Our Client

Our client is a major ACT Government public health organisation delivering acute, sub-acute, rehabilitation, community and specialist health services across the ACT and surrounding Southern NSW. Its network spans major hospitals, community health facilities and specialised services, supported by a large and diverse clinical, professional and corporate workforce.
The organisation is operating in a period of significant growth and transformation, including expanded critical care infrastructure, digital health capability and planning for future hospital services. This creates a complex workforce and industrial environment where contemporary employment frameworks, constructive union relationships and high-quality executive advice are critical.

Why Contract With Us

At Charter Diligence, we go beyond just placement — we support our contractors with practical benefits that reflect real-life needs. All contractors engaged through us have access to early cash advances on approved timesheets, offering flexibility in cases of unforeseen expenses or cash flow challenges. Unlike traditional labour hire providers, we understand that life doesn’t always align with a pay cycle — and we're here to help when it matters most. Well, ask your mates if they’re already a Charter Diligence Contractor — chances are, they’re already benefiting from the support we provide.

About the Role

This is a senior leadership prospect for an accomplished Industrial Relations professional to shape employment strategy within a large and highly complex public healthcare workforce.

Reporting into senior People and Culture leadership, you will lead a small specialist team and provide strategic industrial and employee relations advice to executives. The role has a strong focus on enterprise bargaining, employment conditions, union engagement, complex case management and ensuring employment frameworks remain operationally effective and compliant.

You will operate as a trusted industrial adviser and advocate, working across executive leadership, employees, unions and government stakeholders to navigate sensitive workforce matters and deliver practical, defensible outcomes.

Position: Senior Director, Industrial Relations
Pay Rate: Up to $1200/day + super
Location: Canberra ACT
Working Arrangement: Hybrid
Start Date: ASAP
Duration: Up to 6 months
Application Deadline: Closing soon

Key Responsibilities

- Lead the organisation's strategic approach to industrial relations and employment conditions.
- Manage enterprise bargaining activities from strategy and preparation through negotiation, approval and implementation.
- Partner with senior executives on enterprise agreements, employment frameworks, contracts and complex workforce initiatives.




- Provide authoritative advice on industrial relations legislation, awards, enterprise agreements, policies and employment obligations.
- Lead consultation and negotiations with unions, employee representatives and other key stakeholders.
- Act as a senior industrial advocate on complex disputes, grievances and employee relations matters.
- Identify emerging industrial risks and develop practical mitigation and resolution strategies.
- Prepare executive briefs, ministerial correspondence, submissions and high-level industrial relations advice.
- Build productive relationships with executives, operational leaders, government stakeholders and workforce representatives.
- Lead and mentor a small team of HR and industrial relations professionals.
- Support organisational change and workforce reform through effective consultation and industrial strategies.
- Monitor industrial trends, precedents and legislative developments that may affect workforce strategy.
- Represent the organisation at industrial relations meetings, negotiations and relevant external forums.
- Handle sensitive and confidential workforce matters with sound judgement and discretion.
- Promote compliance with public sector conduct, work health and safety, quality and governance requirements.

About You

You are a senior Industrial Relations practitioner who can confidently operate with executives, unions and workforce representatives in a complex and highly scrutinised environment.

- Extensive senior-level Industrial Relations or Employee Relations experience.
- Proven experience developing, negotiating and implementing enterprise or collective agreements.
- Strong experience within complex public sector, healthcare, human services or similarly regulated workforces.
- Demonstrated capability as an industrial advocate handling complex employee and industrial matters.
- Strong working knowledge of Australian workplace relations legislation, awards, enterprise agreements and employment frameworks.
- Highly developed union consultation, negotiation and stakeholder management capability.
- Ability to provide concise, evidence-based and defensible advice to executives and senior management.
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to interpret complex employment issues.
- Demonstrated leadership experience,



including coaching and developing specialist HR or IR professionals.
- Excellent written communication skills, including executive briefs, submissions, correspondence and policy advice.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and urgent matters while maintaining accuracy and professional judgement.
- Tertiary qualifications in Industrial Relations, Human Resource Management, Employment Relations, Law or a related discipline are highly regarded.
- Experience with public sector enterprise bargaining and government employment frameworks will be highly regarded.
- Knowledge of healthcare workforce environments and National Safety and Quality Health Service standards is desirable.
- Strong computer literacy and confidence working across contemporary HR and corporate information systems.
- Must be willing and able to obtain a satisfactory pre-employment National Police Check.
- Candidates must hold Australian permanent residency, Australian citizenship or a valid long-term Australian working visa with unrestricted working rights.
- Sponsorship is not available for this position.
- As a mandatory requirement for this contract role required by our client, applicants are kindly asked to complete a compliance check and upload their work rights verification at www.charterdiligence.com.au/portal. Incomplete submissions may not be considered. If you have any questions or need assistance with the process, please don’t hesitate to contact our team—we’re here to help.

Application Process

Important: Due to the high volume of applications and the limited submission timeframe, we may not be able to contact all applicants. This is not a reflection of interest, but a result of operational constraints. As part of mandatory government contract requirements, priority will be given to candidates who have completed all necessary compliance checks. For applicants with privacy concerns regarding work rights verification submission, documents may be presented in person at our local offices for sighting.

We encourage candidates who are passionate about making a difference and possess the necessary experience and skills to apply. Please apply to this job post or submit your CV along with a cover letter detailing your qualifications and interest in the role to this job post. For confidential inquiries, contact our recruitment team at [email protected] and (02) 7208 7776 (Sydney), (03) 9001 7776 (Melbourne), (07) 3866 7776 (Brisbane), or (08) 6118 7776 (Perth).

Charter Diligence is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of their background. Join us and be part of a team that is shaping the future of the industry.

📌 Senior Director Industrial Relations | ACT Government (Canberra)
🏢 Charter Diligence
📍 Canberra