Reporting to the Head of HR, Australia & New Zealand, this newly created role suits an experienced HR professional who brings a practical, commercially focused mindset and thrives working close to the business.
You’re confident partnering with leaders at all levels, delivering operational outcomes, and contributing to broader people initiatives. Comfortable working within global HR frameworks, you’re equally happy rolling up your sleeves to manage the day‑to‑day realities of a true business partnering role.
About the Role
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This is a newly created, part‑time, on‑site opportunity for an experienced HR Business Partner with strong in‑house talent acquisition capability.
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For the first six months, the role will have a strong focus on end‑to‑end recruitment, supporting both white‑collar and blue‑collar hiring across operational and corporate functions. As the business continues to evolve, the role will progressively shift into a broader HR Business Partnering remit, with scope to expand further over time.
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You’ll take ownership of recruitment across a diverse portfolio, from frontline to senior roles, partnering closely with leaders to define requirements, shape sourcing strategies, and deliver results in a competitive market.
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Alongside recruitment, you’ll support a range of HR initiatives, operating in a high‑touch, consultative environment that prioritises strong stakeholder relationships, constructive industrial outcomes, and a positive employee experience.
Key Responsibilities
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Deliver end‑to‑end recruitment across operational and corporate roles
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Manage the full employee lifecycle, from recruitment through to offboarding
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Elevate the employee experience in ways that genuinely matter
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Act as a culture champion, role‑modelling Smurfit Westrock’s Guiding Principles and Values
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Advise on job design and role clarity to support performance and accountability
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Partner with leaders to build psychologically safe, collaborative teams
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Use engagement data, exit insights, and sentiment analysis to identify trends and design targeted actions
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Act as a trusted advisor on sensitive and complex people matters
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Coach leaders through performance, behaviour, and challenging conversations
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Facilitate training and capability‑building initiatives
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Support and embed practical, sustainable change
Employee Relations, IR & Stakeholder Management
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Lead and manage employee relations matters end‑to‑end across the Australian portfolio, with a focus on early intervention and resolution
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Support Enterprise Agreement negotiations, variations, and implementation in partnership with leaders and the broader People Team
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Build and maintain effective working relationships with union and employee representatives, balancing commercial outcomes with positive employee relations
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Provide practical, solutions‑focused advice on performance management, conduct, investigations, organisational design, and change
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Monitor legislative changes, industrial risks, and broader trends within the Australian employment landscape
You won’t be doing this alone — you’ll work closely with the wider People Team and build strong partnerships across the business.
About You
You’re an experienced HR Business Partner or in‑house Talent Acquisition professional with a strong track record of delivering end‑to‑end recruitment and pragmatic HR solutions in fast‑paced, commercial, and industrial environments.
You:
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Are a natural coach who builds leadership capability
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Lean into difficult conversations and balance people outcomes with performance
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Are commercially minded, curious, and improvement‑focused
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Are confident engaging with unions and industrial stakeholders
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Enjoy being hands‑on and close to the business
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Are comfortable using data and people metrics to inform decisions
Skills & Qualifications
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5+ years’ experience as an HR Business Partner (ideally in a complex or matrix environment)
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Demonstrated experience managing ER matters and supporting EA negotiations
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Strong stakeholder management skills, including senior leaders, executives, and union representatives
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Tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Business, or a related discipline
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Strong working knowledge of Australian employment and industrial relations law
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Experience with HRIS platforms (Workday desirable)
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Ability to translate data and insights into practical actions
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Experience supporting organisational change and cross‑functional initiatives
Why Apply?
This is a visible and impactful role within a business undergoing meaningful change and transformation. You’ll play a key role in shaping hiring outcomes, supporting enterprise‑level people decisions, strengthening leadership capability, and contributing to constructive industrial relationships.
The role offers flexibility, autonomy, and the opportunity to grow with the business in a collaborative and agile environment.
