People and Culture Advisor (ER Specialist)

Lush; Sydney; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

50% discount on LUSH products

Welcome pack of LUSH products

Birthday leave

Profit-based bonus

Employee ownership (10%)

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Lush is seeking a People and Culture Advisor (ER Specialist) to manage employee relations across Australia and New Zealand. You’ll lead investigations, provide practical guidance to managers, and ensure fair treatment of staff while upholding Lush’s values.

Reporting to the People and Culture Manager, this full-time role is based in Villawood, NSW, with travel to stores as needed. Deadline: 30 November 2026.

Qualifications

• Deep technical foundation in Australian and New Zealand employment law, awards, and statutory requirements.
• Empathetic and objective judgment in handling sensitive situations.
• Influencing and clear communication to coach managers.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical advice to managers to handle workplace situations with empathy and compliance.
• End-to-end ER case management from investigation to resolution.
• Conduct or oversee workplace investigations with procedural fairness.

Skills

Employee relations

HR policy

Communications

Data analysis

Mobility travel

Job description

People and Culture Advisor (ER Specialist)

Application Deadline: 30 November 2026

Department: People Support

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Villawood

Reporting To: People and Culture Manager

Compensation: AU$80,000 - AU$90,000 / year

Description

Who We Are:

You might know us as the inventors of the bath bomb, but there’s more to this great-smelling, partly employee-owned, family-run company than pioneering cosmetics. We believe our business should put more back into the world than it takes and demonstrate that capitalism can be a force for good.

We put our people first and fight cruel practices like animal testing, promote regeneration, and show that it is what’s inside that counts - whether that’s an ingredient in a product, or the minerals in a smartphone.

Diversity Matters:

We are building a brand that represents the people of the world. It’s what you do that counts, and we are always looking to expand perspectives and voices to shape our future.

We see you, we celebrate you, we want you!

Key Info:

• Job title: People and Culture Advisor (ER Specialist)
• Role type: Full Time
• Reports into: People and Culture Manager
• Location: Villawood, NSW
• Closing date: Monday 30th November 2026

About the Role

We are looking for a People and Culture Advisor (ER Specialist) who brings exceptional employee relations expertise, deep empathy, and a practical approach to protecting our people and our culture. We believe in growing the business through the growth and support of our team, and we are looking for a trusted expert to help us maintain a safe, fair, and values-aligned workplace.

Reporting to the People and Culture Manager, you will be an integral partner to our staff across Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand). From navigating complex ER matters to spotting trends that reduce risk before it escalates, your mission is to ensure every Lush manager feels supported and every employee is treated fairly.

Your Primary Focus

1. Senior ER Case Management: You will manage a full spectrum of employee relations matters, including grievances, misconduct, workplace investigations, and restructures, ensuring due process and rigorous standards of fairness are applied every step of the way.
2. Legislative & Award Expertise: You are the primary subject matter expert on modern awards (including the General Retail Industry Award, Manufacturing Award, and Clerks - Private Sector Award) and employment legislation across AU and NZ. You turn complex compliance requirements into clear, practical guidance for our managers.
3. Proactive Trend Analysis & Capability Building: You don't just react to issues; you look at the big picture. By tracking data and identifying root causes, you’ll partner with the P&C Manager to introduce practical measures, policy updates, and targeted manager coaching to prevent recurring issues.

Key Responsibilities

• Practical Advice & Coaching: Provide accurate, timely, and practical advice to Managers to ensure proper, empathetic, and compliant handling of workplace situations.
• End-to-End ER Case Management: Manage and progress employee relations matters from initial report to resolution, including grievances, complaints, misconduct, disputes, mediation and performance management.
• Workplace Investigations: Conduct or oversee workplace investigations, strictly applying the principles of procedural fairness and natural justice.
• Award & Legislation Expertise: Act as the business’s primary subject matter expert on award, enterprise agreement, employment contract, and employment legislation interpretation across AU and NZ.
• Trend Analysis & Prevention: Identify patterns across ER cases in partnership with the P&C Manager, recommending practical measures to address root causes and prevent recurring issues.
• Legislative Monitoring & Compliance: Monitor developments in Australian and New Zealand employment legislation, ensuring policies and workflows are updated, and escalating compliance needs as a matter of urgency to meet all statutory obligations (including the Fair Work Act 2009 and WHS legislation).
• Broader P&C Initiatives: Support wider People & Culture projects, learning and development activities, inbox management, contract generation, and general HR administration as directed.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Deep Technical Foundation: Advanced knowledge of Australian and New Zealand employment law, Modern Awards, statutory consultation requirements, and procedural fairness principles.
• Empathetic & Objective Judgment: Ability to handle complex, sensitive situations with high emotional intelligence, confidentiality, and sound strategic decision-making.
• Influencing & Clear Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, capable of coaching managers at all levels and providing practical advice.
• Analytical Mindset: Proven ability to look past immediate issues, analyse HR metrics/trends, and implement proactive solutions to mitigate risk.
• Flexibility & Mobility: Comfortable with ambiguity in a fast-paced environment, with willingness to travel to stores across Australia and New Zealand when on-site case management is required.

• Experienced in employee relations and case management within a Retail, FMCG, or fast-paced multisite environment.
• Passionate about ethical practices, human-centered HR, and Lush’s brand values.
• Friendly, kind, approachable, and grounded under pressure.

Benefits

• 50% discount on LUSH products to keep you smelling and feeling fresh
• A welcome pack of LUSH products
• Paid day off for your birthday
• Profit-based bonus
• We’re 10% Employee Owned - all colleagues play a role in protecting our ethics, our independence, contributing ideas for the future, and share in the rewards of success when the company is doing well
• Company-sponsored Employee Assistance Program with free access to psychological, financial, legal and dietary advice