Senior People & Culture Business Partner (ER / IR Specialist)
Progressive Regional Victorian Council | Local Government
Reference Code: REGVIC2410
Step into a strategic leadership role where your employee relations, industrial negotiation, and business partnering expertise directly shape organizational culture. Moving well beyond administrative HR, this role positions you as an executive peer and primary advisor across a modern, community-focused regional council.
Why Take on This Role?
Executive Advisory Seat: Work directly with senior directors and executive leaders as the council’s go-to specialist on complex workplace matters and organizational change.
High-Level ER/IR Ownership: Lead enterprise bargaining (EBA), resolve multifaceted industrial relations challenges, and manage high-stakes workplace investigations from start to finish.
Strategic, Data-Driven Impact: Blend risk management and workforce analytics to design modern interventions, build leadership capability, and champion an inclusive culture.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic ER & IR Counsel: Deliver authoritative advice on complex employee and industrial relations matters, local government enterprise agreements, and Victorian/Federal employment legislation.
Workplace Investigations & Dispute Resolution: Direct and execute formal investigations, manage grievances, and lead dispute resolution and Fair Work processes with objectivity and precision.
Executive Business Partnering: Partner with operational leaders and directors to coach managers, develop leadership capability, and support meaningful organizational development.
Enterprise Bargaining & Change Management: Support EBA negotiations, facilitate constructive union consultations, and guide structural workplace change initiatives.
Risk Mitigation & Analytics: Leverage workforce demographics and data insights to identify organizational trends, proactively mitigate risk, and inform executive decision-making.
What You Bring
Professional Experience: A minimum of 4 years of proven experience as a Senior HR Business Partner or ER/IR Specialist, ideally within Local Government, the Victorian Public Sector, or a complex, unionized environment.
Educational Background: Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Law, Business, or a related discipline.
Industrial & Legal Acumen: Deep working knowledge of Victorian public sector frameworks, Fair Work legislation, local government awards, and enterprise agreement structures.
Influence & Conflict Resolution: Exceptional stakeholder diplomacy with demonstrated success coaching senior executives, de-escalating sensitive disputes, and partnering effectively with union representatives.
How to Apply
Applications are reviewed immediately upon receipt, and interviews will commence as suitable candidates are identified.
To apply, please submit your comprehensive Resume and Cover Letter.
For a confidential discussion about this appointment, please contact Sarah Lowes-Fernando at Sarah.lowes-fernando@randstad.com.au quoting reference REGVIC2410.