Senior Workplace Relations Specialist

Northern Health Authority; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Health & wellbeing program

Salary packaging

Professional development

Job summary

Northern Health is seeking a Senior Workplace Relations Specialist to lead complex employee and industrial relations matters across Melbourne's rapidly growing northern community. You will own pathways from assessment to resolution, working with executives, unions and legal teams to deliver actionable, defensible outcomes.

You'll coordinate investigations, advise on risk, and develop practical strategies and governance to strengthen workplace relations practices across multiple campuses.

Qualifications

• Substantial senior-level expertise in employee relations, industrial relations or employment law.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex and high-risk matters.
• Exceptional ability to build trusted relationships and coordinate stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex employee and industrial relations matters from start to resolution.
• Manage workplace investigations including allegations, findings and outcomes.
• Advise leaders on employment, industrial, legal, operational and reputational risk.
• Develop practical pathways and implementation plans for workforce issues.
• Manage union engagement, disputes and consultation processes.
• Support external proceedings including Fair Work Commission matters.

Skills

IR/ER Expertise

Leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Investigations

Communication

Legal knowledge

Education

Law/IR degree

Job description

Reference Number: 54476: Senior Workplace Relations Specialist
Employment Type: On Going Full Time (FT)
Location: Northern Health (All Campuses)

About Northern Health:

As an organisation we have a clear focus on how we service and partner with our community, including our strategy of helping the community stay well when at home. Our reputation of community minded, inclusive and progressive is matched to none.

Northern Health is located in the rapidly growing northern suburbs with projected growth the biggest in the state. With a booming, culturally rich and diverse community, and less than an hour’s drive from the CBD (still within the bounds of Myki and ride-sharing), Melbourne’s North is fast becoming the place to be.

Senior Workplace Relations Specialist

People & Culture | Northern Health | Full Time Ongoing

We're seeking an experienced and highly capable Senior Workplace Relations Specialist to lead the management of our most complex and high-risk employee and industrial relations matters.

Northern Health is the major provider of acute, maternity, sub-acute, mental health, specialist, community and home-based services in Melbourne’s rapidly growing outer north.

Services are provided through our six main campuses:

Northern Hospital Epping, Broadmeadows Hospital, Bundoora Centre, Craigieburn and Mernda Community Hospitals and Kilmore District Hospital. In addition, Mental Health Services are provided at Epping, Broadmeadows, Jacana, Preston, Mill Park, Mernda and Coburg.

At Northern Health, we're building a healthier future for Melbourne's growing northern community. As one of Victoria's largest public health services, we support a diverse workforce across multiple hospital, community and mental health settings.

About the Role:

This is not a traditional advisory role.

As a senior workplace relations practitioner, you will take ownership of the pathway for complex matters from assessment through to resolution. You will work closely with executives, directors, operational leaders, unions, Legal and People & Culture professionals to navigate challenging employee and industrial relations issues and deliver practical, defensible and operationally workable outcomes.

The role leads the work associated with misconduct, performance, behavioural concerns, grievances, workplace investigations, industrial disputes, employment risk and matters before the Fair Work Commission and other external tribunals, review bodies and regulatory authorities.

You will not simply identify risks or provide technical advice. You will develop the strategy, coordinate stakeholders, establish decision points, provide recommendations and guide matters through to implementation while ensuring procedural fairness, sound governance and appropriate escalation of risk.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Leading complex employee and industrial relations matters from commencement through to resolution.
• Managing workplace investigations, including allegations, findings, recommendations and outcome correspondence.
• Advising leaders on employment, industrial, legal, operational and reputational risk.
• Developing practical pathways, options and implementation plans for complex workforce issues.
• Managing union engagement, disputes, grievances and consultation processes.
• Supporting Fair Work Commission matters and other external review, tribunal and regulatory proceedings.
• Preparing high-quality briefs, recommendations, submissions and executive correspondence.
• Coaching leaders and building organisational capability in workplace relations practice.
• Identifying systemic workforce risks and recommending improvements to policy, process and governance.

What We're Looking For:

Technical IR/ER Expertise

Substantial senior-level expertise in employee relations, industrial relations or employment law, supported by advanced knowledge of industrial instruments, employment legislation, workplace investigations and procedural fairness.

Depth of Experience

Demonstrated experience leading complex and high-risk employee and industrial relations matters. We are interested in the complexity, scope, autonomy and risk profile of matters managed, not simply years of service.

Stakeholder Management and Influence

Exceptional ability to build trusted relationships, establish credibility and coordinate stakeholders with competing interests and perspectives. Proven capacity to influence without formal authority and maintain alignment through difficult and sensitive matters.

Hands-On Delivery

A strong track record of personally undertaking the technical and practical work required to progress complex matters, including analysis, strategy development, documentation, stakeholder engagement and implementation.

Analytical Intelligence

Ability to quickly absorb incomplete or conflicting information, identify critical issues and distinguish legal, industrial, operational, safety, cultural and reputational risks.

Pathway Design and Problem Solving

Demonstrated ability to convert complexity into a practical and achievable path forward, including options, recommendations, dependencies, decision points and implementation actions.

Judgement, Governance and Courage

Exercises sound judgement in ambiguity, provides frank and balanced advice, understands governance frameworks and appropriately escalates material risks and decisions.

Communication and Advisory Capability

Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce concise, balanced and defensible advice, correspondence, investigation material, briefings and recommendations.

Operating Style

You are curious, pragmatic, calm under pressure and resilient. You enjoy working in complex environments, getting into the detail, coordinating stakeholders and seeing matters through to completion.

Qualifications:

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Law, Industrial Relations, Employee Relations, Human Resources or a related discipline.
• Eligibility to practise law is desirable but not essential.
• Current National Police Check (or willingness to obtain one).
• Current Victorian Driver Licence.

Success in This Role Looks Like:

• Leaders receive timely, practical and defensible advice.
• Complex matters progress with pace, procedural fairness and sound governance.
• Industrial and employment risks are identified and managed early.
• Stakeholders experience professional, credible and coordinated engagement.
• Outcomes are achieved through clear pathways, sound judgement and effective stakeholder alignment.
• Lessons learned strengthen broader organisational practice and capability.

If you're an experienced workplace relations professional who thrives on complexity, enjoys solving difficult problems and wants to make a meaningful impact in a large and evolving health service, we'd love to hear from you.

Applications close Thursday 5 November 2026.

Why work at the Northern Health?

NH offer a range of benefits which support and reward staff both personally and professionally.

Our staff benefits include award winning facilities and campus partnerships, Professional development and events, an award-winning Health and wellbeing program and financial benefits.

• Health and Wellbeing programs, including our new Thrive program
• Flexibility in the workplace and extra leave options and support
• An inclusive and culturally safe space
• Access to salary packaging & EAP
• Comprehensive Library services for learning, research, clinical decision-making, leisure and wellbeing (onsite and online)

Work with us! Northern Health is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce which reflects the community we serve. Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as well as applicants who are LGBTIQ+, who have different abilities, or are from culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds are encouraged.