Job Description
Senior Director Industrial Relations | ACT Government
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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.
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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.
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About The Role
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This is a senior leadership opportunity for an accomplished Industrial Relations professional to shape employment strategy within a large and highly complex public healthcare workforce.
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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 solid focus on enterprise bargaining, employment conditions, union engagement, complex case management and ensuring employment frameworks remain operationally effective and compliant.
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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.
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Position: Senior Director, Industrial Relations
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Pay Rate: Up to $****/day + super
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Location: Canberra ACT
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Working Arrangement: Hybrid
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Start Date: ASAP
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Duration: Up to 6 months
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Application Deadline: Closing soon
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Key Responsibilities
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Lead the organisation's strategic approach to industrial relations and employment conditions.
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Manage enterprise bargaining activities from strategy and preparation through negotiation, approval and implementation.
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Partner with senior executives on enterprise agreements, employment frameworks, contracts and complex workforce initiatives.
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Provide authoritative advice on industrial relations legislation, awards, enterprise agreements, policies and employment obligations.
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Lead consultation and negotiations with unions, employee representatives and other key stakeholders.
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Act as a senior industrial advocate on complex disputes, grievances and employee relations matters.
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Identify emerging industrial risks and develop practical mitigation and resolution strategies.
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Prepare executive briefs, ministerial correspondence, submissions and high-level industrial relations advice.
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Build productive relationships with executives, operational leaders, government stakeholders and workforce representatives.
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Lead and mentor a small team of HR and industrial relations professionals.
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Support organisational change and workforce reform through effective consultation and industrial strategies.
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Monitor industrial trends, precedents and legislative developments that may affect workforce strategy.
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Represent the organisation at industrial relations meetings, negotiations and relevant external forums.
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Handle sensitive and confidential workforce matters with sound judgement and discretion.
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Promote compliance with public sector conduct, work health and safety, quality and governance requirements.
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About You
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You are a senior Industrial Relations practitioner who can confidently operate with executives, unions and workforce representatives in a complex and highly scrutinised workplace.
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Extensive senior-level Industrial Relations or Employee Relations experience.
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Proven experience developing, negotiating and implementing enterprise or collective agreements.
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Strong experience within complex public sector, healthcare, human services or similarly regulated workforces.
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Demonstrated capability as an industrial advocate handling complex employee and industrial matters.
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Strong working knowledge of Australian workplace relations legislation, awards, enterprise agreements and employment frameworks.
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Highly developed union consultation, negotiation and stakeholder management capability.
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Ability to provide concise, evidence-based and defensible advice to executives and senior management.
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Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to interpret complex employment issues.
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Demonstrated leadership experience, including coaching and developing specialist HR or IR professionals.
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Excellent written communication skills, including executive briefs, submissions, correspondence and policy advice.
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Ability to manage competing priorities and urgent matters while maintaining accuracy and skilled judgement.
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Tertiary qualifications in Industrial Relations, Human Resource Management, Employment Relations, Law or a related discipline are highly regarded.
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Experience with public sector enterprise bargaining and government employment frameworks will be highly regarded.
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Knowledge of healthcare workforce environments and National Safety and Quality Health Service standards is desirable.
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Strong computer literacy and confidence working across contemporary HR and corporate information systems.
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Must be willing and able to obtain a satisfactory pre-employment National Police Check.
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Candidates must hold Australian permanent residency, Australian citizenship or a valid long-term Australian working visa with unrestricted working rights.
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Sponsorship is not available for this position.
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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 . 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.
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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.
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📌 Senior Director Industrial Relations | Act Government (Canberra)
🏢 Charter Diligence
📍 Canberra