Employee and Industrial Relations Manager

Laing O'Rourke Australia Construction Pty Limited; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Laing O'Rourke Australia Construction Pty Limited is seeking an experienced Employee and Industrial Relations Manager to join our national team, based in Sydney or Melbourne. The role provides strategic and practical guidance on complex IR matters, partnering with business leaders and project teams to lead union engagement and enterprise agreement negotiations.

You will strengthen industrial relations capability, deliver pragmatic, commercially focused outcomes, and support enterprise-wide

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in industrial relations, human resources, law or a related discipline.
• Significant employee and industrial relations experience within a complex, highly unionised environment.
• Experience negotiating and implementing enterprise agreements.
• Strong knowledge of the Fair Work Act and relevant workplace legislation.
• Commercially minded with strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead employee and industrial relations activities as required, aligned with business and project requirements.
• Advise leaders, project teams and People Leads on complex workplace matters.
• Build constructive relationships with unions, delegates, industry associations and key stakeholders.
• Lead enterprise agreement negotiations, interpretation and implementation, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.

Skills

Significant employee and industrial IR

Communication

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Education

Tertiary qualifications in industrial relations, HR, or law

Job description

Employee and Industrial Relations Manager

Laing O'Rourke is a $6 billion global engineering and manufacturing-led construction leader, delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects. In Australia, we’ve proudly operated under the Laing O'Rourke banner for over 20 years, building on more than 70 years of local expertise.

Driven by our purpose - pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, in service of humanity - we create safer hospitals, cleaner water, secure defence facilities, and better-connected cities. We also build meaningful careers and inclusive workplaces where people thrive. Backed by global strength and deep local roots, our unique operating model combines cutting-edge technology with modern methods of construction to deliver certainty for clients and transform how infrastructure is engineered and built.

We also own two vertically integrated businesses: Select Plant Australia, the nation’s fourth-largest plant hire company, and Laing O'Rourke Rail Operations, supporting major projects and nationwide rail maintenance.

That’s the Power of Experience

About the role

We are currently seeking an Employee and Industrial Relations Manager to join our national team, based in either Sydney or Melbourne.

This senior role will provide strategic and practical advice across complex employee and industrial relations matters, partnering with business leaders, project teams and People Leads. You will lead union and stakeholder engagement, support enterprise agreement negotiations and help strengthen industrial relations capability across the business while delivering pragmatic, commercially focused outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Lead employee and industrial relations activities as required, aligned with business and project requirements.
• Advise leaders, project teams and People Leads on complex workplace matters.
• Build constructive relationships with unions, delegates, industry associations and key stakeholders.
• Lead enterprise agreement negotiations, interpretation and implementation, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.

About you

• Tertiary qualifications in industrial relations, human resources, law or a related discipline.
• Significant employee and industrial relations experience within a complex, highly unionised environment.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating and implementing enterprise agreements.
• Strong knowledge of the Fair Work Act and relevant workplace legislation.
• Commercially minded, with strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder-management skills.

We work hard to create an environment that brings out the best in our people. We believe in building careers through providing a safe, connected and innovative culture that supports ongoing growth and development. We offer industry-leading benefits such as specialised learning and development programs, a mental health and wellbeing program, industry leading paid parental leave policy, an additional purchased leave option and coaching programs for staff on parental leave.

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the diverse society in which we live and work. Laing O'Rourke is r ecognised as a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality in 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2026. We know that the right culture and purposeful innovation are key to delivering impact.

Laing O'Rourke actively supports a diverse workforce and strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and people from culturally diverse backgrounds. Download our Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan at https://www.laingorourke.com/company/diversity-and-inclusion

Applications from recruitment agencies will not be considered.

Unlock job insights

Hirer responsiveness Salary match Number of applicants

Laing O'Rourke is currently delivering some of Australia’s most exciting projects across the transport, building construction, defence, airports, mining, civil and social infrastructure sectors.

The business has been recognised three times on the AFR's Most Innovative Australian Companies index and is committed to becoming the recognised leader for innovation and excellence in the construction industry.

We know that building an enduring and innovative organisation requires us to develop and nurture the very best talent from across the industry and are committed to driving real change across the industry to ensure both men and women can access rewarding and challenging careers.

Laing O'Rourke is currently delivering some of Australia’s most exciting projects across the transport, building construction, defence, airports, mining, civil and social infrastructure sectors.

The business has been recognised three times on the AFR's Most Innovative Australian Companies index and is committed to becoming the recognised leader for innovation and excellence in the construction industry.

We know that building an enduring and innovative organisation requires us to develop and nurture the very best talent from across the industry and are committed to driving real change across the industry to ensure both men and women can access rewarding and challenging careers.

Laing O'Rourke is currently delivering some of Australia’s most exciting projects across the transport, building construction, defence, airports, mining, civil and social infrastructure sectors.

The business has been recognised three times on the AFR's Most Innovative Australian Companies index and is committed to becoming the recognised leader for innovation and excellence in the construction industry.

We know that building an enduring and innovative organisation requires us to develop and nurture the very best talent from across the industry and are committed to driving real change across the industry to ensure both men and women can access rewarding and challenging careers.