People and Culture Business Partner – Manufacturing & Game Meat Processing

📍 Yatala, QLD | Two operational sites | Highly regulated food production

At The Real Pet Food Company, we’re passionate about creating high-quality nutrition for pets. Behind every product is a complex manufacturing and supply chain operation that relies on capable, pragmatic HR professionals who understand the realities of production environments. Our operations are fast-moving, complex and highly regulated. Behind our products are manufacturing and processing environments where operational discipline, workforce planning and strong leadership capability matter every day.

We’re looking for an experienced PAC Business Partner who understands the realities of food manufacturing and processing environments and who enjoys working directly alongside operations leaders.

This newly created role supports two very different but interconnected operations:

• Yatala Manufacturing Site – the largest wet pet food manufacturing site in Asia

• Game Meat Processing (GMP) – a specialist facility processing wild kangaroo, wild boar and venison for human consumption and export markets.

These are hands-on operational environments with a workforce made up of permanent employees, casuals and labour hire.

What the Role Involves

You will be working alongside operations managers, production leaders and supervisors helping them manage a mix of day to day and strategic initiatives.

Key priorities include:

Leader Guidance & Capability

• Coaching leaders on the full spectrum of operational people and capability, including performance management, employee relations and workforce planning

• Helping supervisors manage high-volume teams in demanding environments

• Building leadership capability where many leaders have grown through operations

Employee Relations & Investigations

• Managing investigations, disciplinary matters and incident responses

• Providing clear and pragmatic ER/IR advice

• Ensuring workplace issues are handled consistently and fairly

Workforce Planning & Labour Strategy

• Supporting leaders to manage a mixed workforce of permanent, casual and labour hire

• Building workforce planning discipline across fast-moving production environments

• Helping leaders balance productivity, cost and compliance

Operational HR Partnership

• Being visible and trusted on site

• Providing practical, pragmatic advice based on understanding of the business

• Helping sites stay compliant while operating at pace

You will be part of a national PAC business partnering team, reporting to the Head of Industrial Relations and Business Partnering, who is based in Sydney.

The Environment

Both operations operate in high-compliance food production environments.

The Game Meat Processing facility processes wild animals sourced through regulated supply chains. The environment is similar to an abattoir or meat processing operation that produces products for export, and you will need to be comfortable working around animal processing operations.

The Yatala site is a large-scale wet food manufacturing environment producing short shelf-life products.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a PAC Business Partner who has worked in operational environments and understands the rhythm of production businesses.

You will bring:

✔ Strong ER/IR capability and confidence managing investigations

✔ Experience supporting large operational workforces

✔ The ability to coach operational leaders in practical ways

✔ Comfort working in processing environments involving animal products

✔ Resilience and adaptability in fast-paced operations

Ready for a Role Where People and Culture Really Partner with Operations?

If you’re an HR professional who enjoys working closely with manufacturing and processing teams and want a role where your impact will be felt every day on site, we’d love to hear from you.

Why Join Real Pet Food Co?

Do work that matters

We’re pioneering a fresher approach to pet food and constantly raising the bar for nutrition and quality.

Make a real impact

You won’t be a cog in the wheel here. We trust our people, give autonomy, and back great ideas.

Growing and global

With a fast-growing footprint across APAC, our journey is just getting started.

Learn from the best

Work with passionate, highly respected leaders and gain access to LinkedIn Learning, leadership development and internal mobility opportunities.

We’re pet people

Bring your pet to the office, enjoy Pawrental leave when you adopt, plus pet carer and compassionate leave.

Generous benefits

• Anniversary day off

• Product discounts

• Volunteering days

• Novated leases

• Rewards program

• Parental leave

What’s Next?

This role is a full-time role and you will work between our Yatala and Wulkuraka sites.

The selection process will include

• Two in-person interviews

• Site Visits

• Psych Assessment

• Two reference checks.

• Q Fever Vaccination - proof of vaccination required.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diversity isn’t a buzzword here — it’s part of our DNA. If you require any reasonable adjustments or accessibility support during the recruitment process, please contact people&culture@realpetfoodco.com.au.

Please note: No recruitment agencies will be considered. We kindly ask that unsolicited profiles are not submitted.