Workplace Relations Partner

Uniting Communities Incorporated; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Uniting Communities in Adelaide seeks a senior Workplace Relations Partner to lead complex employee and industrial relations matters within our newly formed People Experience team. You will provide expert guidance balancing organisational needs, employee experience and risk.

Reporting to the Workplace Relations Manager and supported by the Workplace Relations Coordinator, you will influence enterprise agreements, investigations and change management while coaching leaders to strengthen

Qualifications

• Extensive specialist experience in employee and industrial relations within a complex organisation
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment legislation, modern awards, enterprise agreements and industrial practices
• Experience independently managing complex employee relations matters, investigations and organisational change
• Sound judgement with clear, balanced, and risk-informed recommendations
• Advanced relationship-building, coaching and influencing skills with senior leaders
• Proactive mindset to identify broader workplace issues and drive improvements
• Tertiary qualifications in HR, Employment/Industrial Relations, Law or related field (or equivalent experience)

Responsibilities

• Lead complex employee relations matters including investigations, performance, conduct and grievances
• Provide expert interpretation of employment legislation, awards, enterprise agreements and obligations
• Contribute to enterprise bargaining, union engagement, disputes and negotiations
• Partner with leaders through organisational change, restructures and complex workforce decisions
• Coach leaders to strengthen judgement and accountability in people management
• Identify emerging risks and recommend practical, proactive solutions
• Use insights to shape policies, frameworks and continuous improvement initiatives

Skills

Employee relations

Industrial relations

Relationship building

Coaching and influencing

Proactive risk management

Judgement and advisory

Stakeholder management

Education

HR/IR/Law qualification

Job description

It's an exciting time to join Uniting Communities. With a new organisational strategy recently launched and a newly established People Experience team, we're reimagining how we partner with leaders, support our workforce, and create positive workplace experiences.

We're seeking an accomplished Workplace Relations Partner to play a pivotal role in this next chapter.

This is more than an opportunity to provide expert employee and industrial relations advice. It's an opportunity to influence how workplace challenges are navigated, strengthen leadership capability and help shape a proactive, contemporary approach to Workplace Relations across one of South Australia's leading not-for-profit organisations.

If you thrive on complex challenges, enjoy influencing outcomes and want your expertise to make a genuine difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Why Join Us?

At Uniting Communities, we believe that how we support our people is fundamental to the difference we make in our communities.

As we bring our new strategy to life, we're strengthening how our People & Assurance function partners with the organisation, with a focus on leadership capability, meaningful workforce experiences and contemporary people practices.

This is an opportunity to:

• Shape something new: Play an influential role in establishing and evolving Workplace Relations practices within our newly formed People Experience team.
• Make an organisational impact: Partner with leaders across a diverse and complex organisation, influencing significant workplace decisions and outcomes.
• Apply your specialist expertise: Take ownership of complex and challenging employee and industrial relations matters where your judgement and experience will make a difference.
• Drive proactive change: Help move Workplace Relations beyond reactive case management towards early intervention, prevention and continuous improvement.
• Build leadership capability: Empower leaders to navigate workplace challenges confidently, fairly and effectively.
• Be part of a supportive team: Work alongside an experienced Workplace Relations Manager as part of our collaborative People Experience team.

You'll also enjoy the benefits of working for a purpose-driven South Australian organisation, including salary packaging opportunities to increase your take-home pay.

About the Role

Reporting to the Workplace Relations Manager, and supported by our Workplace Relations Coordinator, you'll be a trusted specialist partner to leaders across Uniting Communities.

As a senior Workplace Relations practitioner, you'll bring the confidence, expertise and professional judgement to independently lead complex employment matters, navigate industrial challenges and provide practical advice that balances organisational needs, employee experience, and workplace risk.

Importantly, this role is about more than resolving individual matters. You'll help identify emerging risks, influence organisational approaches, and strengthen the capability of our leaders to create fair, respectful, and productive workplaces.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading complex employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, performance, conduct, grievances and sensitive employment decisions
• Providing expert interpretation and advice on employment legislation, enterprise agreements, modern awards and industrial obligations
• Contributing specialist expertise to enterprise bargaining, union engagement, industrial disputes and negotiations
• Partnering with leaders through organisational change, consultation, restructures and complex workforce decisions
• Coaching and influencing leaders to strengthen their confidence, judgement and accountability in managing people matters
• Identifying emerging industrial and employment risks and recommending practical, proactive solutions
• Using workplace relations insights to influence organisational policies, frameworks and continuous improvement initiatives

You'll have the opportunity to work across a broad and diverse service environment, where no two days are the same and your expertise will directly contribute to organisational outcomes.

About You

We're looking for a confident, credible and solutions-focused Workplace Relations professional who brings both technical depth and the ability to influence.

You're someone who can navigate complexity, challenge thinking constructively, and build trusted relationships with leaders. You understand that effective Workplace Relations isn't simply about managing risk or applying legislation. It's about using sound judgement to achieve fair, practical, and sustainable outcomes.

To be successful, you'll bring:

• Considerable specialist experience in employee and industrial relations within a complex organisational environment
• Strong contemporary knowledge of Australian employment legislation, modern awards, enterprise agreements and industrial relations practices
• Demonstrated experience independently managing complex employee relations matters, investigations and organisational change
• Sound professional judgement and the confidence to provide clear, balanced and risk-informed recommendations
• Highly developed relationship-building, coaching and influencing skills, including the ability to constructively challenge senior leaders
• A proactive mindset, with the ability to identify broader workplace issues and contribute to improvements in organisational practice
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Employment Relations, Industrial Relations, Law or a related discipline, or equivalent significant professional experience

Experience with enterprise bargaining, union engagement or working in complex, highly regulated environments will be highly regarded.

A National Police Check and current unrestricted South Australian Driver's Licence are required.

About Uniting Communities

Uniting Communities is a leading South Australian not-for-profit organisation supporting more than 80,000 people annually. We are committed to creating inclusive communities where every person feels respected, valued and empowered to live their best life.

Uniting Communities is an equal opportunity employer committed to a safe, inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.