Act as the primary escalation point for the most complex, high-risk and high-impact employee and industrial relations matters, including those with significant legal, reputational, psychosocial or commercial implications.
Lead legal strategy for critical workforce relations cases, including unfair dismissal, general protections, discrimination, adverse action and complex industrial disputes.
Represent the organisation in conciliation, mediation and hearings before the Fair Work Commission and other relevant jurisdictions for sensitive or precedent-setting matters.
Determine when matters require external legal counsel and manage briefing, strategy and oversight to ensure quality and value.
Provide authoritative enterprise-level legal advice on employment and industrial relations legislation, Modern Awards, enterprise agreements, employment contracts and workforce-related regulatory obligations.
Advise on complex workforce change initiatives, restructures and large-scale transformation programs.
Identify emerging legal and industrial risks and proactively develop mitigation strategies in partnership with People and Culture and senior leaders.
Provide professional leadership and technical oversight of the workforce relations legal practice, including mentoring, peer review and capability uplift.
Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and represent the organisation externally with regulators, tribunals, unions and professional bodies at a senior level.
Lead continuous improvement in workforce relations legal processes, governance frameworks and reporting.
Requirements
Admitted as a legal practitioner in Australia with a current practising certificate.
Extensive post-admission experience in employment and industrial relations law, including management of complex, high-risk matters.
Demonstrated experience representing organisations in tribunals and commissions on complex or sensitive matters.
Proven experience providing strategic legal advice to senior executives and influencing organisational outcomes.
Strong capability in mentoring and developing legal or employee relations professionals.
Experience within large, complex or highly regulated environments highly regarded.
Experience working in or advising public, not-for-profit or health and community services sectors desirable.
High proficiency across Microsoft Office suite.
Strong judgement, discretion and professionalism in sensitive matters.
Commitment to the mission and values of the not-for-profit sector.
Why you will love it here:
Working with us means stepping into a role that's as broad as it is meaningful. You will gain exposure to:
A large, complex organisation supporting more than 400,000 people across Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Multiple service streams including health, aged care, disability and community services.
Strategic workforce transformation initiatives that directly support frontline care delivery.
Opportunities to influence enterprise-level industrial strategy and organisational risk management.
And the perks? We've got plenty:
Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance.
Access to salary packaging, meal and entertainment benefits - up to $15,900 per year tax free as well as up to $2,650 of your pre-tax income to pay for meal and entertainment benefits. To learn more about this benefit watch the video via the following link: Salary Packaging Explained .
A recognition and rewards platform , providing employee discounts at hundreds of retailers, including everyday expenses, holidays, health insurance, a wellbeing program and employee assistance program.
Career development opportunities to challenge yourself, grow and make a meaningful difference.
12 weeks paid parental leave and 2 weeks paid partner leave , available after 6 months service, in addition to the government scheme.
Diversity
Benefits
Health insuranceFlexible scheduleParental leave
Additional Information
Make a meaningful difference with us:
We want people who are great as individuals, and even better in a team.
We're on the lookout for an experienced and strategic Special Counsel - Workplace Relations, who will operate as the key authority on complex, high-risk and strategic workforce relations matters across the organisation.
The role provides authoritative employment and industrial relations legal advice, shapes organisational industrial strategy, and leads the management of the most complex and sensitive workforce relations matters. The position is a trusted advisor to the General Manager, Workforce Strategy, senior executives and People and Culture leaders, and plays a critical role in safeguarding organisational outcomes, managing legal and industrial risk, and supporting long-term workforce sustainability.
The Workforce Relations Special Counsel is also accountable for professional leadership of workforce relations legal practice, including oversight, mentoring and quality assurance of Workforce Relations Counsel and Workforce Relations Associate roles.
Unitingcareqld · Brisbane