HR Business Partner — Support Office, Sydney
The best HR Business Partners aren't found at their desks. They're in the stores, with leaders before things get complicated.
This is a field-first generalist HR Business Partner role supporting our stores across Sydney. You'll work closely with Store Managers and Area Managers, bringing People & Culture to life where it actually matters, on the shop floor. You're not a policy enforcer. You're the person leaders call before a situation escalates, a trusted advisor who makes people practice practical, human, and distinctly Harris Farm Markets.
What You'll Do
Business Partnering
- Build genuine, trusted relationships with Store Managers and Area Managers, be their first call, not a last resort
- Coach leaders through people matters, performance, conduct, capability, culture, with practical advice that holds up under scrutiny
- Translate P&C strategy into clear, practical actions leaders can actually use on the floor
- Identify people risks early and work proactively with leaders to address them before they escalate
- Spend regular time in stores so your advice is grounded in how the work really happens, not how it looks on paper
Employee Relations & Compliance
- Manage ER matters end to end with confidence and care, balancing commercial realism with fairness, consistenc and legal soundness
- Apply strong working knowledge of the General Retail Industry Award 2020 and Storage Services Award to guide leaders on classification, pay, and entitlements
- Exercise sound judgment on when to resolve issues internally and when to escakate to external legal advice, briefing clearly so advie is efficient and targeted
- Ensure performance and conduct documentation is thorough, timely, and defensible, to ensure both leaders and team members are protected and people are treated fairly
- Support injured workers through return-to-work plans in partnership with the store and external providers
People Development & Capability
- Support leaders to grow their own people through coaching, succession planning, and build a strong internal pipeline
- Champion the Hungry / Humble / Smart framework in day-to-day coaching conversations and performance reviews
- Identify capability gaps across your portfolio and close them through practical, on-the-floor development
- Drive internal promotions, with external hires the exception, not the rule
- Set new leaders up for success by onboarding them into the Harris Farm way from day one
Culture, Safety & Wellbeing
- Champion a healthy, inclusive store culture that reflects the HFM values on the floor every day, not just on a poster
- Support Store Managers to lead with care, recognising that wellbeing, psychological safety, and inclusion are central to how great stores run
- Partner with WHS to ensure incidents are reported appropriately, investigations are fair, and corrective actions are closed out quickly
- Spot early warning signs such as turnover spikes, engagement dips, absenteeism patterns or cultural friction and address them early
- Contribute to Harris Farm's B-Corp people commitments by supporting fair, safe, and dignified workplaces across the portfolio
About You
You'll thrive at the intersection of people and operations. You're confident, pragmatic and comfortable advising leaders in fast-moving, real world environments.
We're looking for:
- 3+ years in a true HR generalist or business partnering role, where you owned ER matters, advised leaders independently and were accountable for outcomes
- Degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field, or equivalent demonstrated experience
- Strong hands on experience managing ER, performance issues, misconduct, grievances, and investigations end to end
- Solid working knowledge of the General Retail Industry Award 2020 and Storage Services Award
- Experience coaching and influencing leaders, including when conversations are challenging
- Clear, practical communication skills, including strong written documentation that stands up in a Fair Work environment
- Sound judgement, knowing when to advise, when to act, and when to escalate
- Willingness to travel regularly to stores across the Sydney metro area
- Curiosity and a learning mindset, including interest in using digital and AI‑enabled tools to work more effectively, support leaders better, and continuously improve people practices
Why Harris Farm Harris Farm is a family-owned Australian fresh food retailer with 30+ stores across NSW, ACT and QLD. Our Support Office is where purpose meets practice, a small, high-performing team that makes a real impact on a business people genuinely love. Come as You Are, Grow as You Go - supported by leaders who value human, practical HR and expect high standards, honest feedback and visible partnership.
if you want your work to mean something and do it alongside people who genuinely care, this is that place.
Ready to Apply? Submit your application via the link below. We review applications as they come in, don't wait.
