Senior Manager, Workplace Relations and Business Partnering

UniSC•UniSC Sunshine Coast, BC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

At UniSC, we're creating a better tomorrow through learning, knowledge and community impact. Reporting to the Associate Director, Workplace Relations and Business Partnering, the Senior Manager position has been created to strengthen both leadership capacity and specialist workplace relations capability across the portfolio. You'll provide day-to-day leadership and operational oversight across the Workplace Relations and Business Partnering teams, while acting as a senior escalation point and trusted specialist on complex employee and industrial relations matters. You'll bring the depth of expertise to confidently navigate enterprise agreements, employment legislation, industrial disputes, enterprise bargaining, complex misconduct and performance matters, grievances, investigations, organisational change and matters involving gender-based violence, sexual harassment and other harmful behaviours. You'll be comfortable weighing competing legal, industrial, employee and organisational considerations, working with unions, investigators and legal counsel, and representing the university's interests where matters progress to external forums. This is also a highly visible leadership role. You'll be on the ground with leaders, building the credibility and trusted relationships that enable difficult workforce matters to be surfaced early and managed effectively. You'll combine specialist expertise with pragmatism, knowing when a matter requires a formal industrial or procedural response and when trust, early intervention and constructive engagement can deliver a better outcome. This is a role for a leader who is comfortable rolling up their sleeves. You'll remain close to operational delivery and personally lead or step into complex and high-risk matters when required, rather than operating at arm's length. At the same time, you'll create the conditions for your team to take ownership, grow their capability and resolve matters effectively at the right level. For an experienced workplace and industrial relations leader who combines deep technical expertise with strong people leadership, sound judgement and a practical approach to problem-solving, this is an opportunity to have significant influence across UniSC.

Requirements

A relevant qualification in human resource management, employment law, industrial relations or a related discipline, supported by a commitment to ongoing professional development.
Extensive senior experience leading highly skilled Workplace Relations and/or People and Culture teams within a large and complex organisation.
A demonstrated track record of leading, developing and managing high-performing professional teams, including setting priorities, managing workloads and performance, building capability and maintaining effective service delivery in a complex and high-volume environment.
Extensive specialist expertise in workplace and industrial relations, including enterprise agreements, awards, employment legislation, industrial disputes, enterprise bargaining and representing or supporting an employer in tribunals, commissions or other industrial proceedings.
Demonstrated experience leading and resolving complex, sensitive and high-risk workplace matters, including misconduct, unsatisfactory performance, grievances and investigations, with sound judgement across competing legal, industrial and organisational risks.
Demonstrated experience managing or advising on complex matters involving gender-based violence, sexual harassment and related harmful behaviours, with an understanding of trauma-informed practice, procedural fairness and relevant legislative obligations.
Exceptional interpersonal, negotiation, advocacy and influencing skills, with the credibility to build trusted relationships with Executive, senior leaders, unions and employee representatives.
The ability to work primarily from UniSC's Sippy Downs campus on the Sunshine Coast for four days per week.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach and develop a team of workplace relations and business partnering professionals, creating a high-performing, accountable and client-focused culture.
Provide hands-on leadership of complex and sensitive employee and workplace relations matters, stepping in directly where senior expertise, judgement or escalation is required.
Lead and advise on sensitive conduct matters, including gender-based violence, sexual harassment and other harmful behaviours, ensuring responses are trauma-informed, procedurally fair and appropriately risk-managed.
Negotiate and influence outcomes on complex people matters, balancing legislative, industrial, employee and organisational considerations.
Build trusted relationships with senior leaders, providing strategic and risk-informed advice to navigate workforce challenges and support effective decision-making.
Maintain strong operational oversight across Workplace Relations and Business Partnering, ensuring priorities, workloads and complex matters are actively managed through to resolution.
Contribute to enterprise bargaining and lead key workforce and organisational projects that strengthen capability and service delivery.
Advocate for the University's interests, working with investigators and legal counsel and representing UniSC at tribunals, commissions and other external forums as required.