Associate Director, Workplace Relations & Business Partnering

at; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Australia is seeking an Associate Director for Workplace Relations and Business Partnering. This role involves leading teams, providing strategic HR advice, and navigating complex employment matters in a high-impact environment. The successful candidate will have significant experience in HR leadership, be familiar with workplace relations practices, and possess strong negotiation skills. This position is a 12-month parental leave cover concluding in October 2026.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in senior HR leadership roles required.
• Advanced understanding of Australian employment laws.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement workplace relations strategy.
• Lead Workplace Relations and Senior HR Business Partner teams.
• Advise senior stakeholders on workforce planning and compliance.

Skills

Contemporary workplace relations

Strategic HR partnering

Team leadership

Excellent negotiation skills

Building trusted relationships

Education

Tertiary qualifications in human resource management

Job description

Associate Director, Workplace Relations & Business Partnering

The University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) is seeking an experienced and confident leader to step into a high-impact opportunity as our Associate Director, Workplace Relations and Business Partnering.

Reporting to the Director, People and Culture, you will lead high-performing Workplace Relations and Business Partnering teams, provide strategic advice to executive leaders, and drive enterprise-wide initiatives. With a strong focus on proactive, risk-aware, and people-centred solutions, you’ll shape the university’s approach to complex employment matters, compliance, and organisational change.

Team leadership is foundational to this role. We’re looking for a strong and supportive people leader. You’ll inspire, coach, and empower two highly skilled teams to deliver impactful, collaborative, and forward-thinking solutions across the university.

This is a unique opportunity to lead with impact in a bargaining year (2026), playing a pivotal role in enterprise bargaining negotiations and broader workforce transformation. The position is a 12-month parental leave cover, concluding in October 2026.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and implementation of UniSC’s workplace relations strategy, including enterprise bargaining, performance and conduct management, and compliance with employment legislation;
• Lead and support both the Workplace Relations and Senior HR Business Partner teams to deliver integrated, strategic, and solutions-focused support to senior leaders across faculties, schools, and professional units;
• Advise and support executive and senior stakeholders on workforce planning, organisational change, complex case management and reform;
• Represent the University in external industrial forums and negotiations, and lead collaborative relationships with union stakeholders;
• Oversee conduct and compliance processes including public interest disclosures, conflict of interest, and risk culture reporting;
• Keep the university ahead of changes in legislation, employment law and sector trends, translating insight into clear action plans, education and implementation; and
• Support the broader People and Culture strategic direction and contribute to a values-based, inclusive, and high-performing culture.

About You:

You are a confident and credible people leader with a deep understanding of contemporary workplace relations and strategic HR partnering in complex, values-driven environments. You bring both presence and pragmatism, able to advise executive leaders, engage with union stakeholders, and lead high-performing teams with clarity, empathy, and sound judgement.

Requirements:

• Tertiary qualifications in human resource management, employment law, industrial relations, or a related discipline, supported by extensive experience in senior HR leadership roles;
• Strong knowledge of contemporary human resource management and workplace relations practices, including enterprise bargaining, dispute resolution, performance management, and conduct matters;
• Proven success in leading and developing high-performing teams within complex or unionised environments, preferably across multiple sites;
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic and operational advice to senior leaders, contributing to business outcomes through effective workforce planning, risk management, and change leadership;
• Advanced understanding of the Australian employment and industrial relations legislative framework, and the ability to apply this knowledge in a pragmatic and compliant manner;
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and influencing skills, with a track record of building trusted relationships with executive teams, staff, and union representatives;
• Experience contributing to the development and implementation of HR strategy, policies, and governance frameworks in alignment with organisational goals; and
• A working knowledge of the higher education sector (desirable) or experience within similarly regulated or complex industries.

UniSC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, women in STEM, First Nations Peoples, and individuals of diverse cultures, genders, abilities, and experiences.