ZURU Toy Company
Head of People and Culture
The Role
Lead ZURU’s global HR operations and strategic projects for 12 months from our Auckland Global Excellence Center. Drive impactful change across international teams while shaping the future of people and culture in a fast-growing, innovative business.
Get to know the team and hear from our current Head of People and Culture in their latest LinkedIn post here.
About ZURU
ZURU is on a mission to disrupt across industries, challenge the status quo and catalyst change through radical innovation and automation advances. This is in play in different pillars of the company: ZURU Toys are re-imagining what it means to play; ZURU Tech is shaping a better future by leading the next building revolution; ZURU Edge is pioneering new generation FMCG brands to better serve modern consumers.
Founded in 2003 by EY Entrepreneur of the Year and World Entrepreneur Hall of Fame brothers Nick and Mat Mowbray, ZURU has quickly grown to a team of over 5000 direct and indirect members across more than 30 international locations.
One of the largest toy companies in the world, globally recognised and award-winning brands include Bunch O Balloons, Mini Brands, XSHOT, Rainbocorns and Smashers. Our global FMCG brands include MONDAY Haircare, Rascals, NOOD, BONKERS, Gumi Yum Surprise, and more!
For more information, visit www.zuru.com.
Position Impact
ZURU is looking for a globally experienced, hands-on Head of People & Culture for a 12-month parental leave cover. Reporting to the COO, this role offers a unique opportunity to lead core HR operations (40%) across our International team, including NZ, AUS, US, UK and Europe, while driving high-impact, cross-border strategic projects (60%).
You’ll focus on optimising global HR processes, enhancing automation, and integrating systems across key hubs in China, Italy, and India. Working closely with regional HR leads, offshore support teams, and business leaders, you’ll streamline workflows, upskill local teams, and build scalable, cost-effective people practices.
This role is ideal for an HR leader who thrives in fast-paced, project-driven environments.
HR Leadership
- Lead and coach a high-performing NZ-based P&C team to deliver consistent, high-quality support across the team member lifecycle, with a strong focus on attracting and retaining top talent.
- Support the internationalisation of HR operations by embedding scalable structures and workflows across Europe (Italy), India, and China.
Project Ownership: Global Payroll Optimisation (travel to China required)
- Conduct a comprehensive review of global payroll processes (China-based), identifying pain points, inefficiencies, and compliance gaps.
- Recommend and implement automation and process improvements to ensure accuracy, compliance, and scalability across jurisdictions.
- Partner with the China payroll team to embed standardised global processes and explore RPA/automation opportunities.
Project Ownership: Regional Offshoring & Capability Building
- Partner closely with the China HR Director to review, identify and implement opportunities to streamline, automate, and offshore HR and administrative tasks to China and India, enhancing global clarity, cost-effectiveness, and operational efficiency.
- Support the development of the Italy HR team hub to localise HR and TA support.
- Provide frameworks, tools, and training (based on NZ best practices) to upskill regional HR teams and drive consistent, autonomous support across hubs.
People & Culture Operations (BAU)
- Champion ZURU’s culture and DNA, ensuring all people programs reinforce high performance and talent density.
- Oversee core HR operations including onboarding, performance development, leadership coaching, and ER support.
- Lead key cyclical people programs (e.g. performance, compensation, incentives, and talent reviews), ensuring they are simple, consistent, and impactful.
- Enhance the use of SAP SuccessFactors to support data-driven people decisions and process optimisation.
- Coach and partner with leaders internationally to strengthen capability, accountability, and ownership of people practices.
Skills and Experience
- Proven experience (8+ years) in senior HR leadership roles, ideally in high-growth organisations with global exposure, preferably across APAC, US and other European markets.
- Strong expertise in global payroll operations, audits, and process improvement.
- Proven ability to lead HR operations and drive projects forward.
- Skilled in driving cross-border initiatives, automation, and operational efficiency at scale.
- Hands-on leader with both strategic and operational HR expertise.
- Experience in upskilling, structuring, and supporting distributed HR teams across multiple locations.
- Strong working knowledge of HR systems (SAP/SuccessFactors highly desirable).
- Excellent communicator and influencer across different cultures, time zones and functions.
- Bias for action. Execution-focused, adaptable, and thrives in evolving environments.
- Passionate about continuous improvement and driving positive change.
LIFE@ZURU
ZURU is on a quest to reimagine tomorrow. Founded in 2003, ZURU Group has rapidly grown and now spans three core divisions—ZURU Toys, ZURU Edge (consumer goods) and ZURU Tech (construction).
Known for its cutting-edge software and world-leading automation and manufacturing systems, ZURU has over 5,000 team members in over 30 global locations, making it perfectly placed to continue building its reputation as one of the fastest-growing and most disruptive companies in the world.
At ZURU, we have cultivated a high-performing culture that encourages excellence. Our team works towards ambitious goals, learning, performing, and improving together, all while having fun. We empower talented individuals to do their best work every day.
At ZURU, you get out what you put in. You are responsible for driving your own career and we provide the platform to achieve it. As ZURU is on such a fast growth trajectory, there are opportunities here that you won’t find anywhere else.
Get to know us a little better by checking out @lifeatzuru on Instagram or www.zuru.com.
WHAT WE OFFER
🌱 Culture for Growth
🧘 Health & Well Being Benefits
🌎 Global Opportunities
💡 Surrounded by an A Player Team
💰 Competitive Remuneration
🍓 Lots of fresh fruit, coffee, pals fridge and more
ZURU – Reimagining tomorrow 🚀
#LI-FR1
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The Company
What We Do
ZURU is a disruptive and award-winning company that designs, manufactures and markets innovative toys and consumer products. Inspired by kids and imaginative play, ZURU is one of the fastest growing toy companies in the world and is known for their agility, creativity and new-age manufacturing techniques. The company that started in New Zealand now employs more than 5,000 staff across 18 offices, produces 600,000 toys a day and distributes to most major retailers in over 120 countries. ZURU has delighted millions of families all over the world with brands such as Bunch O Balloons™, X-Shot™, Rainbocorns™, Robo Alive™, Smashers™, 5 Surprise™ and Metal Machines™ as well as through partnerships with entertainment properties, including Nickelodeon, Disney, Universal Studios and DreamWorks. With a strong commitment to the community, ZURU supports Captivating International, local China orphanages and also student development programs in Asia and in New Zealand. ZURU will continue to pave new ways for kids to play and focuses on reimagining what this looks like every day.
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