Dispute Resolution & Support Services Branch | EL 2 | Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney Closing date: 07/10/2026 5:00 PM

About the Position

The Director, Conciliations is a key leadership role in the Fair Work Commission’s (the Commission’s) Dispute Resolution and Support Services Branch (Branch) supporting simple, fair and flexible workplace relations. The role leads a large national team to deliver proactive and efficient, client-centric dispute resolution services for parties involved in individual employment related disputes.

The Director is collectively responsible with the Branch senior leadership team for delivering client-centric service excellence, robust performance, innovation and continuous improvement across all Branch functions. In a dynamic operating environment, the Director provides strategic advice and direction, translates strategy into operational goals, creates plans, exercises sound judgment and fosters productive relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders to enhance contemporary practice in dispute resolution services.

Informed by a strong understanding of the Commission’s operating environment, dispute resolution practice and supporting technology, the Director will collaborate across the team, branch and wider Commission to lead change, build capability, draw insights, harness opportunities, and actively manage risk. They regularly report to the Executive Director, General Manager and the Commission’s governance committees, as well as the Commission President and National Practice Leaders, where required.

Duties

- Support the Executive Director to deliver Branch and Commission outcomes by providing strategic direction, driving high performance and effectively leading change in a busy operational environment including supporting digital transformation, designing, planning,



and implementing innovation and service improvement.
- Drive a collaborative, client-centric, high-performance culture and foster the team’s understanding of the Branch’s impact on the Commission’s strategic and operational objectives.
- Lead the Commission's staff-led dispute resolution service effectively, efficiently and in line with contemporary better practice to achieve high-quality, timely outcomes and meet agreed performance and service standards and support continuous improvement.
- Build and sustain productive and influential relationships with a diverse network of key internal and external stakeholders (including Commission Members, peers, team members and clients), to ensure high-quality dispute resolution services are delivered, objectives are achieved, and future needs are addressed.
- Work collaboratively across the Commission to build and maintain specialist team capability, and develop others to do so, through coaching and mentoring and managing staff performance and implementing resourcing, recruitment, capability building and succession planning strategies.
- Work independently under broad direction, exercising sound judgment to manage complex and sensitive issues and escalations, solve problems and resolve conflict, develop and implement strategic solutions, engage positively with risk and embed risk management in planning, decision making and team management.
- Provide authoritative, practical and impartial advice and support to Commission Members, the General Manager,



the Executive Director and the Commission’s decision-making committees (Executive Management, Operational Performance and Major Investments committees).
- Actively contribute as a senior leader at the Commission, including as a member of Commission committees, the Senior Management Group and Branch leadership team, supporting strategic planning, reporting, governance, financial and risk management responsibilities.
- Uphold and promote an inclusive, healthy, and safe working environment, modelling and promoting ethical behaviour and practices consistent with the APS Code of Conduct and Values.

How to Apply

The Position Description (PD) is attached at the bottom of this advertisement which will provide you with further information.

- Your application must consist of the following requirements:
A statement of claims of no more than 500 words outlining how your skills and/or experience relevant to the advertised role using the ‘Our ideal candidate’ section as your basis.
- A resume detailing your recent employment history, relevant to this position.

Submit your application via the Commission's online e-recruitment system by Wednesday 7 October 2026 no later than 5:00 pm AEDT.

If you have questions regarding this role, please contact Chloë Eaton on [email protected] or phone +61 2 6152 2918. You can also send an email to the Recruitment Team [email protected].

Additional Information

Non-ongoing employees, if you are the successful applicant for the above position, a new contract may be issued which will supersede all current employment contracts.

Attachments:
- PD - EOI - EL2 Director Conciliations - National - October 2026.docx
- PD - EOI - EL2 Director Conciliations - National - October 2026.pdf
- Principles for candidate use of AI in recruitment.pdf
- e-Recruitment FAQ.docx

📌 Director, Conciliations (EOI) (Sydney)
🏢 FWC
📍 Sydney