",sets us apart.

Lactalis is a supporter of reducing barriers that exist due to traditional working practices and therefore flexible work arrangements will be considered for this role.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage applications from people regardless of gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs or ability.

If you are ready to join the #LactalisExperience Apply now

If this role interests, you please call Gaye Pilven, HR Manager – Bendigo on to discuss the opportunity.

If you are confident that your experience reflects the criteria outlined, please apply on-line to the attention of Gaye Pilven, HR Manager

Applications will be reviewed as received and suitable candidates contacted for interview.