Senior HR Advisor at Synlait External Careers Site

Rakaia, Canterbury, New Zealand -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

10 May, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

09 Feb, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Employment Relations, HR Advice, Performance Management, Disciplinary Processes, Grievances, Investigations, Interpersonal Skills, Communication, Problem-Solving, Decision-Making, Planning, Organization, Customer-Focused Mindset, Attention to Detail, Employment Legislation, HR Best Practice

Industry

Food and Beverage Manufacturing

Description

About the role We are seeking an experienced Senior HR Advisor with a strong employment relations focus to join Synlait’s Safety, People & Culture team! Partnering primarily with our ops teams but across the business, you’ll be right in the thick of the action; working with our people on the ground and the leaders who make our business tick. The Senior HR Advisor plays a critical part in providing high-quality, pragmatic HR and ER advice across the business. Supporting leaders, and the Senior HR Business Partners, this role ensures people matters are managed fairly, consistently and in line with legislation and policy. With an opportunity to be the key HR contact for a few different portfolios across Synlait, this is a great step-up opportunity for someone looking to advance their HR career, or for a current Senior HR Advisor looking for something just a bit different for 2026. We’re looking for someone who is passionate about employment relations – you’ll love getting under the hood of a new case, managing the process end-to-end, and mitigating risk for the business. Driving continuous improvement in processes and the way we do things will also fill your cup, as well as genuinely helping our people and leaders with any and all people-related matters. We move as one at Synlait and so you’ll be driven by being a helpful and valuable team-mate for our Safety, People & Culture team. Sick of the annoying daily commute to the centre city? Based at our state-of-the art facilitates in Dunsandel you’ll skip the daily traffic-light grind, jump on the motorway, and have a luxurious commute out to the country listening to your podcast, drinking your Macca’s coffee, and pulling into a large carpark with ample free parking. If that sounds like your kind of morning, we’d love to hear from you! Key responsibilities of this role include.. Take a leading role in employment relations matters across Synlait, including performance management, disciplinary processes, grievances, misconduct investigations, drug & alcohol matters, attendance management, medical incapacity, and terminations Provide accurate and practical HR advice across the full employee lifecycle, including performance, conflict, engagement, policy, leave, onboarding, and offboarding Support organisational development programmes such as engagement initiatives, CliftonStrengths, talent, and leader development Interpret and apply employment agreements, policies, and procedures Build trusted relationships across the business and promote HR’s role as a valued partner Support Senior HR Business Partners with day-to-day queries, coaching, advice, and approvals Support matters including ACC cases, medical incapacity, return-to-work plans, prescription medication agreements, and breaches of Health & Safety or Drug & Alcohol policies Contribute to improvements in policies, procedures, and documentation across the Safety, People & Culture team Contribute to proactive and strategic initiatives aligned to the annual team strategy and workplan Skills and Experience The ideal candidate will have the following skills and attributes: Proven experience in a Senior HR Advisor or ER Specialist role, or several years in an HR Advisor role with a strong employment relations focus Demonstrated experience leading ER cases, including investigations, disciplinary meetings, and drafting formal documentation Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trusted relationships Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines Strong planning, organisation, and prioritisation skills Customer-focused mindset with high attention to detail Sound knowledge of employment legislation and HR best practice Relevant tertiary qualification in Human Resources or a related discipline (desirable) Experience in a manufacturing environment is desirable Don’t hit every single criteria? No worries – apply anyway and let’s have a chat! About us – The Synlait Spirit Synlait is more than a global leader in milk nutrition – we're a purpose-led team that’s Doing Milk Differently For A Healthier World. Our Synlait Spirit guides everything we do, from how we show up each day to the impact we create together. You’ll be joining an authentic, down-to-earth team that lives the three values that underpin the Synlait Spirit. Be The Difference means we understand before we act – that means asking why, supporting each other to think differently, stay curious, and continuously look for smarter ways to deliver value. Whether it’s in the paddock, the plant or the boardroom, we’re driven by impact and inspired to make a meaningful difference every day. We Move as One by working together with respect, trust and a shared commitment to doing what’s right. We collaborate across teams to deliver innovative solutions and create opportunity for those around us. We feed the world’s most vulnerable, including newborn babies, so we have to be Right on the Mark. That means we take accountability seriously, act with courage and focus our energy on what matters most. We combine expert farming and state of the art processing to deliver high quality nutritional products to all over the world. At Synlait you’ll be challenged and supported to grow. We know everyone brings something unique to the table so we’re an inclusive workplace, where diverse perspectives fuel innovation and success. What we offer: Health insurance cover through Southern Cross Partnered with top brands for great benefits and discounts Free parking Access to our free staff Synlait bus, leaving from Rolleston multiple times daily State-of-the-art facilities with hush rooms for quiet work, drop-in meeting spaces, ample meeting rooms, training room facilities, and a cafeteria that would rival many. Work-life flexibility Excellent parental leave with our Matua policy B CorpTM certified Social Club membership opportunities What's next? Apply now! Include your most recent CV and cover letter summarising why you want to come and work at Synlait. We wish you the best of luck in your application. We encourage you to apply early as we will be reviewing applications regularly and may close the advertisement early. Together we will continue to create a workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute their best. Applicants outside of New Zealand will only be considered if you have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand. #LI-KT1

Responsibilities

The Senior HR Advisor will lead employment relations matters, providing HR advice across the employee lifecycle and supporting organizational development programs. This role involves building trusted relationships and contributing to policy improvements within the Safety, People & Culture team.