Employment Relations Partner
At Wollongong City Council, we continuously strive to create an Extraordinary Wollongong. We focus on the delivery of exceptional services, infrastructure and facilities for our community.
Wollongong is a great place to work, live and play! Together, our responsibility is to create an inclusive community where everyone is welcome, valued and belongs. Our strength is the diversity of our people.
We lead with courage, openness and curiosity and believe our employees are the key to our success. Learn more about us here.
The Opportunity
You will join a highly supportive, collaborative Employment Relations (ER) team that partners closely with leaders across the organisation to shape future‑focused people practices. In this role, you step into meaningful work from day one. You'll provide expert advice, guiding leaders through complex ER matters, and contributing to projects that strengthen organisational capability and compliance.
You'll work alongside a team of experienced ER Partners who share knowledge freely, work together under a portfolio model, and value open communication. You'll provide operational ER partnering across allocated portfolios. Your stakeholders will include leaders across diverse operational areas, giving you broad exposure and the chance to influence decision‑making at scale.
Opportunities available:
- A permanent full‑time role
- A part‑time term contract to May 2029 (with the possibility of extension or permanency), (21 hours/week)
- Expressions of interest for potential full-time term contract position to May 2029 (with possibility of extension or permanency).
Interviews are planned for mid‑May, with flexibility around start dates.
Salary from $100,466.86 ($55.02/hr) up to ($64.62/hr) $117,995.34 per annum plus superannuation (Salary package will be assessed based on skills, experience and qualifications). A minimum increase of 3.25% to the salary will apply from 1 July 2026 in accordance with Council's Enterprise Agreement.
How you'll make a difference
You'll strengthen the organisations approach to employment relations by combining strategic insight with practical support that builds leader capability. You will:
- Provide high‑quality employment relations advice across a diverse range of matters, ensuring decisions align with industrial instruments, legislation and organisational values.
- Support proactive workforce planning and change activities that strengthen organisational capability and future‑readiness.
- Interpret and apply enterprise agreement provisions and policies to support informed decision‑making.
- Coach and influence senior and middle leaders through sensitive or complex people issues.
- Contribute to meaningful ER projects, including enterprise agreement preparation, compliance and employee experience initiatives.
- Support leaders with workplace investigations with a structured and evidence‑based approach.
- Support leaders with the management of non-work-related illness and injury matters.
- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and union representatives.
About you
You're an experienced strategic HR partner with an ER focus who brings strong judgement, advanced ER/IR capability and the confidence to make an immediate impact. You bring:
- A relevant degree in Industrial Relations, Human Resources, Employment Law or a related field.
- Experience in employment/industrial relations, ideally in a unionised or regulated environment.
- Confidence interpreting enterprise agreements/industrial instruments, policies and legislation, and translating them into practical, solutions‑focused advice.
- Strong capability to influence and coach senior leaders through complex or sensitive matters.
- A structured approach to workplace investigations and the ability to manage them in line with Council processes.
- High attention to detail, analytical thinking and a proactive, solution‑focused mindset.
- A collaborative, team‑oriented approach that compliments your ability to work autonomously.
- A calm, professional presence, with the ability to operate with resilience and clarity in fast‑paced or ambiguous situations.
You value partnership and continuous improvement and you're looking for a team that works together, supports each other, and strives to deliver high‑quality outcomes.
Why you'll love working at Wollongong City Council!
- True work-life balance
We know you work hard, and we make sure that effort is rewarded with real flexibility. Our hybrid work options, flex-time, and rostered days off mean you can maintain balance while delivering great outcomes. - Great working conditions
Enjoy a 35-hour work week or a 9-day fortnight with a regular rostered day off (RDO). - Career growth and recognition
We are committed to supporting your personal and professional development. Our initiatives include a reward and recognition program, corporate learning opportunities, study assistance, and leadership development programs to help you grow and succeed. - Generous leave provisions
Benefit from five weeks of annual leave per year (pro rata) and access long service leave after just five years. - Health, safety, and wellbeing
We prioritise a safe workplace for everyone, every day, everywhere. Our wellbeing programs support mental, physical and social wellbeing of our people to be at their best and include an Employee Assistance Program, skin and hearing checks, and discounted gym memberships. - A vibrant social culture
Join our Social Club for monthly activities, an annual trivia night, and fantastic Christmas events!
Participate and engage in meaningful work, and contribute to our extraordinary community, where together we make a difference.
For more information, click on 'Apply' to be redirected to Wollongong City Council's job vacancy page.
Applications close 11:59pm, Monday 27 April 2026.
We invite everyone to apply no matter your identity, you'll be welcome. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), people with disability and veterans.
Wollongong Council adheres to the principles of a child safe organisation and is committed to the care and protection of all children and young people in the community.
Applicants are required to undergo a rigorous employment screening process which will include Reference, Identity and Medical History Checks, and may also include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and Working with Children Check. Employment is subject to clearance of all these checks.