Senior Workplace Relations Counsel Full-Time (part-time considered) Catholic Employment Relations – Sydney CBD NSW

Sydney CBD | Full-Time (part-time considered) | Hybrid Working Available

About Us Catholic Employment Relations (CER) is a trusted partner to Catholic employers across Australia, providing expert employment relations, human resources, industrial relations and legal support through a distinctly Catholic lens.

We work alongside Catholic schools, Religious Institutes, health and social service providers, and other Catholic agencies to build in-house capability and navigate complex workplace issues with confidence. From day-to-day employment matters to enterprise bargaining, workplace investigations, litigation and governance, CER delivers practical, end-to-end support that aligns with Catholic values and mission.

As a not-for-profit legal practice and wholly owned subsidiary of Catholic Schools NSW, we are committed to excellence in client service, collaboration, and supporting the mission of Catholic organisations.

About the Role We are seeking a highly experienced

Senior Workplace Relations Counsel

to join our growing team.

This is a senior advisory role for a workplace relations professional who thrives on solving complex challenges, building trusted client relationships, and providing commercially sound, practical advice. Working closely with senior leaders, executives, boards and decision-makers, you will deliver strategic employment and industrial relations support across a diverse portfolio of Catholic organisations.

You will act as a trusted advisor, balancing legal obligations, organisational objectives,



operational realities and stakeholder expectations to help clients make informed and effective workplace decisions.

Key Responsibilities Strategic Employment & Industrial Relations Advice

Provide expert advice on complex employment and industrial relations matters, including:

Performance management

Misconduct and disciplinary processes

Terminations and redundancies

General protections claims

Unfair dismissal matters

Interpretation and compliance with awards and enterprise agreements

Deliver practical, commercially focused solutions that support organisational objectives while managing legal risk.

Litigation, Dispute Resolution & Risk Management

Manage employment-related disputes and litigation before courts, tribunals and regulatory bodies.

Develop risk mitigation strategies and dispute resolution pathways.

Provide strategic advice on settlement negotiations and legal risk management.

Identify opportunities for early intervention to minimise organisational disruption and exposure.

Enterprise Bargaining & Industrial Strategy

Lead and advise on enterprise bargaining negotiations and industrial strategies.

Support clients in developing bargaining positions aligned with workforce and operational objectives.

Provide advice on industrial disputes,



legislative compliance and industrial relations trends.

Workplace Investigations

Lead complex and sensitive workplace investigations involving:

Misconduct

Bullying

Harassment

Discrimination

Systemic workplace concerns

Ensure procedural fairness and legally defensible outcomes.

Governance, Compliance & Policy Leadership

Develop and review workplace policies, governance frameworks and compliance programs.

Monitor legislative developments and emerging workplace risks.

Support continuous improvement initiatives and best-practice workplace governance.

Specialist Legal Advisory

Advise on:

Employment contracts

Executive employment arrangements

Privacy obligations

Workplace health and safety matters

Workplace policies and governance frameworks

Prepare complex legal opinions, submissions, correspondence and advisory materials.

Thought Leadership & Training

Develop client updates, articles, guidance materials and training programs.

Present at workshops, seminars and sector events.

Contribute to CER's reputation as a leading workplace relations advisory practice.

Client Relationship Management

Build strong and enduring relationships with clients and stakeholders.

Deliver responsive, strategic and high-quality advice tailored to each client's needs and risk appetite.

Leadership & Collaboration

Mentor and support colleagues across the business.

Contribute to a collaborative and high-performing team culture.

Support innovation, continuous improvement and cross-functional projects.

About You You are a trusted workplace relations qualified wit

📌 Senior Workplace Relations Counsel Full-Time (Sydney)
🏢 Catholic Employment Relations
📍 Sydney