Senior Employee Relations Specialist

Little company of Mary Health care Limited; Adelaide; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Calvary is seeking a hands-on Employee Relations professional to own end-to-end ER matters across a national healthcare organisation. The role offers influence over ER policy, templates and capability, and operates in a hybrid model with onsite presence and interstate travel.

You will manage a diverse ER caseload, lead investigations and disputes, and collaborate with leaders and the People team to progress matters through formal processes, delivering pragmatic, commercially sound outcomes.

Qualifications

• Significant experience across employee relations matters, including complex cases.
• Experience managing employment claims and disputes.
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment law and industrial frameworks.
• Deliver pragmatic and commercially sound outcomes.
• Excellent written skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative approach and supporting junior team members.
• Tertiary qualifications in HR, Employment Relations, Law or related discipline.
• Experience in healthcare or unionised environments is highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Managing employee relations matters end-to-end
• Leading investigations, grievance and disciplinary processes
• Handling performance, and medical incapacity matters
• Managing employment-related claims and disputes (including Fair Work Commission matters)
• Engaging with unions, employee representatives and external advisers as required to progress and resolve matters
• Working closely with leaders and the People team to progress matters through informal and formal processes
• Interpreting and applying enterprise agreements, modern awards, employment contracts and other industrial instruments, including classification and engagement matters
• Supporting organisational change and consultation
• Develop and improve ER policies, templates and guidance
• Support and guide ER team members and People team stakeholders
• Contribute to capability uplift and continuous improvement

Skills

Employee relations

Investigation leadership

Disciplinary handling

Union engagement

Written communication

Prioritisation

Education

HR/ER/Law degree

Job description

Looking for a hands-on ER role where you own the work end-to-end, not just advise?

At Calvary, this is a true Employee Relations role where you'll manage a broad and active caseload across a large, complex national healthcare organisation, while also influencing how ER is delivered to drive consistent, pragmatic and commercially sound outcomes across the organisation.

Why this role?

• Own employee relations matters end-to-end
• Work across a mix of complex and day-to-day ER matters
• Influence how ER is delivered (policy, templates and capability)
• Hybrid role with national exposure across healthcare services

About the opportunity

You'll operate autonomously across a national healthcare organisation, managing a diverse ER caseload while helping shape how ER is delivered. This is a hands-on role with real influence, offering strong breadth across employee relations. The role operates in a hybrid model, combining work from home with regular onsite presence in local offices or services, and some travel (including interstate).

What you’ll be doing

• Managing employee relations matters end-to-end
• Leading investigations, grievance and disciplinary processes
• Handling performance, and medical incapacity matters
• Managing employment‑related claims and disputes (including but not limited to Fair Work Commission matters)
• Engaging with unions, employee representatives and external advisers as required to progress and resolve matters
• Working closely with leaders and the People team to progress matters through informal and formal processes
• Interpreting and applying enterprise agreements, modern awards, employment contracts and other industrial instruments, including classification and engagement matters
• Supporting organisational change and consultation

You’ll also

• Develop and improve ER policies, templates and guidance
• Support and guide ER team members and People team stakeholders
• Contribute to capability uplift and continuous improvement

About you

You're an experienced ER practitioner who is comfortable being hands‑on, working independently and owning outcomes.

• Significant experience across employee relations matters, including complex cases
• Demonstrated experience managing employment claims and disputes
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment law and industrial frameworks
• Proven ability to deliver pragmatic and commercially sound outcomes
• Excellent written skills and attention to detail
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment
• A collaborative approach, including supporting more junior team members
• Tertiary qualifications in HR, Employment Relations, Law or a related discipline (or equivalent experience)
• Experience in healthcare, aged care or other complex, highly regulated and unionised environments will be highly regarded.

Why work for Calvary?

At Calvary, our staff matter.

With over 130 years' experience and 18,000 staff and volunteers, we offer an inclusive and welcoming culture where you are valued, drawing on your own strengths, identity and background alongside a team of professionals who care for our patients, residents and clients.

• NFP salary packaging benefits, discounted health insurance and gym memberships
• Paid parental leave
• Training, development pathways and career opportunities
• Flexible hours that make sense for you

Please note the following:

• As part of the application process, you will be required to complete pre-employment checks which may include, but is not limited to reference checks, work rights, criminal history check, NDIS/WWCC/WWVP checks, and a health evaluation to ensure suitability for the role