Head of Industrial Relations

Elias Recruitment; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Elias Recruitment is seeking a senior Industrial Relations professional to lead engagement with operational leaders, legal, and unions. You will shape IR strategy, guide enterprise bargaining preparations, and translate complex employment law into practical guidance for frontline managers.

You will operate in a high-stakes environment, bringing diplomacy, deep IR expertise, and a pragmatic, commercial mindset to strengthen organisational preparedness and constructive relations across the

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in complex IR matters and negotiations.
• Strong grounding in employment law and industrial relations.
• Experience in high-pressure, contested environments.
• Knowledge of contractor regulation and sham contracting risk.

Responsibilities

• Shape the IR engagement strategy and coordinate activity across operational, legal and industrial relations teams.
• Support preparations for upcoming enterprise bargaining and advise on complex industrial matters and negotiations.
• Translate employment law, contractor regulation and industrial relations requirements into practical guidance for operational leaders.

Skills

IR strategy

Stakeholder engagement

Employment law

Negotiations

Contractor regulation

Right of entry

Enterprise bargaining

Education

Legal qualification

Job description

Working closely with operational leaders, Legal, Industrial Relations and senior executives, you will be the central co-ordination point for industrial relations activity. Reporting to the General Manager Industrial Relations, you will strengthen organisational preparedness and guide pragmatic responses to operational, legislative and industrial matters.

About the Role

A near-term priority is to develop and implement a program that equips operational leaders to manage employee and contractor engagement confidently, supporting consistent compliance and constructive relationships with the relevant parties including unions.

Responsibilities

• Shape the IR engagement strategy and coordinate activity across operational, legal and industrial relations teams.
• Support preparations for upcoming enterprise bargaining and advise on complex industrial matters and negotiations.
• Translate employment law, contractor regulation and industrial relations requirements into practical guidance for operational leaders.

Qualifications

• A legal qualification is preferred.

Required Skills

• You bring substantial first-hand experience engaging with complex IR matters and negotiations with pragmatism and diplomacy.
• Your expertise is grounded in direct experience of contested or high-pressure environments.
• Deep expertise in employment law, industrial relations, contractor regulation, sham contracting risk, MSOs and relevant Chapter 6 provisions.
• A contemporary understanding of rights regarding organising, right of entry, contractor membership strategies and enterprise bargaining preparation.
• Operational and commercial experience in transport, logistics, warehousing, retail, aviation or other similar environments.

Preferred Skills

Pay range and compensation package

The engagement model is flexible: a permanent ongoing role, fixed-term appointment, or day-rate or consulting arrangement may be considered, depending on your preferences and current work commitments.

Bring your experience to a role where sound judgement, direct IR engagement and practical operational advice will shape the industrial relations agenda and preparedness.