Senior Workplace Relations Advisor

Kmart; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid working options

Team member discount

Brighter Benefits program

Bonus program

Parental leave

Mentor Program

Kudos recognition

Career opportunities across Wesfarmers

Job summary

Kmart Group is seeking two Senior Workplace Relations Advisors to join our People & Capability team on fixed-term contracts in Melbourne, Australia. You will provide expert employee and industrial relations advice to leaders, manage complex workplace matters, and support enterprise bargaining activities in a large retail environment.

These roles focus on compliance, governance, investigations, and continuous improvement initiatives, partnering with unions and external advisers to navigate risk

Qualifications

• Experience in Employee Relations, Industrial Relations or Employment Law.
• Experience in Employee Relations Compliance.
• Knowledge of Australian employment legislation, Awards and Enterprise Agreements.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert employee and industrial relations advice to leaders and People & Capability teams across Kmart Group.
• Support the management of workplace matters, including performance, conduct, disciplinary issues, investigations and employee disputes.
• Interpret and apply Awards, Enterprise Agreements, employment legislation and internal policies.
• Partner with stakeholders to deliver commercially pragmatic and compliant people solutions.
• Support enterprise bargaining activities, including preparation, negotiations, implementation and stakeholder engagement.
• Build strong relationships with unions, external advisers and key internal stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver training and capability-building initiatives to uplift workplace relations knowledge across the business.
• Lead or contribute to employee relations projects and business initiatives.
• Support compliance, governance, litigation and continuous improvement activities across the division.
• Develop and review policies, guides, documentation and ways of working to ensure alignment with legislative requirements and best practice.
• Assist with audits, reporting, analysis and cyclical employee relations programs.

Skills

Employee relations

Industrial relations

Employment law

Stakeholder management

Education

Qualification in Employment Law

Job description

We are an inclusive team who power two of the most iconic and loved brands, Kmart and Target. We have more than 50,000 passionate individuals across our stores, distribution centres, and offices around the globe.

With our brands touching the lives of almost two million customers every week, you’ll feel the impact of the work you’ll do every day. As a leader in the retail market, we’re optimistic about our future and yours. We’re changing at a rapid rate, giving you challenging work that you’ll be proud of.

Join the team

We're looking for 2 x Senior Workplace Relations Advisors to join our People & Capability team on fixed-term contracts.

These roles offer the opportunity to work at the centre of employee and industrial relations across Kmart and Target, partnering with leaders to navigate complex workplace matters and deliver practical, commercially focused outcomes. You'll join a high-performing team that plays a critical role in supporting our people strategy, managing risk, and ensuring we continue to create a positive workplace experience for our teams.

We have two opportunities available:

• 5-Month Fixed-Term Contract (ending 1 March 2027)
  A role with a stronger focus on employee and industrial relations advisory, enterprise bargaining, workplace matters and supporting key business initiatives.
• 12-Month Fixed-Term Contract (ending 1 October 2027)
  A role with a stronger focus on compliance, governance, litigation and continuous improvement initiatives.

Whether you're passionate about influencing workplace outcomes, partnering with senior leaders or driving best practice employee relations across a large and dynamic organisation, these roles provide the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

What you’ll be doing

• Provide expert employee and industrial relations advice to leaders and People & Capability teams across Kmart Group.
• Support the management of workplace matters, including performance, conduct, disciplinary issues, investigations and employee disputes.
• Interpret and apply Awards, Enterprise Agreements, employment legislation and internal policies.
• Partner with stakeholders to deliver commercially pragmatic and compliant people solutions.
• Support enterprise bargaining activities, including preparation, negotiations, implementation and stakeholder engagement.
• Build strong relationships with unions, external advisers and key internal stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver training and capability-building initiatives to uplift workplace relations knowledge across the business.
• Lead or contribute to employee relations projects and business initiatives.
• Support compliance, governance, litigation and continuous improvement activities across the division.
• Develop and review policies, guides, documentation and ways of working to ensure alignment with legislative requirements and best practice.
• Assist with audits, reporting, analysis and cyclical employee relations programs.

To be successful in this role you’ll have:

• Demonstrated experience in Employee Relations, Industrial Relations, Employment Law or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in Employee Relations Compliance.
• Qualification in Employment Law will be strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment legislation, Awards and Enterprise Agreements.
• Experience managing complex workplace matters, complex employee relations compliance matters and providing advice to stakeholders at multiple levels both internal and external.
• High attention to detail, analytical and a proactive mindset.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to balance commercial outcomes with compliance and risk considerations.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, coach and challenge constructively.
• Strong written skills, including drafting employee relations documentation and correspondence.
• A pragmatic and solutions-focused approach to problem solving.
• The ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits we’ll offer you:

• Flexible hybrid working options through our Flex Where, Flex When, Flex Well policy.
• A team member discount card that gives you a discount at Kmart, Target, Officeworks and Bunnings
• Access to the Brighter Benefits program which entitles you to exclusive discounts and benefits in the areas of entertainment, travel, lifestyle, and health – with over 60 suppliers!
• We want you to feel rewarded for your commitment and hard work that's why eligible team membersgetthe opportunity to participate in a bonus program
• We offer inclusive parental leave, and ongoing support offered through our partnership with Circle In for team members of all backgrounds and family circumstances
• A dynamic learning and support program
• Opportunity to fast track your career through our Mentor Program as a Mentee or Mentor
• A Kudos recognition program, where you are nominated by your peers to spin a wheel, to win a stack of cool prizes
• Great career opportunities across the broader Wesfarmers Group

We celebrate the rich diversity of the communities in which we operate. We are committed to creating inclusive and safe environments where all our team members can contribute and succeed. We believe that all team members should feel valued, respected and safe, and strive to ensure our recruitment process is accessible and welcoming, with applications encouraged from all candidates.

We encourage you to tell us about any workplace adjustments that you would like, by emailing ***************@kmart.com.au.