HR Business Partner New Zealand

Purpose and Mission

JOB PURPOSE

The HR Manager provides hands-on, operational HR leadership and delivery to the Cookes New Zealand business. The role plays a critical part in ensuring effective execution of core HR and payroll processes, supporting leaders in managing their teams, and maintaining compliance with employment legislation, company policies, and QSE standards.

Approximately 80% of the role is operational, focusing on day-to-day HR delivery, employee relations, recruitment, payroll oversight, and administrative excellence. The remaining 20% of the role is strategic, contributing to workforce planning, leadership capability, engagement, safety culture, and alignment with Bridon Bekaert – The Ropes Group (BBRG) HR priorities.

OUR COMPANY

Cookes is part of Bridon Bekaert – The Ropes Group (BBRG), the world’s premier supplier of mission‑critical advanced cords and ropes. Cookes is one of New Zealand’s most dependable and recognised brands, supplying quality wire rope, lifting and marine products, services and solutions across New Zealand and the wider South Pacific.

VALUES

As part of Bekaert, we are guided by four core values: Integrity, Trust, Agility and Boldness, which shape how we work, lead and make decisions.

Key Activities and Responsibilities

1. Operational HR Leadership & Delivery (≈80%)

• Provide hands-on, timely and pragmatic HR generalist advice to managers and employees.
• Act as first point of contact for employee and manager queries, ensuring consistent and compliant responses.
• Own and manage end-to-end employee relations and industrial relations, including case management and union (ETu) communications, meetings and reviews.
• Manage end-to-end recruitment, including workforce requirements alignment, selection processes and onboarding support.
• Oversee the full payroll function in conjunction with the outsourced payroll provider and Finance, ensuring accuracy, compliance and timely processing.
• Respond promptly to payroll, leave, benefits and employment condition queries.
• Coordinate and manage core HR processes including performance reviews, remuneration review cycles and employee engagement surveys.
• Coach & manage the HR administrator locally
• Maintain HR systems, employee records and HR reporting requirements, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.
• Administer and support the Learning Management System and local learning activities.
• Model and reinforce workplace behaviours aligned with company values, diversity, inclusion, respect and wellbeing.
• Ensure compliance with New Zealand employment legislation, company policies, ISO requirements and BBRG standards.
• Manage alignment with and following of Bekaert Group policies and processes (position management, hirings, exits, Travel & Expenses, access management,...)

• Lead and manage HR projects as required.

2. Strategic HR & Business Partnership (≈20%)

• Contribute to the development and execution of the annual HR plan, aligned with Cookes business priorities and BBRG HR strategy.
• Partner with the Leadership Team to identify workforce, capability and succession risks and propose practical people solutions.
• Support leadership capability development, employee engagement initiatives and culture improvement actions.
• Act as the local HR interface to the HR function, translating group HR frameworks into fit‑for‑purpose local execution.

• Provide coaching and support as required for supervisors, managers and leaders to enable then to effectively lead their teams and deliver to the best of their ability
• Support continuous improvement initiatives in people processes, safety leadership and organisational effectiveness.

3. Quality, Safety & Environment (QSE)

• Actively lead and promote a strong Health & Safety culture, contributing to the goal of a Zero Harm workplace.
• Work closely with the QSE Manager to build safety leadership capability across managers and team leaders.
• Ensure compliance with all Cookes and BBRG QSE policies, standards and procedures.
• Take accountability for personal safety and actively identify and manage workplace risks.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Essential:

• Proven experience in a hands-on HR generalist role
• Demonstrated payroll oversight experience
• Strong knowledge of New Zealand employment legislation and ER/IR practices
• Ability to build trusted relationships with leaders and employees
• High degree of confidentiality, professionalism and integrity
• Strong organisational, prioritisation and attention-to-detail skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Desirable:

• Tertiary qualification in Human Resources or related discipline