TRANSEARCH is delighted to be partnering with Adelaide University in the search for a Director, Employee Relations - a newly elevated senior leadership position within the People and Culture function.

This high impact role will provide strategic leadership in delivering exceptional, people-centred advisory and partnering services across the University. It offers the opportunity to shape the future of workplace practices at one of Australia's leading Universities, where your leadership will directly contribute to empowering people, resolving complex matters with care, and strengthening capability across the organisation.

The University is defined by its commitment to launching futures - of its students, its staff, and its community. Bold ideas thrive here. People are supported to grow, contribute, and succeed. And the work of People and Culture is central, not peripheral, to everything the University is building.

This is a genuinely strategic and deeply relational role for a leader who is energised by complexity and inspired by purpose. The Director will stand as the university's most senior Employee Relations expert - a trusted advisor to the Vice Chancellor and executive leadership, a collaborative partner to key functions across the University, and a contemporary thinker who understands that the best Employee Relations outcomes are built on trust, relationships, and shared purpose - not simply process and compliance.

Reporting to the Executive Director, People Advisory and Wellbeing, this leader will help navigate a rich and challenging agenda, a merged and evolving workforce, and the cultural work of creating one unified institution from two proud legacies.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead the development and alignment of Employee Relations strategies supporting the University's strategic directions and cultural ambitions
- Lead and develop a high-performing Employee Relations team




- Act as a trusted advisor to Senior Staff and the wider University leadership on complex Employee and Industrial Relations matters
- Build and sustain solid, agile relationships with key external stakeholders including Unions and other representative bodies
- Partner closely with People Advisory, the Integrity Unit, Legal Services and other key internal stakeholders to drive seamless, culture-led outcomes

Your Background:

You are a contemporary leader who brings both the technical depth and the relational intelligence to lead at the highest levels of a complex organisation. You understand that influence is earned through credibility, connection, and consistency - and you bring all three.

You will offer:

- Extensive expertise in State and Federal industrial relations legislation, principles, and frameworks, including advocacy before industrial tribunals
- A modern, forward-thinking approach that prioritises early intervention, cultural alignment, and proactive risk management over reactive case management
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with senior leaders, union officials, legal professionals, and people leaders
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex and sensitive matters with professionalism, discretion, and a focus on fair, equitable, and timely resolution
- Strong people leadership; a genuine investment in developing capability, fostering collaboration, and building high-performing teams
- The confidence and presence to advise, influence, and partner with the most senior levels of the organisation

Adelaide University celebrates lifelong learning. A relevant tertiary qualification in Employee and Industrial Relations, Human Resources or equivalent role-based learning is required. A legal qualification is not a prerequisite. Higher education experience is valued but not essential.

If you are ready to take on a role that is as rewarding as it is challenging, we would love to hear from you.

Please note applications close Friday 7th August 2026.

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📌 Director, Employee Relations (Adelaide)
🏢 TRANSEARCH
📍 Adelaide