HR Business Partner
About the job
- A relevant human resources qualification.
- Proven experience in a Business Partner or senior human resources advisory role.
- Strong employment relations and industrial relations experience.
- Exposure to organisational change, workforce planning and remuneration frameworks.
- Experience working with unions and collective bargaining processes.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to influence leaders and navigate complex situations with confidence.
- Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
- High levels of integrity, discretion and professionalism.
- Partner with managers to provide practical and strategic human resources guidance.
- Lead and support organisational change initiatives.
- Drive workforce planning and talent strategies.
- Manage employee relations and industrial relations matters, including disciplinary processes and investigations.
- Support remuneration reviews and organisational design initiatives.
- Contribute to collective bargaining and union engagement.
- Lead human resources projects that strengthen capability, culture and performance.
- Champion best-practice people processes and compliance.
- Promote a strong health, safety and wellbeing culture.
About the company
Ritchies Transport is a large New Zealand transport operator that runs public transit services, nationwide school bus operations, and tourism charters. It grew from a single Temuka bus in 1935 by acquiring many local bus lines, building a nationwide fleet of over 1,600 vehicles and sustaining a family-owned business for decades. Today, it operates primarily through contracts with cities for public transport, school run networks, and charter work, leveraging its extensive, multi-service fleet. The company differentiates itself by its long history, scale achieved through a series of regional acquisitions, and, since 2021, ownership by KKR with the Ritchie family retaining a stake to preserve continuity and focus on long-term infrastructure and greener transport solutions. The goal is to support New Zealand’s public transport network while accelerating the transition to greener transportation options.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Christchurch, New Zealand
Founded
1935
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Ritchies opened Māngere depots in 2025, supporting 102 electric buses and 250 staff.
- Auckland Transport said 175 new electric buses join west and south Auckland routes by 2026.
- Ritchies appointed Scott Thorne CEO on 17 August 2026, restoring operational leadership.
What critics are saying
- KKR's unresolved sale process creates strategic drift after Michele Kernahan's August 2026 exit.
- Auckland driver assaults and Whangārei rock-throwing incidents expose daily safety and reputational damage.
- Failing Auckland's electrification rollout would wreck AT trust and end future contract wins.
What makes Ritchies Transport unique
- Ritchies runs New Zealand's largest bus network, spanning urban, school, charter, and tourism.
- Auckland Transport's 2025 nine-year, $1.068 billion contract makes Ritchies a dominant urban operator.
- Zenobē depots and GIRO HASTUS give Ritchies integrated electrification and scheduling capability.
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Benefits
- Training Programs
- Professional Development Budget