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Mars UK • AUS-Victoria-Melbourne | AUS-Victoria-Wodonga | Australia

HR Business Partner (12-Month Contract)

Employment type:  Contract
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Job Description

Job Description:

Mars: Where your Tomorrow Starts Today!

Mars is a family-owned business that has been making products for people and their pets for more than 100 years. We’re behind some of the best loved brands in the world including MARS®, SNICKERS®, EXTRA®, ECLIPSE®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, DOLMIO®, BEN’S ORIGINAL ® MASTERFOODS ® and ROYAL CANIN® ORIJEN® ACANA® we are dedicated to making a positive impact on people and the planet.

Join us in building a sustainable future where people, communities, and the planet can truly thrive.


About the role: This role will be working for our Mars Petcare segment, where we make life better for pets and their owners. In this 12-month contract HR Business Partner role, you’ll drive performance through people – contributing to workforce strategy, influencing senior leaders, elevating employee experience and building a high-performing culture.

Ready to shape the future of one of Australia’s most loved pet care businesses? At Mars Petcare, you’ll have the opportunity to make life better for pets, their owners, and your team — while driving best-in-class people excellence across ANZ.

Role Title: HR Business Partner
Location: Melbourne or Wodonga
Hours: Full-time, Hybrid
Reporting to: HR Director, Mars Pet Nutrition

What you’ll do:

  • Partner with senior leaders to develop and deliver people strategies aligned to business priorities
  • Provide balanced business and people focused HR advice, anticipating workforce needs and proactively mitigating risk
  • Bring the talent strategy to life - ensuring employee experience and engagement while driving capability, effectiveness and performance initiatives
  • Collaborate with Centres of Excellence (Talent Acquisition, Rewards, Employee Relations, Transactions Centre) to deliver integrated, scalable people solutions
  • Support succession planning and leadership development to build a strong, future-ready talent pipeline
  • Leverage people analytics and insights to inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement

Your unique ingredients:

  • Substantial demonstrated experience as a HR Business Partner, HR Advisory, or Generalist role
  • Experience in large, complex global organisations – with the ability to translate global programs into local solutions
  • Proven ability to influence and build relationships with senior stakeholders
  • Strong organisational savvy and understanding of business operations
  • Ability to work independently and efficiently, with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment
  • Strong organization skills with ability to establish priorities and drive results
  • Degree qualified, or relevant equivalent work experience

Why you’ll love working for Mars:

  • Purpose: Help craft beloved brands with a legacy of over 100 years of local manufacturing making products that people and pets will love all while helping to build a more sustainable future.
  • People: A culture that values your contributions, fosters leadership, and recognises the impact you make. Your work truly matters here.
  • Development: Shape your career with personalised development and real opportunities to grow from day one.
  • Enjoy a team and business environment that is invested in helping you manage and grow your energy for work and life.
  • Legacy: Work for a proudly family-owned company with 100+ years of local manufacturing.
  • Community: Be part of a passionate team of pet lovers!

Company benefits

Open to part-time employees
Open to job sharing
Open to compressed hours
Sabbaticals
Enhanced maternity leave – 26 weeks at 90% pay
Enhanced paternity leave – 26 weeks at 90% pay
24 days annual leave + bank holidays
“Pawternity” leave
Pregnancy loss leave
Bank holiday swaps
Shared parental leave
Adoption leave
Family health insurance
Pregnancy support
Neo-natal leave
Faith rooms
Meditation space
Dog friendly office
Dog friendly co-working space
Annual bonus
Employee discounts
Cinema discounts
Referral bonus
Joining bonus
Cycle to work scheme
Electric Car Salary Sacrifice
Enhanced pension match/contribution
Theme park discounts
Lunch and learns
In house training
Learning license
Studying sabbaticals
Open to part time work for some roles

Working at Mars UK

Company employees:

4,000 In the UK

Gender diversity (m:f):

57:43

Hiring in countries

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Belgium

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Bulgaria

Canada

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Office Locations

Awards & Accreditations

1st – Family Friendly

1st – Family Friendly

Flexa awards 2026
3rd – Benefits

3rd – Benefits

Flexa awards 2026
Most loved - Large companies

Top 5 - Most loved - Large companies

Flexa awards 2026
Work-Life Balance

Top 10 - Work-Life Balance

Flexa awards 2026
1st – Family Friendly

1st – Family Friendly

Flexa awards 2025
2nd – Pet Friendly

2nd – Pet Friendly

Flexa awards 2025
Flexible

Flexible

Flexa awards 2025
Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and Inclusion

Flexa awards 2025
Work-Life Balance

Work-Life Balance

Flexa awards 2025
Career Progression

Career Progression

Flexa awards 2025
Culture

Culture

Flexa awards 2025
Benefits

Benefits

Flexa awards 2025
1st – Large companies

1st – Large companies

Flexa100 2024
Consumer Goods

Consumer Goods

Industry awards 2023
3rd – Large companies

3rd – Large companies

Flexa100 2023
Retail & Ecommerce

Retail & Ecommerce

Industry awards 2022

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