Manager - Workplace Relations

Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 165,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ongoing Professional Development and E

Flexible Work-Life Balance

Generous Salary Sacrificing Options

Paid Parental Leave

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Discounted Private Health Insurance

Fitness Passport

Job summary

Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service in Rockhampton, Central Queensland, invites an experienced Workforce Relations leader to shape policy, provide high‑level advice, and oversee complex case management across the Health Service.

You will lead a specialist team, build durable relationships with unions and external stakeholders, and drive governance and continuous improvement in workplace relations practices.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in industrial relations and employee relations within large organisations.
• Proven ability to advise executives on sensitive workforce matters and complex issues.
• Strong leadership skills to coach and develop a specialist team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Workforce Relations function with authoritative guidance on industrial relations and employee relations.
• Provide strategic advice to executives on high‑risk workforce issues.
• Oversee complex case management, disputes, employment matters, policy governance and workplace relations advisory services.
• Lead, coach and develop a specialist team delivering timely, high‑quality advice.
• Build constructive relationships with unions, legal advisers, Queensland Health stakeholders and external parties.
• Represent Central Queensland Health in industrial and consultative forums, supporting effective dispute resolution.
• Identify emerging workforce risks and trends, strengthen governance and drive continuous improvement in workplace relations practices.

Skills

Industrial relations

Employee relations

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Education

Tertiary qualifications in human resources, industrial relations, employment law

Job description

Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service – Cairns QLD

This position is located in Rockhampton, Central Queensland.

About us:

Central Queensland Health's Workforce and Organisational Capability team supports our people throughout their employment journey. From attracting and retaining great staff to learning and development, performance, workplace change, safety, wellbeing and engagement, the team helps build and support a capable and sustainable workforce.

The division is made up of around 70 human resource professionals who work in partnership with managers and employees across Central Queensland Health, providing practical, responsive and client-focused workforce advice and support.

About the role:

• Lead the Workforce Relations function for Central Queensland Health, providing authoritative advice on complex industrial relations, employee relations, organisational change and workforce matters.
• Provide strategic advice to the Health Service Chief Executive, executive leaders and senior managers on sensitive and high-risk workforce issues.
• Oversee complex case management, industrial disputes, employment matters, policy governance and workplace relations advisory services.
• Lead, coach and develop a specialist team to deliver consistent, timely and high-quality advice across the Health Service.
• Build and maintain constructive relationships with unions, legal advisers, Queensland Health stakeholders and other external parties.
• Represent Central Queensland Health in industrial, consultative and external forums, and support the effective resolution of disputes and workforce matters.
• Identify emerging workforce risks and trends, strengthen governance and policy, and drive continuous improvement in workplace relations practices and capability.

About you:

• You are an experienced workplace relations leader with strong knowledge of industrial relations, employee relations and contemporary human resource practice.
• You have demonstrated experience providing trusted, high-level advice on complex and sensitive workforce matters in a large or complex organisation.
• You are confident managing industrial disputes, complex case matters and organisational change, and can balance legal, operational, workforce and organisational considerations.
• You are an influential communicator and negotiator who can build effective relationships with executives, employees, unions and external stakeholders.
• You are an experienced people leader who can develop specialist capability, set clear expectations and lead a high-performing team.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in human resources, industrial relations, employment law or a related discipline are highly desirable, with postgraduate qualifications or equivalent senior-level experience also well regarded.

What we offer:

Total remuneration value of up to $193,277 p.a. is comprised of:

• An hourly rate between $80.74 - $85.43 p.h.
• 12.75% employer superannuation contribution
• 17.5% leave loading

Additional Benefits:

• Ongoing Professional Development and Education Opportunities
• Flexible Work-Life Balance and Variety
• Generous Salary Sacrificing Options
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Discounted Private Health Insurance
• Fitness Passport

Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) requirements:

It is a condition of employment for this role for the employee to be, and remain, vaccinated against vaccine preventable diseases as listed on the Role Description.

Applications close: Sunday, 1 November 2026