Principal Consultant Employee Relations & IR

AAR Consulting Group; Penrith; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AAR Consulting Group is seeking a Principal Consultant in Employee Relations and Industrial Relations for a large NSW government department providing health services across the state. The role guides employment law, awards, and policies while supporting industrial change and disputes resolution with stakeholders and HR partners.

Responsibilities include advocating before tribunals, negotiating settlements, and ensuring compliant workforce practices.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Employment Law, Industrial Relations or related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing employee/industrial relations in a large, complex organisation.
• Proven negotiation and advocacy experience with unions and in tribunals.

Responsibilities

• Provide high level guidance on employment law, awards and determinations.
• Lead industrial change strategies and workplace relations improvements.
• Resolve disputes through negotiation, conciliation, or arbitration as needed.
• Collaborate with HR Business Partners and stakeholders across multiple sites.

Skills

Stakeholder comms

Negotiation with unions

Industrial relations expertise

Legal/compliance knowledge

Public speaking

Education

Tertiary qualifications in Employment Law/IR

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel / Spreadsheets

HRIS systems

Job description

Principal Consultant Employee Relations & IR

Our client is a large NSW government department that provides extensive health services across the state

Role Description:

The Principal Consultant of Employee Relations / Industrial Relations will provide high level guidance and technical expertise on employment law, awards, determinations, policies and procedures as related to the department; while supporting industrial change practices across the District

This specialised role will work collaboratively with all stakeholders and the Human Resources Business Partners to build effective workplace relations, resolve industrial disputes and associated matters through local negotiation or conciliation and/or arbitration before industrial and employee related tribunals as needed

Skills and Experience:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Employment Law, Industrial Relations, Human Resources, Management or other relevant business degree
• Demonstrable experience in managing employee / industrial relations in a complex and diverse organisation
• Negotiating with unions, undertaking advocacy in various jurisdictions, preparing employer submissions, witness statements, filing of applications and employer responses and appearances at conciliation and arbitration proceedings
• Proven ability to apply knowledge of employment legislation, awards, agreements, policies and best practice to identify and resolve complex workforce issues
• Extensive experience in negotiation and resolution in managing industrial disputes, grievances and conducting investigations
• Computer literacy including word processing for the formulation of briefs, ministerials, reports, letters and general communication - utilisation of databases, spreadsheets and other applications for analysis of workforce data, as required
• High competency in written, oral communication and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to provide authoritative advice and maintain appropriate and credible stakeholder relationships
• Willingness to travel to all regional facilities (Penrith/Blue Mountains and the Ministry office, including travel to appear before the Industrial Relations Commission and other tribunals on a needs basis)

At AAR Consulting Group we embrace diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity. We encourage and support applications from people with a disability.