Senior Industrial Relations Lawyer

SA Health; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 138,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

SA Health in Adelaide is seeking a Senior Industrial Relations Specialist/Senior Industrial Lawyer to lead complex workforce relations across the health system. You will provide strategic legal and IR leadership, manage enterprise bargaining, and guide senior executives through high-stakes disputes and litigation.

You will mentor Legal Officers and workforce practitioners, build strong stakeholder relationships, and deliver legally sound, commercially effective outcomes in a large public sector

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in industrial relations or employment law within complex environments.
• Strong advocacy and negotiation skills.
• Experience leading enterprise bargaining and litigation.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex workforce relations, industrial and employment law matters.
• Provide authoritative legal and strategic advice to senior leaders and executives.
• Develop and implement legal strategies with financial and operational implications.
• Lead enterprise bargaining negotiations and contribute to workforce reform initiatives.
• Manage industrial disputes, litigation and tribunal proceedings.

Skills

Industrial relations

Employment law

Workplace relations

Strategic advisory

Education

Bachelor of Laws

Job description

Department for Health and Wellbeing - Corporate and Infrastructure - Workforce Services

Salary: $138,016 to $149,885 - LE4 - Full Time / Permanent Appointment Overview:

Are you an experienced industrial relations or employment law professional looking to influence workforce outcomes at a strategic level? The Department for Health and Wellbeing is seeking a highly capable Senior Industrial Relations Specialist / Senior Industrial Lawyer to lead complex and high-profile workforce relations matters across SA Health. This is an exceptional opportunity to work on issues of significant organisational, operational and reputational importance while partnering with senior executives and key stakeholders across one of South Australia's largest public sector employers. As a Senior IR Specialist, you will provide expert legal and industrial relations leadership across a diverse portfolio of workforce matters. You will manage complex, sensitive and strategically significant issues from initial assessment through to resolution, determining legal strategy and delivering authoritative advice that supports informed decision-making across the health system. You will play a leading role in enterprise bargaining, industrial disputation, litigation and workforce relations initiatives, while providing guidance and mentorship to legal and workforce relations professionals.

Day to day responsibilities include:

• Lead the management of complex workforce relations, industrial and employment law matters.
• Provide authoritative legal and strategic advice to senior leaders and executive stakeholders.
• Develop and implement legal strategies on matters with significant financial, operational, workforce and reputational implications.
• Lead enterprise bargaining negotiations and contribute to major workforce reform initiatives.
• Manage industrial disputes, litigation and tribunal proceedings.
• Coordinate instructions and referrals to the Crown Solicitor's Office and external legal providers.
• Review legal advice, submissions and other professional work to ensure quality and consistency.
• Provide leadership, mentoring, supervision and professional development to Legal Officers and workforce relations practitioners.
• Build strong relationships across the organisation to deliver practical, legally sound and commercially effective outcomes.

To be successful in this role, you will bring significant experience in industrial relations, employment law or workplace relations within a complex environment, supported by advanced knowledge of employment legislation, awards, enterprise agreements and public sector workforce relations frameworks. You will possess strong advocacy, negotiation and dispute resolution skills, with demonstrated experience managing complex litigation, industrial disputes and enterprise bargaining matters. Coupled with exceptional analytical, legal research and written communication abilities, you will have a proven track record of providing trusted advice to senior executives and key stakeholders, as well as experience leading, mentoring and developing high-performing professional teams. You are a seasoned industrial relations or employment law specialist with outstanding judgement, strategic thinking and stakeholder management skills. You have a proven ability to navigate complex workplace issues, influence senior decision-makers and deliver outcomes in high-pressure environments.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work on some of the most significant workforce relations matters in South Australia. You'll be part of a highly respected team, working alongside senior legal and industrial relations professionals while influencing outcomes that impact thousands of employees across the health system. If you're ready to take the next step in your industrial relations or legal career and make a meaningful contribution to the future of healthcare workforce relations, we'd love to hear from you.

SA Health is committed to providing an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity and inclusion for all employees. We strongly encourage applications from people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, culturally diverse backgrounds, members of the LGBTIQA+SB community and people who live with disability and/or neurodivergence. We are committed to making workplace adjustments to provide a positive and supportive work environment. You are encouraged to let us know if have any support or access requirements during the recruitment process and beyond to ensure you can perform at your best. Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Check and appropriate immunisation requirements.

Job ref: 954274 Criminal History Screening Requirement

• A 'National Police Certificate' NPC (also known as a 'Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check' NCCHC) for employment involving no contact with vulnerable groups is required for this position (general employment)
• Immunisation Risk for this position is Category C (minimal patient contact)
• SA Health Services are required to implement the Addressing vaccine preventable disease: Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination policy in the workplace.
• Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Laws (or an equivalent qualification), be admitted, or be eligible for admission, as a legal practitioner in South Australia, and hold, or be eligible to obtain, a current practising certificate. This is an essential requirement of the position.

Attachments

• 954274 - Senior Industrial Relations Lawyer - Role Description.pdf
• Australian applicant guidelines
• International applicant guidelines

Application Closing Date Sunday, 22 November 2026 - 11:55 PM