Industrial Relations Specialist

Peoplecorp HR Recruitment Specialists; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10% annual bonus

Birthday day off

Education funding

Career development

Hybrid work: 1 WFH day/week

Job summary

Peoplecorp is seeking an experienced Industrial Relations lead to oversee the national enterprise bargaining agenda. You will negotiate with unions, shape strategy, and advise on agreements and the Fair Work framework across multiple states.

Based in Melbourne or Sydney with one flexible work-from-home day per week, you will influence leaders, manage risks, and build credible relationships. A 10% annual bonus and ongoing development support are included.

Qualifications

• Strong industrial relations experience in blue-collar, heavily unionised environments.
• Hands-on enterprise bargaining experience from strategy to implementation.
• Knowledge of enterprise agreements, awards and the Fair Work Act.
• Experience with unions in Victoria is highly regarded.
• Collaborative, energetic team player mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead the national enterprise bargaining agenda and strategy.
• Negotiate with unions and build credible relationships.
• Advise on enterprise agreements, awards and Fair Work framework.
• Support HR Business Partners on complex employee relations matters.
• Represent the business in disputes and Fair Work Commission proceedings.
• Monitor industrial relations developments and translate into guidance and tools.

Skills

Industrial relations

Enterprise bargaining

Union negotiations

Stakeholder management

Job description

Our global client is a long-established Australian business operating nationally across most mainland states. With a large, highly skilled and predominantly unionised field workforce, the business is making a strategic investment in its industrial relations capability. This is a newly created role, designed to bring specialist expertise in-house and lead the organisation through a busy and important enterprise bargaining cycle over the next few years. You will join a close-knit, high-performing HR team that pitches in wherever needed, enjoys a laugh and delivers when it counts.

THE ROLE

Reporting to the Director of HR, you will be the organisation’s industrial relations subject matter expert and lead the national enterprise bargaining agenda. With multiple enterprise agreements across states and a major round of negotiations approaching, you will shape enterprise bargaining strategy well before negotiations begin, working with operational leaders to review what is working, identify risks and define clear bargaining objectives. You will lead negotiations at the table, build constructive and credible relationships with union officials and delegates, and hold your ground with confidence when discussions become robust. You will advise on enterprise agreements, Awards and the Fair Work framework, support the HR Business Partners on complex employee relations matters as an escalation point, and represent the business in disputes and Fair Work Commission proceedings where required. You will also keep a close eye on emerging industrial relations developments, including the shift towards multi-enterprise bargaining, and turn them into practical guidance, tools and training for leaders. The role can be based in Sydney or Melbourne, both with free onsite parking, and offers one flexible work-from-home day per week.

THE CRITERIA

To be successful in this role, you will bring strong industrial relations experience gained in a blue-collar, heavily unionised environment. You will have hands-on enterprise bargaining experience, ideally having led negotiations from strategy through to implementation, and a strong working knowledge of enterprise agreements, Awards and the Fair Work Act. Experience working with unions in Victoria would be highly regarded, as would experience gained on the union side. Just as important is a collaborative, energetic personality who enjoys being part of a tight team. In return, you will receive a competitive package including a 10% annual bonus, a day off on your birthday, further education funding and genuine career growth with a global industry leader.

At Peoplecorp, we are dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in every recruitment process. We believe that a rich variety of perspectives drives innovation and success. We actively seek candidates from all backgrounds and encourage individuals of all races, genders, abilities, and experiences to apply.

Please apply now – we look forward to receiving your application. For further information please email [e-mail].