Manager, Workplace Relations

Reference Number: 1056918

About the Role:

Are you an experienced workplace relations professional with a strong background in employment law? Do you thrive on navigating complex matters, fostering constructive union relationships and contributing to a positive, compliant and values-driven workplace culture?

Curtin University is seeking a Manager, Workplace Relations to join our dynamic People and Culture team. This is a senior opportunity to shape and support our workplace relations framework, lead on complex matters and act as a trusted advisor to leaders and stakeholders across the University.

As Manager Workplace Relations, you will provide specialist advice on complex employee relations issues, support industrial change processes, contribute to enterprise bargaining initiatives and strengthen our team’s capability through leadership and coaching.

You will lead a high-performing team of workplace relations professionals, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration and continuous development. Working closely with the Deputy Director, Workplace Relations, you will play a critical role in building a fair and respectful workplace culture that reflects our commitment to integrity, inclusion and excellence.

Responsibilities:

As the Manager, Workplace Relations, you will be responsible for:

• Leading a team of workplace relations professionals, providing guidance, support, and oversight to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Managing complex employee matters and investigations in accordance with legal, industrial and policy frameworks.
• Providing expert interpretation of enterprise agreements, legislation, and policy to support fair and consistent outcomes.
• Building capability across the People and Culture function through coaching, education, and collaboration.
• Supporting constructive union and employee consultation through the coordination of appropriate processes and advice.
• Contributing to change management initiatives, including industrial change proposals and implementation support.
• Monitoring sector developments and workplace relations trends to support continuous improvement and strategic alignment.

We are looking for someone with:

• Workplace Relations Expertise
  Extensive post-admission experience (ideally 5+ years) in employment law, workplace relations or industrial relations, with deep understanding of enterprise agreements, the Fair Work Act, and broader legislative frameworks.
• Strategic Business Partnering
  Proven ability to build trusted relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders, aligning workplace relations strategies with organisational goals.
• Analytical and Policy Insight
  Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with experience applying legal principles to organisational policies, data, and workforce challenges.
• Leadership and Capability Development
  Demonstrated ability to provide leadership, coaching, and oversight within a high-performing team, and to build capability in others through education and mentoring.
• Collaboration and Team Contribution
  Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary HR function, contributing to shared goals and service excellence.
• Digital and Process Fluency
  Familiarity with digital HR systems and a continuous improvement mindset in delivering workplace relations services.
• Qualifications
  A degree in Law and admission to practice in Western Australia, with an unrestricted practising certificate.
• Sector Insight (desirable)
  Experience working in the higher education sector, or a complex, regulated environment, will be highly regarded.

Role Requirement
About Curtin University

We are an energetic, dedicated team of academics and professionals working together to provide global solutions through quality graduates and innovative research. Curtin is a welcoming space where integrity, respect for one another, courage, excellence, and impact are essential to everyday life. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information, please visit our Diversity and Inclusion page - https://staff.curtin.edu.au/discover-curtin/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-at-curtin/


What We Offer You:

Situated on Whadjuk Nyungar Country, our vibrant Bentley campus includes an art gallery, gym, childcare and medical centre, bus station, accessible parking and endless food options including a supermarket. Aside from the vibrant campus life, we offer more than just a job. Curtin offers a wide range of generous benefits, including additional leave, salary packaging, health and wellbeing services and an array of discounts for retail, travel and much more.

For more reasons to work at Curtin, please visit https://staff.curtin.edu.au/discover-curtin/
Join Us!

If this sounds like your next role, please click APPLY NOW ensuring to attach the following documents:

• Up to date resume
• Cover Letter outlining your interest, experience and addressing the section criteria for the role (no more than two pages)

If you have any queries in relation to this opportunity or the application process, please contact our careers team on [email protected] or 08 9266 9000 (option 3,1), quoting the reference number. Please note applications will not be accepted via this email address.

Applications close: Sunday, 10 August 2025

Disclaimer: Please note that there is no standardised time for the closing of adverts on the specified date. Therefore, we recommend submitting your application ahead of this deadline. Late applications will not be considered, and only successful candidates will be contacted.

Please note we are not accepting applications from recruitment agencies at this time.

Curtin reserves the right at its sole discretion to withdraw from the recruitment process, not to make an appointment, or to appoint by invitation, at any time. We reserve the right to remove the advert earlier than the date on the advert.