Workplace Relations Practice Lead - Strategic Partnering

What Makes Us, Us

We want to be the most trusted wellbeing company in Australia, and this means our focus on wellbeing starts with our people. We support our employees Real Wellbeing so that they can better support our members’ and customers’ wellbeing journey.

At Australian Unity We’re for real wellbeing. For us, real wellbeing means so much more than physical health. It’s about your standard of living, your personal relationships and being connected to your community. It’s about what you want to achieve in life, while having the security to get out and do what makes you happy.

We’re bold, warm and honest. We make a real difference to people’s wellbeing.

The Opportunity

Do you consider yourself to be a highly experienced and strategic industrial relations leader with deep expertise in IR frameworks and a proven ability to navigate complex issues?

Australian Unity have an exciting opportunity for a Workplace Relations Practice Lead – Strategic Partnering. Joining a highly experienced team of Wrokplace Relations professionals, this is a critical strategic role within the Workplace Relations team that will provide industrial relations strategy leadership.

We expect this person to be the expert advisor on workplace relations and employment regulation to all businesses within Australian Unity and to the broader People & Culture team. In this role you will partner with key business leaders to achieve their desired strategic and operational outcomes, and facilitate this by leading and coaching the business through enterprise bargaining, change management, union management, legislative change, acquisitions and divestments.

In addition to the above, the Workplace Relations Practice Lead will also be responsible for leading the implementation of risk and compliance management activities, interpreting policy frameworks, industrial instruments and other documentation and representing Australian Unity in negotiations and employment related tribunals or forums, where required.

Key Accountabilities Include, but are not limited to:

• Lead the planning, analysis and development of enterprise agreement negotiation strategies which enable the business to realise their operational and cultural objectives.
• Ensure all negotiated outcomes are compliant with legislative obligations, Australian Unity policy and approved negotiation authority
• Develop and maintain respectful and constructive relationships with union officials and delegates, overseeing the administration of union consultation forums
• Support the business in finding and implementing solutions to key operational challenges (eg. operating model changes, restructuring, roster changes)
• In an acquisition process, play a critical role in accurately identifying key risk and value considerations relating to people matters and provide recommendations on appropriate risk management.
• In a divestment process, prepare and gather appropriate documentation for the data room and respond to Requests For Information in manner which appropriately highlights the value to potential buyers.
• Contribute to the development of Sale Purchase Agreements by reviewing the risk of terms proposed by the other party and proposing the inclusion of terms to best protect Australian Unity’s interests.
• Manage all processes associated with Fair Work Commission approval, including responding to tribunal members’ enquiries.
• Monitor legislative change and accurately assess impact for Australian Unity, and where required implementing processes or practices that will enable Australian Unity to meet new compliance obligations.

What we are looking for

The ideal candidate will be a confident advisor and negotiator, skilled in resolving disputes and managing enterprise bargaining with a focus on fair, sustainable outcomes. You will be a forward-thinking and adaptable leader who actively seeks innovative ways to achieve outcomes. Additionally, you will also foster a strong culture of collaboration—both internally and externally—by identifying opportunities to work together, promoting open communication, and removing barriers that hinder effective engagement.

In addition to the above we are looking for:

• Relevant tertiary qualification in human resources, industrial relations, law or similar
• Considerable experience in enterprise bargaining, including strategy development as well as union management and tribunal advocacy.
• Significant practical experience leading or advising large, diverse and complex organisation about Workplace Relations, Industrial Relations and Human Resources disputes (and resolution strategies) particularly in Human Services and or Health care settings
• Proven ability to manage and deliver sequence of complex changes to achieve industrial simplification
• Strong understanding of employment regulation in Australia, including institutions and employment legislation
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills, with ability to utilise information to exercise exceptional judgement
• Strong relationship building capabilities at all levels of the organisation and externally
• Well-developed planning and organisational skills
• Ability to deal with ambiguity and to respond flexibly to the need to change approaches 

What’s on Offer

You will enjoy a range of great employee benefits and rewards including:

• Competitive salary + bonus program
• Enjoy additional yearly Well-Being and Community leave days
• 14-week paid parental leave, with equal benefit for both parents PLUS our Bump to Baby’
• Employee Referral Program
• Employee Assistance Program – support and assistance for you and your partner at those times in life when you need it most.
• Maxxia Rewards - a great range of discounts and benefits at selected retail outlets, department stores, attractions, travel, cinemas, restaurants.
• Discounts across the Australian Unity business including Private Health Insurance, General Insurance + more!
• Available access to LinkedIn Learning courses through our great Learning platform

For further benefits visit: https://www.australianunity.com.au/careers/culture

Where to from here?

Please contact Rich Maher on rimaher@australianunity.com.au if you have further questions, otherwise please apply online.
 
Australian Unity is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we encourage applications from all members of the community, including people of Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander descent, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and, mature aged people.