Senior Employee Relations Specialist

FedEx; Ipswich City; On-site; AUD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

FedEx in Queensland is seeking a Senior Employee Relations Specialist to join the Employee Relations team. You will lead ER/IR strategies, advise leadership and HR Partners, and manage complex workplace matters with fairness and compliance.

You will mentor HR professionals, support bargaining activities, and shape ER/IR processes aligned with regulatory requirements, while driving a culture of accountability and engagement across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Employee Relations and Industrial Relations, acting as a trusted advisor on complex matters.
• Strong ability to influence, negotiate and resolve disputes with senior stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills across multiple audiences.
• Proven capability to balance legal compliance, employee experience and business outcomes.
• Experience coaching HR professionals and advising senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert ER/IR advice to senior leaders and HR partners on complex workplace matters including investigations and disputes.
• Manage high-risk ER/IR cases with fair, compliant, and timely outcomes.
• Interpret and advise on Fair Work Act, Awards, Enterprise Agreements and contracts.
• Support enterprise bargaining activities, negotiations, variations, and interpretations with employees, contractors, and unions.
• Build and maintain constructive union relationships; manage industrial issues with stakeholders.
• Support Fair Work Commission matters and related dispute proceedings as required.
• Lead ER/IR projects, policy development, and training to ensure compliance with best practices.
• Coach HR professionals and business leaders to sustain a high-performing People & Culture function.
• Monitor employment law developments and advise on regulatory changes for proactive compliance.
• Use HR data to identify trends and inform strategic ER/IR solutions.

Skills

Employee Relations

Industrial Relations

Advisory skills

Influencing

Negotiation

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Law, or a related discipline

Job description

FedEx is one of the world's largest express transportation companies and has consistently been selected as one of the top 10 World’s Most Admired Companies by "Fortune" magazine. Every day FedEx delivers for its customers with transportation and business solutions, serving more than 220 countries and territories around the globe. We can serve this global network due to our outstanding team of FedEx team members, who are tasked with making every FedEx experience outstanding.

The Role

We are seeking a dedicatedSenior Employee Relations Specialist to join our high performing Employee Relations team. This role is pivotal in supporting the Employee & Industrial Relations function, and contributing to the effective management of ER/IR matters across the organisation. As a senior ER Specialist, you will play a crucial role in implementing ER/IR strategies, partnering with leadership and HR Business Partners, providing expert advisory on workplace issues and compliance.

In this role, you will assist the ER Advisor and Regional Manager People Operations in driving best practice, mentoring and coaching HR professionals, and handling complex ER/IR matters. You will be key in shaping ER/IR processes and ensuring they align with business goals and regulatory requirements, fostering a culture of fairness, accountability, and engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert ER/IR advice to HR Business Partners and senior leaders on complex workplace matters, including investigations, disciplinary action, grievances, and disputes.
• Manage high risk and sensitive ER/IR cases with sound judgement, ensuring fair, compliant, and timely outcomes.
• Interpret and advise on the Fair Work Act, Modern Awards, Enterprise Agreements, employment contracts, and industrial instruments, including independent contractor arrangements.
• Support enterprise bargaining activities, including negotiations, variations, and agreement interpretation with employees, contractors, and unions.
• Build and maintain constructive union relationships; manage industrial issues and disputes in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Support the ER Advisor and Regional People Operations Manager in Fair Work Commission matters as required, including unfair dismissal, general protections and dispute proceedings.
• Advise on ER/IR risk mitigation and compliance to support workforce change, restructures, and transformation initiatives.
• Lead ER/IR projects, policy development, continuous improvement initiatives, and the delivery of training to ensure ER/IR frameworks, policies, and practices remain compliant and aligned with legislative and industry best practice.
• Coach HR professionals and business leaders, contributing to a capable and high performing People & Culture function.
• Monitor employment law developments, regulatory changes, and market trends to ensure compliance and proactive advice.
• Use HR data and insights to identify trends and inform strategic ER/IR solutions.

FedEx is one of the world's largest express transportation companies and has consistently been selected as one of the top 10 World’s Most Admired Companies by "Fortune" magazine. Every day FedEx delivers for its customers with transportation and business solutions, serving more than 220 countries and territories around the globe. We can serve this global network due to our outstanding team of FedEx team members, who are tasked with making every FedEx experience outstanding.

The Role

We are seeking a dedicatedSenior Employee Relations Specialist to join our high performing Employee Relations team. This role is pivotal in supporting the Employee & Industrial Relations function, and contributing to the effective management of ER/IR matters across the organisation. As a senior ER Specialist, you will play a crucial role in implementing ER/IR strategies, partnering with leadership and HR Business Partners, providing expert advisory on workplace issues and compliance.

In this role, you will assist the ER Advisor and Regional Manager People Operations in driving best practice, mentoring and coaching HR professionals, and handling complex ER/IR matters. You will be key in shaping ER/IR processes and ensuring they align with business goals and regulatory requirements, fostering a culture of fairness, accountability, and engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert ER/IR advice to HR Business Partners and senior leaders on complex workplace matters, including investigations, disciplinary action, grievances, and disputes.
• Manage high risk and sensitive ER/IR cases with sound judgement, ensuring fair, compliant, and timely outcomes.
• Interpret and advise on the Fair Work Act, Modern Awards, Enterprise Agreements, employment contracts, and industrial instruments, including independent contractor arrangements.
• Support enterprise bargaining activities, including negotiations, variations, and agreement interpretation with employees, contractors, and unions.
• Build and maintain constructive union relationships; manage industrial issues and disputes in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Support the ER Advisor and Regional People Operations Manager in Fair Work Commission matters as required, including unfair dismissal, general protections and dispute proceedings.
• Advise on ER/IR risk mitigation and compliance to support workforce change, restructures, and transformation initiatives.
• Lead ER/IR projects, policy development, continuous improvement initiatives, and the delivery of training to ensure ER/IR frameworks, policies, and practices remain compliant and aligned with legislative and industry best practice.
• Coach HR professionals and business leaders, contributing to a capable and high performing People & Culture function.
• Monitor employment law developments, regulatory changes, and market trends to ensure compliance and proactive advice.
• Use HR data and insights to identify trends and inform strategic ER/IR solutions.

Essential Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Law, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
• Significant experience in Employee Relations, Industrial Relations, operating as a confident advisor on complex matters.
• Demonstrated experience supporting enterprise bargaining and union negotiations, ideally in complex, unionised, or regulated environments.
• Experience in industrial dispute management and engagement with regulatory bodies.
• Experience coaching and mentoring HR professionals and advising senior leaders.
• Sound influencing, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of submissions, briefings, and formal correspondence.
• Ability to work autonomously on high risk, sensitive matters, exercising sound judgement and discretion.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including credibility with senior and executive leaders.
• Ability to balance legal compliance, employee experience, and commercial outcomes.
• In depth knowledge of Australian employment law, workplace relations frameworks, and ER/IR best practice.
• Alignment with FedEx Purple Promise: "I will make every FedEx experience outstanding."