Senior Manager - HR Business Partner

About Orica

At Orica, it’s the power of our people that leads change and shapes our futures.  Every day, all around the world, our people help mobilise vital resources essential to progress. Established in 1874, we have grown to become the world leader in mining and civil blasting with a diverse of team of more than 13,000 across the world. 

It’s an exciting time to join us – we are shaping the future of mining through digital and automated technologies, embracing new ways of thinking, pioneering innovation and reimagining the way we work.

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Manager – HR Business Partner to lead the HRBP function supporting our EMEA business, partnering closely with senior leaders across a diverse operational portfolio.

This is a critical regional leadership role responsible for shaping and executing the people strategy across multiple markets. The role sits at the intersection of business performance and organisational capability – supporting leaders through workforce planning, organisational change, leadership development, and complex employee relations environments.

Leading a team of HR Business Partners, you will work closely with the Regional Management Team, HR Centres of Excellence, and People Advisory teams to ensure the organisation has the leadership capability, workforce strategy, and organisational structures required to support the region’s growth and operational priorities.

Success in this role requires strong judgement, credibility with senior leaders, and the ability to navigate complexity while maintaining focus on long-term organisational health and performance.

The role can be based in London or Lisbon, with accountability across the broader EMEA region.

What success looks like

In the first 12 - 18 months, success in this role will include: 

• Establishing strong credibility and trusted partnerships with senior leaders across the EMEA business.

• Strengthening the capability and effectiveness of the regional HRBP team.

• Ensuring consistent implementation of global people frameworks while addressing regional workforce needs.

• Supporting leaders through organisational change, workforce planning, and leadership capability development.

• Providing sound judgement on complex employee relations matters across multiple markets.

• Contributing to a strong organisational culture and engagement across the region.

What you will be doing

Enterprise HR & leadership partnership:

• Lead, elevate and develop the regional HRBP team.

• Partner with senior leaders to align people priorities with business strategy.

• Translate enterprise HR frameworks into practical regional implementation.

• Support leaders through organisational change, transformation, and growth initiatives.

Workforce strategy and organisational capability:

• Support long-term workforce planning across the region.

• Drive leadership capability on succession, leadership capability, and team effectiveness.

• Partner with Talent Acquisition to define and prioritise enterprise hiring strategies, addressing critical capability gaps, emerging and future skills requirements, and enabling a shift towards skills‑based hiring aligned to workforce strategy.

• Contribute to organisational design discussions and structural change where required.

Employee relations and risk management:

• Provide senior guidance on complex ER/IR matters across multiple jurisdictions.

• Ensure strong governance, policy adherence and alignment with local employment legislation.

• Support investigations and sensitive high- impact workplace matters when required.

• Coach leaders on proactive employee relations practices.

People insights and organisational health:

• Use workforce data and employee insights to inform decision-making.

• Identify organisational trends that may affect engagement, capability, or performance.

• Work with HR Centres of Excellence to implement enterprise initiatives at a regional level.

What you will bring

This role requires an experienced HR leader who is comfortable operating in complex, multinational environments and influencing senior stakeholders.

Key capabilities include: 

• Significant experience in HR Business Partnering or HR leadership roles.

• Experience supporting senior leaders in large or matrix organisations.

• Strong working knowledge of employment legislation and employee relations frameworks.

• Ability to manage complex organisational and people challenges with sound judgement.

• Proven capability leading and developing HRBP or people teams.

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing capability at executive level.

• A pragmatic, commercially aware approach to HR partnership.

What we offer

As part of a truly global company, you will have the ability to grow and learn in a diverse, collaborative culture. We foster relationships and learning through connected global and local teams, promote flexible and diverse career paths and support the development of your knowledge and skills. 

You will be paid a competitive salary, learn from talented individuals across multiple disciplines and be able to thrive in a safe workplace within a collaborative culture. Ignite your career at a place where your distinct potential can find its home.

We respect and value all

Orica promotes and fosters a culture of inclusion and Equal Opportunity Employment everywhere we operate. We treat our people and applicants with fairness, dignity, and respect, getting the best of everyone’s contributions.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, nationality, age, military or veteran, marital or disability status.