Employee & Industrial Relations Lead

The Next Step Recruitment; Sydney; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Next Step Recruitment is seeking an experienced Employee Relations/Industrial Relations professional to join a large, values-driven organisation in New South Wales. The role centers on advising senior leaders on ER/IR matters with a mix of operational and strategic work, including change and stakeholder engagement.

You will handle investigations, restructures, and engagement with unions, delivering pragmatic guidance while ensuring legal compliance within a complex workplace.

Qualifications

• Experience in Employee Relations or Industrial Relations across complex, unionised environments.
• Hands-on experience managing investigations, grievances, misconduct, and workplace conflict.
• Knowledge of Australian employment legislation and industrial frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert ER and IR advice across a broad portfolio of workforce issues.
• Manage complex investigations, grievances and workplace conduct issues.
• Support leaders through restructures and workforce change initiatives.
• Partner with unions and employee representatives.
• Support conflict resolution and workplace risk management.
• Contribute to strategic ER and IR projects across the organisation.
• Interpret industrial instruments, policies and employment legislation.

Skills

ER/IR expertise

Investigation management

Stakeholder management

Union liaison

Employment law knowledge

Job description

About Them

Join a large, values-driven organisation that provides critical services to communities across New South Wales.
With a highly skilled workforce operating across metropolitan, regional and remote locations, the organisation plays an important role supporting individuals through some of life's most challenging circumstances. Their work is diverse, fast-paced and deeply connected to the communities they serve.
Following a period of transformation within the People & Culture function, the organisation continues to invest in strengthening its Employment and Industrial Relations capability to support a changing workforce and evolving operational environment.

About the Role

Reporting into an experienced and credible Industrial Relations leader, this role sits at the centre of some of the organisation's most complex and high-profile people matters.
You’ll act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, providing expert ER and IR advice across a broad portfolio of workforce issues. The role offers a genuine mix of operational and strategic work, with a strong focus on organisational change, employee relations and stakeholder management.
Key responsibilities include:

• Providing expert advice across ER and IR matters
• Managing complex investigations, grievances and workplace conduct issues
• Supporting leaders through organisational restructures and workforce change initiatives
• Partnering with unions and employee representatives
• Supporting conflict resolution and workplace risk management
• Contributing to strategic ER and IR projects across the organisation
• Interpreting industrial instruments, policies and employment legislation

This is not a transactional case management role. The work is varied, complex and often unique, offering exposure to matters rarely seen in more traditional commercial environments.

About You

You are an experienced Employee Relations or Industrial Relations professional who thrives in complex, fast-paced environments and enjoys partnering with leaders to navigate sensitive workplace matters. You bring a strong foundation in ER and IR, with hands-on experience managing investigations, grievances, misconduct matters and workplace conflict. You have supported organisational change initiatives, including restructures and consultation processes, and are confident engaging with unions and employee representatives. With a sound understanding of Australian employment legislation and industrial frameworks, you provide pragmatic, commercially minded advice while balancing risk, stakeholder needs and organisational outcomes. Strong relationship-building skills, sound judgement and the ability to influence at all levels will be key to your success in this role.

Public sector experience will be highly regarded, however candidates from other complex, unionised environments are encouraged to apply.
You'll join a fun, collaborative and supportive team, work alongside respected leaders in the field, and gain exposure to significant organisational change initiatives.