Employee Relations Manager

EY; Adelaide; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellness incentive

8 weeks flex leave per year

Gender-neutral paid parental leave

Job summary

EY is seeking an Employee Relations Manager in Australia on a 15-month parental leave coverage. The role focuses on high‑risk ER matters and confidential investigations, working with leaders and HR teams to provide expert advice and coaching.

You will influence senior stakeholders, contribute to policy development and continuous improvement, and operate within a flexible, hybrid model across EY offices nationwide.

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex and escalated employee relations cases.
• Strong knowledge of employment legislation and statutory requirements.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and provide advisory support.

Responsibilities

• Act as the senior escalation point for complex and high-risk ER case management.
• Partner with HR Business Partners, General Counsel and other Talent Centres of Excellence on investigations, restructures and acquisitions.
• Work with leaders at all levels to deliver practical, sustainable solutions to sensitive employee issues.
• Provide expert guidance and informal coaching to Employee Relations Advisors on complex cases.
• Contribute to ER-related projects, including legislative updates and process improvements.
• Maintain work-life balance through a flexible, hybrid working model.

Skills

ER expertise

Stakeholder engagement

Employment legislation

Investigations

Job description

At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence. We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go. Join EY and help to build a better working world.

Employee Relations Manager

The opportunity

As one of our Employee Relations Managers on a 15‑month Parental Leave coverage, you will support a high‑performance culture by acting as a senior subject‑matter expert for the business. This role is focused on the management of complex and high‑risk employee relations matters, rather than people leadership. You will work closely with leaders, HR Business Partners and other centres of excellence to manage escalated matters such as workplace investigations, conduct issues, ill‑health, redundancies and restructures, and senior or sensitive performance matters, as well as other complex employee relations issues. This role does not have direct reports. Instead, you will provide expert advice, guidance and coaching to stakeholders and Employee Relations Advisors on complex cases. You will also contribute to priority projects aligned to the Talent agenda, including legislative change, policy development and continuous improvement initiatives. This role can be performed from any of our EY offices across Australia and can potentially be adjusted to work flexibly with reduced hours.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Acting as the senior escalation point for complex and high‑risk ER case management
• Partnering with HR Business Partners, General Counsel and other Talent Centres of Excellence on matters such as investigations, restructures and acquisitions
• Working with leaders at all levels to deliver practical, sustainable solutions to sensitive employee issues
• Providing expert guidance and informal coaching to Employee Relations Advisors on complex cases
• Contributing to ER‑related projects, including legislative updates and process improvement initiatives
• Maintaining work‑life balance through a flexible, hybrid working model

Skills And Attributes For Success

Ideally, you’ll also have the following skills and attributes, but we’re interested in your aptitude, attitude, and willingness to learn.

• Strong ability to influence and partner with senior leaders across the organisation
• Demonstrated experience managing complex and escalated employee relations cases
• Strong knowledge of employment legislation and statutory requirements
• Up‑to‑date understanding of case law, legislative changes, awards and emerging ER issues

A practical, solutions‑focused approach to complex and ambiguous problems; the ability to work autonomously while collaborating effectively within a specialist team; proven capability managing diverse stakeholders and navigating sensitive situations.

What We Offer You

• Career development: we’ll develop you with future‑focused skills and world‑class experiences
• Flexible work arrangements: our flexible work policies empower you to balance your professional and personal life
• A comprehensive benefits package: a yearly wellness incentive, additional 8 weeks of flex leave per year, family‑friendly policies, including up to 26 weeks of gender‑neutral paid parental leave
• Salary: a competitive salary which is open to negotiation pending on skills and experience

Acknowledgement of Country

EY acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which EY offices are located across Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders—past, present, and emerging. Find out more about our vision for reconciliation at ey.com/en_au/careers/indigenous

Inclusiveness and Equal Opportunity

Inclusiveness is core to who we are and how we work together, driving value for our people and for our business. We encourage applications from people of all ages, nationalities, abilities, cultures, sexual orientations, and gender identities and are committed to providing an equitable and barrier‑free recruitment experience for all. We encourage you to share any support and adjustments you need to be your best and participate equitably in our recruitment process. Anything you tell us will be kept completely confidential.