Workplace Relations Partner

Woolworths Group; New South Wales; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Woolworths Group in Australia seeks a Workplace Relations Partner to shape the future of work for 200,000+ team members. You will bridge legal expertise, commercial goals and team trust to deliver collaborative outcomes.

Lead end-to-end enterprise bargaining, advise on workforce compliance, build strong alliances with unions and stakeholders, and design solutions balancing risk with business needs. Support cases before the Fair Work Commission when required.

Qualifications

• Battle-tested IR expertise – a proven track record in workplace relations and employment law.
• Experience negotiating and executing multiple enterprise agreements.
• Deep understanding of the Fair Work Act and Commission procedures.
• Ability to balance legal/compliance needs with business impact.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end enterprise bargaining processes across functions.
• Advise, influence, listen, coach and support the business on compliance and workplace relations.
• Cultivate strong alliances with unions, employee representatives and stakeholders.
• Design creative solutions to reduce risk and improve processes.
• Support and represent cases before the Fair Work Commission when required.

Skills

IR expertise

Enterprise bargaining

Fair Work Act understanding

Commercial acumen

Strong communication

Negotiation

Job description

Workplace Relations Partner

A high-visibility partner role driving the core of our Group people strategy. Be at the forefront of shaping the future of work for over 200,000 team members. Strategic bridge connecting legal expertise, commercial goals, and team trust to drive collaborative outcomes.

We are Woolworths Group

We are Woolworths Group. 200,000+ bright minds, passionate hearts and unique perspectives connected by a shared Purpose – ‘to create better experiences together for a better tomorrow.’ It’s that Purpose that fuels our ambition to explore new ideas, make brave commitments and innovate better ways to meet the food and everyday needs of more than 24 million customers every week. If you’re excited to turn today’s blue sky thinking into a better tomorrow for future generations, you’ll find yourself supported and enriched in a dynamic, inclusive and empowering workplace that reflects the diverse communities we serve. With a culture of genuine care, a flexible approach to work and opportunities across the group to grow your career and make a meaningful impact, the possibilities for what we can achieve together are endless.

What you’ll do

• Thrive in complexity - work across different business functions and manage the end-to-end enterprise bargaining processes
• Be a master collaborator - advising, influencing, listening, coaching and supporting the business on a diverse range of matters relating to workforce compliance, employment conditions and other complex workplace relations matters
• Cultivating strong alliances - Establishing strong working relationships with unions, employee representatives and key business stakeholders
• Design creative solutions - identifying risks and opportunities within the organisation to make processes and systems more efficient, helping us manage future risks in a sustainable and collaborative way
• Bring Deep Expertise - Supporting and assisting with cases and matters before the Fair Work Commission where required, including bargaining disputes and other industrial disputes

What you’ll bring

• Battle-tested IR expertise - A proven track record in workplace relations, backed by a sharp understanding of complex employment laws and employee relations issues
• Scale bargaining experience - Hands-on experience negotiating, and executing multiple enterprise agreements
• Sharp regulatory grip - A thorough, practical understanding of the Fair Work Act, plus active experience navigating Fair Work Commission practices and procedures
• Commercial business acumen - The ability to expertly balance legal and compliance requirements with real-world commercial needs and practical business impacts
• High-impact communication - A natural ability to influence, negotiate, and translate complex legal jargon into straightforward, actionable advice for stakeholders
• Relentless curiosity - A strong sense of inquisitiveness, always digging into the "hows" and "whys" to find the best path forward

What you’ll experience

• A global business with endless career possibilities around every corner and across every discipline - with valuable exposure to a vast and exciting business network
• Team discounts across our range of Woolworths Group brands you know and love and a robust rewards program that celebrates and incentivises purpose-driven work
• A progressive and competitive leave policy that gives you more space for what matters to you
• Opportunity to Salary Sacrifice, enabling team members to purchase selected eligible items or services from pre-tax salary. Can be used for novated leases, superannuation contributions, Qantas Club membership, computing devices etc.
• Access to Sonder.
• Sonder provides free confidential 24/7 personalised financial, medical safety, psychological or physical support for team members and their families

Everyone belongs at Woolworths GroupDiversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are key to realising our purpose of better together for a better tomorrow. We recognise the value our team’s diversity brings to our business, customers, and communities and that teams with diverse experiences and backgrounds enrich our group and are better able to innovate and solve problems. As one of the largest employers in Australia and New Zealand, we aim to create a truly inclusive workplace where everyone feels that they belong, can be their best selves, and reach their full potential.