Manager - Workplace Relations

Queensland Government; Rockhampton Regional; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work-life balance

Paid parental leave

Employee assistance program (EAP)

Discounted private health insurance

Fitness Passport

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Central Queensland Health is seeking an experienced leader to head its Workforce Relations function, providing authoritative advice on complex industrial and employee relations, organisational change and workforce matters, engaging with executives and unions.

You will oversee a specialist team, manage complex cases, governance, and external forums, building constructive relationships with unions and external stakeholders, and driving continuous improvement across the health service.

Qualifications

• Significant expertise in industrial relations and employee relations within large or complex organisations.
• Experience advising senior leaders on sensitive workforce matters.
• Ability to lead and develop a specialist workforce relations team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Workforce Relations function and provide authoritative advice on complex IR/ER matters.
• Provide strategic advice to health service executives and senior managers.
• Oversee complex case management, disputes, policy governance and advisory services.
• Represent Central Queensland Health in forums and build external relationships with unions and stakeholders.
• Identify workforce risks, strengthen governance, and drive continuous improvement in workplace practices.

Skills

Industrial relations

Employee relations

Human resources

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor or equivalent in HR/IR/Employment Law

Postgraduate qualifications

Job description

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 contribution17.5% leave loadingAdditional Benefits:Ongoing Professional Development and Education OpportunitiesFlexible Work-Life Balance and VarietyGenerous Salary Sacrificing OptionsPaid Parental LeaveEmployee Assistance Program (EAP)Discounted Private Health InsuranceFitness PassportVaccine 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.How to apply:To apply, please submit the following:Your current CV or resume, including referees.A short response to the following scenario:You join Central Queensland Health and are immediately presented with a number of competing priorities , an emerging industrial dispute, a complex employee relations matter requiring executive advice, and concerns about consistency in workplace relations practices across the organisation.In a short response, tell us how you would approach your first 30 days, including how you would prioritise the issues, engage key stakeholders and establish confidence in the Workforce Relations function.For assistance:Contact [e-mail] the Job Ad Reference (JAR) RK6I693561Applications close: Sunday, 11 October 2026#RockhamptonThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License.