Executive Manager Workplace Relations

CommBank; Sydney; On-site; AUD 200,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth Bank in Sydney is seeking an Executive Manager Workplace Relations to provide expert guidance on complex employee and workplace relations issues across the Group. You will work with leaders, HR partners, Legal, and investigations teams to manage high-risk matters with confidence and consistency.

You will lead a small team, coaching members to deliver high-quality, commercially focused advice while overseeing workflow and risk governance.

Qualifications

• Experience leading specialist advisory teams in corporate, consulting, or legal environments.
• Extensive experience handling complex employee/workplace relations cases.
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment law and workplace legislation.
• Ability to balance legal/compliance, reputational and people considerations in recommendations.
• Excellent stakeholder management and credibility with leaders.
• Resilience and judgement to navigate ambiguity in a fast-paced setting.
• Experience coaching leaders through sensitive people matters.
• Tertiary HR/Employment Relations/Law degree or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a small team of Workplace Relations specialists, fostering a high-performing, collaborative and inclusive culture.
• Coach, mentor and support team members to deliver high-quality, consistent and commercially focused advice across complex employee relations matters.
• Oversee team workflow, capacity and performance, ensuring matters are prioritised and managed effectively.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to leaders, HR and employees on employment and workplace relations matters.
• Partner with senior leaders and HR teams on organisational change, strategic initiatives and complex people-related risks.
• Support senior stakeholder governance through reporting, insights and participation in key risk forums.
• Identify emerging trends and drive initiatives that improve workplace outcomes, reduce risk and strengthen leader capability.
• Champion continuous improvement, leveraging technology, automation and AI-enabled solutions to enhance service delivery and employee experience.
• Maintain a strong focus on team wellbeing, development and sustainable performance.
• Contributing to strategic projects focused on process improvement, automation and AI-enabled transformation.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Legal knowledge

People coaching

Judgement & resilience

Ambiguity navigation

Education

HR/Employment Relations/Law degree

Job description

The Workplace Relations team plays a critical role in helping Commonwealth Bank navigate complex people matters while balancing employee wellbeing, legislative obligations and business outcomes. Supporting leaders across the Group, we provide expert advice and practical solutions on a broad range of employee and workplace relations matters.

We're a high-performing, collaborative team that manages some of the most complex people risks across the organisation. With a strong focus on continuous improvement, we're also investing heavily in technology, automation and AI to shape the future of Workplace Relations.

This is an opportunity to join one of Australia's largest and most sophisticated Workplace Relations functions, where you'll gain exposure to a breadth of work, senior stakeholders and projects that have genuine organisational impact.

Do work that matters

As an Executive Manager Workplace Relations, you'll provide expert advice and guidance on complex employee and workplace relations matters across the Group.

Working closely with leaders, HR Business Partners, Group Investigations, Legal and other key stakeholders, you'll manage high-risk and sensitive matters while helping leaders navigate challenging situations with confidence and consistency.

No two days are the same. One day you may be supporting a complex misconduct investigation, and the next advising on performance management, coaching leaders through a workplace issue or partnering on broader transformation initiatives.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead and develop a small team of Workplace Relations specialists, fostering a high-performing, collaborative and inclusive culture.
• Coach, mentor and support team members to deliver high-quality, consistent and commercially focused advice across complex employee relations matters.
• Oversee team workflow, capacity and performance, ensuring matters are prioritised and managed effectively.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to leaders, HR and employees on employment and workplace relations matters.
• Partner with senior leaders and HR teams on organisational change, strategic initiatives and complex people-related risks.
• Support senior stakeholder governance through reporting, insights and participation in key risk forums.
• Identify emerging trends and drive initiatives that improve workplace outcomes, reduce risk and strengthen leader capability.
• Champion continuous improvement, leveraging technology, automation and AI-enabled solutions to enhance service delivery and employee experience.
• Maintain a strong focus on team wellbeing, development and sustainable performance.
• Contributing to strategic projects focused on process improvement, automation and AI-enabled transformation.
  

We're interested in hearing from people who have

• Demonstrated experience leading and developing specialist advisory teams, fostering a culture of accountability, capability uplift, wellbeing and high-quality service delivery.
• Significant experience managing complex employee relations or workplace relations cases within a corporate, consulting or legal environment.
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment law, workplace legislation and employee relations frameworks.
• The ability to balance legal, compliance, reputational and employee considerations when making recommendations.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence outcomes and build credibility with leaders.
• Strong judgement, resilience and the ability to navigate ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience coaching and supporting leaders through complex and sensitive people matters.
• Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Employment Relations, Law or a related discipline.
  

At CommBank, we're committed to creating an accessible, inclusive and respectful workplace. If you require support or adjustments, please let us know. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and we're particularly committed to making a positive difference for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples. For support please contact 1800 989 ***

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