Employee Relations Specialist

As an Employee Relations Specialist, you’ll be our go‑to expert on employment relations and employment law. Reporting to our Supply Chain People & Culture Manager, you’ll support our leaders to navigate complex and sensitive ER matters with confidence, providing clear, practical and legally sound advice.

You’ll combine hands‑on ER case management with a broader, preventative lens. You’ll be trusted to exercise sound judgement, spot emerging risks and patterns, and help strengthen how ER is managed across our Supply Chain.

In practice, the role will focus on:

• Leading and supporting complex ER cases, including investigations, disciplinary and grievance processes

• Coaching leaders through performance and conduct matters, building confidence and capability

• Identifying ER trends and risks, and recommending practical preventative actions

• Contributing to the development and improvement of our ER frameworks, policies and ways of working

You’ll be part of a high-energy, collaborative team who are passionate about making a real impact across the co-op.

You'll be a capable and confident HR or ER Advisor who understands the complexities of working within a large dynamic organisation – and if you’ve worked within a cooperative, that’s a bonus! Ideally, you’ll also bring:

• Strong, working knowledge of contemporary HR practices and New Zealand employment legislation
• Proven ability to interpret and apply employment legislation and best‑practice HR principles in practical, real‑world situations
• Demonstrated experience leading disciplinary, grievance and investigation processes end‑to‑end
• Well‑developed coaching, influencing and conflict‑management skills
• A continuous improvement mindset, with confidence using data and metrics to inform decisions
• Strong collaboration, communication and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to adapt in a fast‑moving environment

Don't Meet Every Requirement? We encourage you to apply anyway. We are looking for individuals with diverse experiences and are keen to hear from those who believe they have the drive and potential to succeed in this role.

• Our approach to flexible working is based on trusting and empowering our people to manage their time and deliver results while balancing the needs of their personal lives
• We’re committed to equitable outcomes, and we offer additional paid parental leave, free period products and financial health checks to name a few
• We support your wellbeing with Southern Cross health insurance for you and your family after a qualifying period, discounts at local gyms, and access to online wellbeing tools
• We offer continuous learning and professional growth, as well as access to our extensive online training library and endless opportunities
• We’re proud of our supportive team environment, and our positive and friendly culture that’s made fun by regular social events!
• We’re a Pride Pledge organisation, and we are committed to an inclusive workplace where everyone thrives, every day and we celebrate our diversity as strength
• Our Hornby based office has free carparking, an in-house café. 

Think this role sounds like a bit of you? We’d love to hear from you! Click “apply” to apply for the role! Applications will close 11:59pm Monday 16 March 2026 and will only be accepted via our careers site. We aim to hold interviews the week of 23 March 2026.

If you have any questions about the role, or experience any issues submitting your application, please email careers@foodstuffs-si.co.nz

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