⚡Big Career Energy
Title: Workplace Relations Specialist
Salary: $160,000 Inclusive of Super
Type: Permanent
Location: Chadstone | Hybrid (3 days in office)
Want to be the person leaders turn to when the stakes are high? This is an opportunity to step into a newly created Workplace Relations role where you'll tackle complex investigations, Fair Work matters, bargaining strategy, legislative change, and industrial relations challenges across a large, dynamic workforce.
👋Who are we?
We're partnering with one of Australia's most recognised retail businesses, employing thousands of team members across stores, support offices, and distribution centres.
As the business continues to evolve, they've identified the need for a dedicated Workplace Relations Specialist to bridge the gap between day-to-day employee relations support and the increasingly complex industrial and workplace relations landscape.
This is a business that genuinely values its people and is committed to doing things the right way. You'll join a collaborative People & Culture team while partnering closely with senior leaders, legal counsel, governance teams, and operational stakeholders across the organisation.
😊Who are you?
You're a Workplace Relations professional who enjoys solving complex problems and navigating grey areas.
You have strong technical knowledge of employment legislation and industrial relations, but what sets you apart is your ability to translate complex concepts into practical advice that operational leaders can actually understand and apply.
You know how to balance legal risk with commercial outcomes, build relationships with unions and stakeholders, and remain calm when handling sensitive matters that carry significant business impact.
You'll likely bring:
- Significant experience in Employee Relations, Workplace Relations, or Industrial Relations
- Strong knowledge of Australian employment legislation and Fair Work frameworks
- Experience managing complex investigations and sensitive employee matters
- Exposure to Fair Work Commission matters, conciliations, mediations, or regulatory engagement
- Experience interpreting Awards, Enterprise Agreements, and industrial instruments
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing capability
- A practical, business-focused approach to workplace relations
- A current practising legal certificate
🤸Day to day
No two days will look the same.
You could be supporting a sensitive workplace investigation one day and advising on enterprise bargaining strategy the next.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Leading complex and high-risk employee relations matters
- Managing workplace investigations involving multiple stakeholders
- Providing advice on Fair Work, legislative, and industrial relations matters
- Supporting Fair Work Commission matters, conciliations, and external regulatory engagement
- Building and maintaining productive union relationships
- Supporting enterprise bargaining strategy and preparation
- Interpreting legislative changes and assessing business impacts
- Advising on Awards, Enterprise Agreements, and industrial instruments
- Supporting pay governance, compliance, and remediation initiatives
- Developing risk mitigation strategies and identifying emerging workplace trends
- Coaching and supporting Employee Relations Advisors on complex matters
- Partnering with senior leaders to strengthen workplace relations capability across the business
🧰What's in your toolkit?
- Workplace Relations, Employee Relations, Industrial Relations, or Employment Law experience
- Strong knowledge of Fair Work legislation and industrial frameworks
- Experience managing complex investigations and sensitive workplace matters
- Exposure to Fair Work Commission matters and dispute resolution processes
- Ability to build strong relationships with unions and external stakeholders
- Strong commercial judgement and business acumen
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to simplify complex legislation for operational audiences
- Resilience, maturity, and confidence operating autonomously
- Practising legal qualification
✨What's in it for you?
- Newly created role with genuine opportunity to shape the function
- Exposure to enterprise bargaining, Fair Work matters, and strategic workplace relations initiatives
- Opportunity to partner closely with senior People leaders and executive stakeholders
- Broad exposure across retail, support office, and distribution centre environments
- Diverse and challenging caseload with high visibility across the business
- Hybrid working model with Chadstone-based office
- Opportunity to mentor and uplift broader ER capability across the organisation
This is an ideal opportunity for a Workplace Relations professional who enjoys complexity, thrives on influencing outcomes, and wants to make a genuine impact across a large and evolving workforce environment.