Employee Relations Manager

The Next Step Recruitment; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Next Step Recruitment is seeking a seasoned Employee Relations leader to guide the ER function across a major Australian organisation. You will lead a small ER team, manage complex investigations, and partner with HR, Health & Safety and senior executives to deliver balanced, commercial outcomes.

You will build capability, enhance policies and reporting, and shape the future direction of Employee Relations across the business.

Qualifications

• Significant Employee Relations experience in large organisations.
• Strong Australian ER and employment law knowledge.
• Proven experience leading investigations and grievances.
• Ability to influence senior executives and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex employee relations and workplace investigations.
• Provide strategic ER advice to senior leaders and executives.
• Coach HR and business leaders through sensitive people matters.
• Develop ER frameworks, governance and operating models.
• Mentor ER team and partner with Health & Safety teams.
• Contribute to organisational change and workforce planning initiatives.

Skills

Employee relations

Employment law

Investigations

Leadership

Policy development

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/IR/Law

Job description

About Them

Our client is a major Australian infrastructure organisation delivering critical services that support communities, industries and businesses nationwide.
With a geographically dispersed workforce and a strong operational footprint, the organisation is navigating ongoing growth, transformation and investment while continuing to evolve its people and culture practices. As employee expectations, psychosocial risk obligations and workplace regulations continue to change, the business is investing in building a modern, commercially focused Employee Relations function.
This newly elevated position will play a key role in shaping how Employee Relations is delivered across the organisation.

About the Role

This role will lead Employee Relations across the organisation, providing expert advice on complex workplace matters while helping establish the frameworks, governance and operating model that will underpin the function into the future.
Leading a small ER team, you'll oversee complex case management, workplace investigations, performance matters and grievances, while partnering closely with HR, Health & Safety and senior business leaders to deliver balanced, commercial outcomes.
Beyond day-to-day case management, this is a genuine opportunity to build capability, improve systems and reporting, refine policies and processes, and help shape the future direction of Employee Relations across the business.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading complex employee relations and workplace investigations
• Providing strategic ER advice to senior leaders and executives
• Coaching HR and business leaders through sensitive people matters
• Developing ER frameworks, governance and ways of working
• Managing external legal providers where required
• Contributing to organisational change, workforce planning and business transformation initiatives
• Partnering closely with Health & Safety teams on emerging psychosocial risk and workplace wellbeing matters
• Mentoring and developing ER team capability

About You

This role will suit an experienced Employee Relations leader who combines deep technical expertise with strong commercial judgement and the ability to build trusted relationships across complex stakeholder groups.
You are pragmatic rather than theoretical, comfortable operating in an evolving environment and know how to balance risk, compliance and business outcomes.

We will be looking for:

• Significant Employee Relations experience within large and complex organisations
• Strong Australian ER and employment law knowledge
• Proven experience managing complex investigations, grievances and workplace disputes
• The ability to influence senior executives and operational leaders
• Experience developing ER frameworks, policies, governance and operating models
• A collaborative approach and the ability to work effectively across HR, Health & Safety and broader business functions
• Strong leadership capability with experience coaching and developing others

Experience within infrastructure, construction, engineering, energy, transport, utilities or other operationally focused environments will be highly regarded.