Senior Workplace Relations Counsel Full-Time (part-time considered)

Catholic Employment Relations; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

Competitive remuneration package

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Salary packaging and novated leasing

Additional paid leave during Christmas

Special Leave per annum

Job summary

Catholic Employment Relations (CER) in Sydney CBD seeks a Senior Workplace Relations Counsel to provide strategic employment and industrial relations advice for Catholic organisations. You will advise senior leaders, boards and executives on complex matters across a diverse client portfolio.

This senior role emphasises practical, commercially sound guidance, balancing legal obligations with client objectives, governance, policy leadership and risk management in a culturally aligned

Qualifications

• Law degree with admission as an Australian legal practitioner.
• Current NSW Working with Children Check.
• 5+ years in employment or industrial relations advisable.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on complex employment and industrial relations matters.
• Lead enterprise bargaining negotiations and industrial strategy.
• Manage employment disputes, litigation and risk management.
• Oversee workplace investigations with procedural fairness.
• Develop governance, policy frameworks and compliance programs.
• Mentor junior staff and collaborate with senior leaders.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Negotiation

Advocacy

Communication skills

Risk assessment

Education

Law degree

Australian legal practitioner admission

NSW Working with Children Check

Tools

Microsoft Office

Legal tech platforms

Job description

Senior Workplace Relations Counsel Full-Time (part-time considered)

Catholic Employment Relations – Sydney CBD NSW

Sydney CBD | Full-Time (part-time considered) | Hybrid Working Available

About Us

Catholic Employment Relations (CER) is a trusted partner to Catholic employers across Australia, providing expert employment relations, human resources, industrial relations and legal support through a distinctly Catholic lens.

We work alongside Catholic schools, Religious Institutes, health and social service providers, and other Catholic agencies to build in-house capability and navigate complex workplace issues with confidence. From day-to-day employment matters to enterprise bargaining, workplace investigations, litigation and governance, CER delivers practical, end-to-end support that aligns with Catholic values and mission.

As a not-for-profit legal practice and wholly owned subsidiary of Catholic Schools NSW, we are committed to excellence in client service, collaboration, and supporting the mission of Catholic organisations.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Workplace Relations Counsel to join our growing team.

This is a senior advisory role for a workplace relations professional who thrives on solving complex challenges, building trusted client relationships, and providing commercially sound, practical advice. Working closely with senior leaders, executives, boards and decision-makers, you will deliver strategic employment and industrial relations support across a diverse portfolio of Catholic organisations.

You will act as a trusted advisor, balancing legal obligations, organisational objectives, operational realities and stakeholder expectations to help clients make informed and effective workplace decisions.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Employment & Industrial Relations Advice

• Provide expert advice on complex employment and industrial relations matters, including:
• Performance management
• Misconduct and disciplinary processes
• Terminations and redundancies
• General protections claims
• Unfair dismissal matters
• Interpretation and compliance with awards and enterprise agreements
• Deliver practical, commercially focused solutions that support organisational objectives while managing legal risk.

Litigation, Dispute Resolution & Risk Management

• Manage employment-related disputes and litigation before courts, tribunals and regulatory bodies.
• Develop risk mitigation strategies and dispute resolution pathways.
• Provide strategic advice on settlement negotiations and legal risk management.
• Identify opportunities for early intervention to minimise organisational disruption and exposure.

Enterprise Bargaining & Industrial Strategy

• Lead and advise on enterprise bargaining negotiations and industrial strategies.
• Support clients in developing bargaining positions aligned with workforce and operational objectives.
• Provide advice on industrial disputes, legislative compliance and industrial relations trends.

Workplace Investigations

• Lead complex and sensitive workplace investigations involving:
• Misconduct
• Bullying
• Harassment
• Discrimination
• Systemic workplace concerns
• Ensure procedural fairness and legally defensible outcomes.

Governance, Compliance & Policy Leadership

• Develop and review workplace policies, governance frameworks and compliance programs.
• Monitor legislative developments and emerging workplace risks.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and best-practice workplace governance.

Specialist Legal Advisory

Advise on:

• Employment contracts
• Executive employment arrangements
• Privacy obligations
• Workplace health and safety matters
• Workplace policies and governance frameworks
• Prepare complex legal opinions, submissions, correspondence and advisory materials.

Thought Leadership & Training

• Develop client updates, articles, guidance materials and training programs.
• Present at workshops, seminars and sector events.
• Contribute to CER's reputation as a leading workplace relations advisory practice.

Client Relationship Management

• Build strong and enduring relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Deliver responsive, strategic and high-quality advice tailored to each client's needs and risk appetite.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Mentor and support colleagues across the business.
• Contribute to a collaborative and high-performing team culture.
• Support innovation, continuous improvement and cross-functional projects.

About You

You are a trusted workplace relations professional with strong technical expertise, sound judgment and a practical approach to solving complex workplace issues.

Essential Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Law, Industrial Relations, Human Resources or a related discipline.
• Current NSW Working with Children Check.

Desirable Qualifications

• Admission as an Australian Legal Practitioner.
• Current Australian Practising Certificate.
• Postgraduate qualifications in Employment Law, Industrial Relations, Human Resources or a related discipline.

Experience Required

• Minimum 5+ years' experience in employment relations and industrial relations.
• Demonstrated experience advising on complex employment and industrial matters.
• Experience leading or supporting enterprise bargaining negotiations.
• Proven experience managing employment litigation and tribunal matters.
• Demonstrated experience conducting complex workplace investigations.
• Experience partnering with executives, boards and senior leaders on strategic workplace issues.
• Experience within education, not-for-profit, faith-based, membership or Catholic organisations will be highly regarded.

Knowledge & Skills

• Extensive knowledge of Australian employment law and industrial relations frameworks.
• Strong understanding of modern awards, enterprise agreements and industrial instruments.
• Advanced advocacy, negotiation and dispute resolution skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management capability.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and risk assessment skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and complex matters simultaneously.
• Proficiency using legal technology, AI-enabled platforms and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to provide practical, commercially minded and solutions-focused advice.

Why Join CER?

Join a purpose-driven organisation where your expertise will make a meaningful difference to Catholic employers across Australia.

We offer:

• Newly renovated offices in the heart of Sydney CBD
• Hybrid working arrangements
• Competitive remuneration package
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Salary packaging and novated leasing options
• Additional paid leave during the Christmas shutdown period
• Three additional days of Special Leave per annum
• Additional Personal/Carer's Leave after one year of service
• Supportive, collaborative and values-driven culture

You must have full legal rights to work in Australia with no restrictions.

CER and CSNSW only engage people who are suitable to work with children and has developed and implemented child safe human resources practices accordingly.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.