People Operations Lead | Merivale

At Merivale, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do – from iconic venues to unforgettable guest experiences.

We’re looking for a People Operations Lead to play a critical role in partnering with senior leaders to execute our People strategy, uplift team capability, and mitigate business risk across the group. This role delivers consistent, high-impact support that enables performance, compliance, and a culture of care.

Reporting to the Group Head of People Operations, this role is responsible for delivering high-quality, commercially aligned people partnering. You will hold direct portfolio responsibility for our HQ function and lead a high-performing People Operations team to ensure operational excellence and consistent service delivery.

People Partnering

• Partner with Head Office departments, acting as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and executives
• Build strong stakeholder relationships to understand business challenges and deliver tailored people solutions
• Collaborate with the broader People Experience team to deliver group-wide initiatives aligned to business priorities
• Partner with the Employee Relations Lead to ensure effective management of ER matters

Team Leadership & Administration

• Lead, coach, and develop the People Operations team, fostering a high-performance culture aligned to Merivale’s Leadership Skills Framework
• Drive operational excellence through continuous improvement across people partnering and lifecycle processes
• Maintain strong governance, reporting, and documentation standards to ensure compliance and best practice

Employee Relations

• Provide guidance on complex ER matters, including investigations, performance management, and dispute resolution
• Implement policies and frameworks that mitigate risk while supporting a positive workplace culture
• Stay current with employment legislation and industry best practice, advising leaders on implications and actions

Performance Enablement

• Execute and embed people plans that drive workforce performance and leadership outcomes
• Partner with Merivale Academy to operationalise performance management frameworks and processes
• Lead consultation and wellbeing initiatives that support the physical, mental, and social health of employees

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• Extensive senior HR/People leadership experience in fast‑paced environments
• Proven track record developing and leading high‑performing teams
• Strong Employee Relations knowledge with a confident, pragmatic partnering approach
• Excellent judgement and decision‑making in complex, high‑pressure settings
• Resilient, composed, and solutions‑focused
• Tertiary qualifications in HR, Psychology, Business, or related

Merivale Employee Benefits 

• 25% staff discount across 90+ Merivale venues. 
• Exclusive monthly perks, staff-only rewards and events. 
• Merivale Staff Cellar – access to premium wines at staff pricing. 
• Unlimited career growth with endless development opportunities. 
• Merivale Academy – online and in-person training, including Leadership & Performance, First Aid, Food Safety and more. 
• Professional accreditation support – including Leadership qualifications.
• Employee Assistance Program – confidential wellbeing and mental health support, provided by Sonder. 
• Employee Referral Program – earn rewards for bringing great people on board.