Senior Industrial Relations Advisor

MyChemist Retail Group; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual salary reviews

Work from home 1 day per week

Paid parental leave

Shuttle service to Preston

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Sigma Healthcare is seeking an experienced Industrial Relations Advisor to work from the Preston Support Office. You will provide practical, commercially focused IR advice across enterprise bargaining, payroll compliance, dispute resolution and union engagement with a high degree of autonomy.

You will build relationships with leaders, unions and HR teams, and support strategic IR initiatives while ensuring compliance and risk management across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Five+ years in industrial relations, workplace relations or employment law advisory roles.
• Experience leading enterprise bargaining and industrial negotiations in a multi-site, unionised environment.
• Strong knowledge of Australian industrial relations, awards, enterprise agreements and case law.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management across operational and executive levels.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with business leaders, P&C teams, unions and employee representatives.
• Plan and support enterprise bargaining, benchmarking, research, negotiations and voting processes.
• Support contingency planning and responses to industrial action.
• Advise on day-to-day compliance and major organisational change with P&C and HR partners.
• Assist with industrial disputes and litigation with legal providers.
• Coordinate annual minimum wage compliance review and payroll/cost reviews.
• Develop guidance materials, toolkits, updates and training for IR capability.
• Monitor IR developments and recommend policy changes.
• Lead or support projects with IR components and escalate material issues.

Skills

Industrial relations expertise

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Education

Law degree or equivalent qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

SharePoint

Job description

Our Industrial Relations team partners with the business and the broader People & Culture team. The team provides specialist advice on enterprise bargaining, workplace legislation, organisational change, industrial disputes and compliance across Sigma Healthcare.

About the Role

Based at our Preston Support Office and reporting to the General Manager Industrial Relations and Employment Law, you will provide practical, commercially focused advice across a range of industrial relations matters. Working with a high degree of autonomy, you will support industrial relations strategy, enterprise bargaining, payroll compliance, dispute resolution and union engagement, helping the business identify and manage risk.

Role Responsibilities

• Build strong relationships with business leaders, People & Culture teams, unions and employee representatives.
• Plan and support enterprise bargaining, including benchmarking, research, negotiations, voting and approval processes.
• Support contingency planning and business responses to industrial action.
• Advise on day-to-day compliance and major organisational change, partnering with P&C Business Partners, HR Advisory, Systems and Payroll.
• Assist with industrial disputes and litigation, collaborating with People & Culture teams and legal providers.
• Coordinate the annual minimum wage compliance review and support industrial and payroll compliance audits and reviews.
• Develop and deliver guidance materials, toolkits, updates and training to build industrial relations capability.
• Monitor industrial relations developments and recommend changes to policies, practices and systems.
• Lead or support projects with an industrial relations component, identifying risks and escalating material issues appropriately.

Who are we looking for?

• At least five years’ experience in an industrial relations, workplace relations or employment law advisory role.
• Experience supporting or leading enterprise bargaining, industrial negotiations and managing complex industrial relations matters in a multi-site, unionised environment.
• Strong knowledge of Australian industrial relations and employment law, with the ability to interpret and apply legislation, modern awards, enterprise agreements and case law.
• Highly developed consultation, negotiation, influencing and stakeholder management skills across operational, corporate, union and executive stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, research and problem-solving skills, with the ability to provide clear, commercially practical and risk-based advice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing executive briefings, correspondence and submissions, and experience developing compliance and education materials.
• Sound judgement, confidentiality and attention to detail, with the ability to work autonomously, manage competing priorities and use legal providers effectively.
• A collaborative, adaptable approach, initiative and a willingness to learn, with the ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Microsoft Office skills. Enterprise agreement costing, advanced Excel, financial acumen, SharePoint and experience in retail, pharmacy, distribution or logistics are highly regarded.
• A current driver’s licence and the ability to travel between sites and interstate as required.
• All new team members must complete a National Police Check.
• Grow your career with purpose - Access a wide range of learning and development programs, including our internally designed leadership courses (including our Women in Leadership program) to support your long-term growth. Be part of a purpose-driven organisation making a difference in healthcare, working with a collaborative and supportive team.
• Be rewarded for your impact - Enjoy annual salary reviews linked to your performance, recognising the value you bring to the team.
• Flexibility that works - Work from home one day per week, while staying connected with your team at our vibrant Preston Support Office four days a week. We're committed to supporting our people through life's important moments. Alongside our formal flexibility policies, we recognise that some circumstances, such as returning from parental leave or managing personal wellbeing, may require additional consideration. In these situations, we work collaboratively on case‑by‑case arrangements to provide the support needed while balancing the requirements of the role and team.
• Paid parental leave - We support growing families with six weeks of paid parental leave for primary carers and one week of paid parental leave for secondary carers.
• Exclusive savings - Access generous team member discounts across a wide range of products through our partnership with Flare, including company‑wide corporate offers on healthcare premiums with Bupa Healthcare, banking benefits with CommBank, novated leasing and a team member discount card offering savings in our Chemist Warehouse pharmacies.
• Support when you need it - Tap into confidential Employee Assistance Program services for personal or professional support.
• Onsite convenience - Take advantage of our subsidised onsite canteen for varied and affordable meals, coffee, confectionery and bakery items.
• Easy commuting - Enjoy our complimentary shuttle bus connecting nearby train stations to the Preston Support Office, making public transport travel simple and stress‑free.

Sigma Healthcare is powering pharmacy! We have the largest pharmacy network in Australia with trusted brands including Chemist Warehouse, Amcal, Discount Drug Stores and Ultra Beauty! We are powered by our dedicated people and our leading Australian full line pharmacy wholesale and distribution business that delivers medicines to any pharmacy anywhere in Australia. With Chemist Warehouse now operating in four countries outside Australia, we continue to expand our reach.

Sigma Healthcare is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet every requirement listed.