Provides hands-on, site-based HR support at McCain’s Ballarat plant across employee relations, labour relations, recruitment, onboarding, employee lifecycle activities, leave administration, engagement, wellbeing, retention, and HR systems adoption. Partners with leaders, employees, Talent Acquisition, HR Business Partners, and service delivery teams while supporting compliance, employee experience, and culture initiatives.
Position Title:HR Specialist - Ballarat
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Requisition ID: 44692
About the role .
As HR Specialist, you will provide hands‑on, site‑based HR support across key people processes at our Ballarat plant. Working closely with leaders and employees, this role supports employee experience, talent processes, employee relations, and lifecycle activities while contributing to McCain's Winning Culture strategy.
This is an on‑site role and forms part of the local plant HR team, with strong connection to the broader HR Specialist community of practice.
What you'll be doing.
What you'll need to be successful.
About the team .
You'll be part of the plant‑based HR team, supporting operational leaders and employees while collaborating closely with the HR Business Partner, Service Delivery teams, and the wider HR community. This role plays an important part in delivering consistent, people‑focused HR support locally while aligning to regional and global HR frameworks.
About McCain .
Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.
Leadership principles .
At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.
AI & Digital Capabilities
At McCain, AI and digital capabilities are part of how we work and innovate. We value curiosity toward emerging technologies and the thoughtful, responsible use of AI-enabled tools to improve outcomes as part of our future-ready culture
The McCain experience .
We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you'll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we're better together.
#LI-IT1, #LI-Onsite
*We've got this covered! No external agency support required and unsolicited CVs will not be considered.
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain's Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy , as applicable. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process, though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information is being handled here .
Job Family: Human Resources
Location(s): AU - Australia : Victoria : Ballarat
Company: McCain Foods (Aust) Pty.
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Requisition ID: 44692
About the role .
As HR Specialist, you will provide hands‑on, site‑based HR support across key people processes at our Ballarat plant. Working closely with leaders and employees, this role supports employee experience, talent processes, employee relations, and lifecycle activities while contributing to McCain's Winning Culture strategy.
This is an on‑site role and forms part of the local plant HR team, with strong connection to the broader HR Specialist community of practice.
What you'll be doing.
- Partner with leaders and employees to manage employee relations matters, including investigations, corrective actions, and appeals
- Support labour relations and employee relations activities aligned with local legislation and McCain policies
- Deliver end ‑ to ‑ end support for high ‑ volume recruitment and internal hiring processes in partnership with Talent Acquisition
- Coordinate and execute effective onboarding experiences for new team members
- Manage in ‑ scope employee lifecycle activities, including voluntary and involuntary separations
- Administer employee leave of absence processes, working closely with external vendors and HR systems
- Support employee engagement, wellbeing, and retention initiatives at site level
- Share insights and trends with stakeholders to improve HR service delivery
- Promote adoption of HR systems and self ‑ service tools in line with the HR operating model
- Contribute to HR programs, projects, and initiatives that strengthen McCain's culture
What you'll need to be successful.
- 1-3 years' experience in an HR Generalist or similar HR role
- Tertiary qualification in Human Resources or a related field (preferred)
- Sound understanding of employment legislation, policies, and HR practices
- Experience supporting employee relations and lifecycle activities
- Strong relationship ‑ building, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
- Confidence working with HR systems and digital tools
- Strong attention to detail with a practical, solutions ‑ focused mindset.
About the team .
You'll be part of the plant‑based HR team, supporting operational leaders and employees while collaborating closely with the HR Business Partner, Service Delivery teams, and the wider HR community. This role plays an important part in delivering consistent, people‑focused HR support locally while aligning to regional and global HR frameworks.
About McCain .
Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.
Leadership principles .
At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.
AI & Digital Capabilities
At McCain, AI and digital capabilities are part of how we work and innovate. We value curiosity toward emerging technologies and the thoughtful, responsible use of AI-enabled tools to improve outcomes as part of our future-ready culture
The McCain experience .
We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you'll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we're better together.
#LI-IT1, #LI-Onsite
*We've got this covered! No external agency support required and unsolicited CVs will not be considered.
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain's Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy , as applicable. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process, though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information is being handled here .
Job Family: Human Resources
Location(s): AU - Australia : Victoria : Ballarat
Company: McCain Foods (Aust) Pty.
Similar Jobs at McCain Foods
Food • Retail • Agriculture • Manufacturing
Manage McCain’s Retail Potato brand portfolio across Australia and New Zealand. Responsibilities include developing brand plans, analyzing consumer and market insights, leading innovation and new product development projects, executing integrated campaigns, monitoring portfolio performance, managing stakeholders and agencies, and optimizing marketing investments to drive growth and commercial results.
Food • Retail • Agriculture • Manufacturing
Leads global industrial equipment and manufacturing system design standards across McCain’s network. Oversees equipment selection, processing-line architecture, automation, controls, utilities, hygienic design, commissioning, validation, and start-up. Supports troubleshooting and root-cause analysis, evaluates emerging technologies, develops engineering frameworks, and ensures safety, quality, cost, and performance requirements are met. Trains technical teams and leads a small global specialist team while collaborating with regional teams and suppliers.
Top Skills:
AutocadControl SystemsEngineering DrawingsIndustrial AutomationP&IdsProcess-Flow DiagramsValidation Protocols
Food • Retail • Agriculture • Manufacturing
Partners with plant and regional teams on budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, month-end and year-end reporting, cost initiatives, standard costs, NPD launches, inventory management, and capital expenditure analysis. Supports manufacturing decision-making by delivering accurate financial insights, identifying performance gaps, and driving cost efficiencies and accountability across plant operations.
Top Skills:
Financial Management SystemsSAPWarehouse Management Systems
What you need to know about the London Tech Scene
London isn't just a hub for established businesses; it's also a nursery for innovation. Boasting one of the most recognized fintech ecosystems in Europe, attracting billions in investments each year, London's success has made it a go-to destination for startups looking to make their mark. Top U.K. companies like Hoptin, Moneybox and Marshmallow have already made the city their base — yet fintech is just the beginning. From healthtech to renewable energy to cybersecurity and beyond, the city's startups are breaking new ground across a range of industries.
