Workplace Relations Business Partner

Country Fire Authority (CFA); Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

Parental leave

Wellbeing programs

Job summary

Country Fire Authority (CFA) in Melbourne is seeking an experienced Workplace Relations professional for a newly created 2-year fixed term role within the People and Culture team. You will advise leaders and staff on a broad range of workplace and industrial relations matters, interpreting enterprise agreements and employment law while supporting dispute resolution and policy development.

You will contribute to negotiations, support proceedings before the Fair Work Commission, and help implement

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Employment Law or related discipline, or equivalent public sector experience.
• Strong knowledge of the Fair Work Act and relevant employment legislation; able to interpret industrial instruments.
• Experience supporting proceedings before the Fair Work Commission or tribunals and developing advocacy skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships and handle sensitive matters.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist advice and support to leaders and employees across workplace and industrial relations matters.
• Interpret and apply enterprise agreements and employment legislation; support dispute and grievance resolution.
• Contribute to enterprise agreement negotiations and support matters before the Fair Work Commission.
• Assist with development of policies, submissions and workplace relations initiatives.

Skills

Workplace relations

Industrial relations

Employment law

Fair Work Commission

Education

HR/IR/Law degree

Job description

Country Fire Authority (CFA) – Burwood East VIC

CFA is an emergency service that places the community at the centre of everything we do. We work to protect lives and property across Victoria, every hour of the day.

Our organisation is made up of employees working alongside more than 51,000 volunteers. We value the different skills, experience and viewpoints that people bring, because they strengthen how we operate and support the services Victorians rely on.

We aim to be a workplace where people feel supported to do meaningful work, develop professionally and contribute to outcomes that matter to the people and places we serve.

To learn more about who we are and the work we do, visit our About Us page.

About the Role

A newly created 2-year, fixed term opportunity is available for an experienced Workplace Relations professional to join CFA's People and Culture team.

Reporting to the Head of Workplace Relations, you will provide specialist advice and support to leaders and employees across a broad range of workplace and industrial relations matters.

Working within a complex and unionised environment, you will interpret and apply enterprise agreements and employment legislation, support the resolution of disputes and grievances, and provide practical advice to ensure consistent and compliant employment practices.

You will also contribute to enterprise agreement negotiations, support matters before the Fair Work Commission and assist with the development of policies, submissions and workplace relations initiatives.

About You

You are a capable Workplace Relations professional who brings sound judgement, strong analytical skills and a practical, solutions-focused approach.

You hold tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Employment Law or a related discipline, or have equivalent experience in a comparable role, ideally within the public sector or a unionised environment.

You have sound knowledge of the Fair Work Act and relevant employment legislation, with the ability to interpret industrial instruments and provide clear, accurate and considered advice. You are confident managing workplace relations matters independently and have experience supporting proceedings before the Fair Work Commission or other tribunals, with an interest in further developing your advocacy skills.

Your strong communication and interpersonal skills enable you to build constructive relationships, navigate sensitive matters professionally and work collaboratively to achieve practical outcomes.

You keep abreast of emerging workplace relations issues and understand how these can impact organisational priorities and operations.

If you're looking to further develop your workplace relations expertise and make a meaningful contribution, we encourage you to apply.

Why choose CFA

• Meaningful Purpose: Your contribution truly makes a difference
• Work-Life Balance: Paid parental leave, generous leave provisions
• Flexibility: Hybrid work options with flexible work arrangements
• Discounts: Emergency Memberlink discounts on various services
• Wellbeing Focus: Health Ready programs, flu vaccinations
• Member Assistance Program: Access support across 8 service pathways

Pre-employment Checks

Offers of employment will only be made to candidates who are able to successfully complete a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, Working Rights Check and hold a valid Working with Children Check. You will also be required to provide at least two professional references.

What to expect from our recruitment process

CFA is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse, inclusive, and safe volunteer and work environment. Our aim is to have a volunteer and paid workforce that reflects the community it serves. First Nations people, women, people of all ages, with disabilities and culturally and linguistically diverse people are encouraged to apply.

The Country Fire Authority (CFA) values your privacy. We will use the information you provide when you are applying for employment with us for the purpose of recruitment, selection, evaluation and appointment and to report on anonymised key metrics (e.g. diversity). The information we collect will be handled in accordance with privacy laws, including the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014.You can view our Privacy Statement here. For access and correction of the information we have collected, contact ***********@cfa.vic.gov.au