Employment Relations Manager
At Wollongong City Council, we continuously strive to create an Extraordinary Wollongong for our community. We focus on the delivery of exceptional services, infrastructure and facilities for our community. Our aim is to work toward the community's goals in the Our Wollongong Our Future Community Strategic Plan 2035.
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
As Employment Relations Manager, you will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for Employment Relations Business Partnering, Payroll, Change & People Readiness, and People and Culture administration across Council. Your work will support leaders and teams across a large and diverse organisation, enabling them to deliver services that make a meaningful impact on the community. You will work closely with leaders across the organisation and union representatives, providing trusted and practical advice.
You will be part of an award-winning People and Culture leadership team, recognised as the 2025 AHRI Award winners for Best Employee Strategy and awarded a Highly Commended badge in the Organisational Diversity and Inclusion category by LG NSW for 2025. The team is collaborative, future focused, and committed to creating a safe, inclusive and engaging workplace.
This is a full time, 35 hour per week, parental leave term contract position, commencing in July 2026 till October 2027 with possibility of extension. Salary from $136,938 up to $158,922 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 as per Council's Enterprise Agreement.
How you'll make a difference
In this role you will:
- Lead the delivery of employment relations, payroll, and change programs across Council
- Translate People and Culture strategies and business plans into clear and achievable programs of work
- Provide strategic and operational advice to leaders on industrial relations, workforce matters and organisational change
- Design and improve frameworks, tools, policies and service offerings that support compliant and consistent people practices
- Oversee the effective operation and continuous improvement of Employment Relations Business Partnering, Payroll, Change & People Readiness, and People and Culture administration
- Support the Senior Manager People & Culture Manager in the preparation of Enterprise Agreement negotiations, including analysis, consultation support and planning
- Monitor the application of industrial instruments, policies and procedures, recommending improvements where needed
- Prepare executive briefings, correspondence and reports
- Partner with leaders across the organisation to support workforce planning, culture uplift and employee engagement
About you
You're an energetic, credible and authentic leader who enjoys working in complex environments and values collaboration, trust and practical outcomes. You create a culture of achievement by building a shared sense of direction, clarifying priorities, and inspiring strong performance across the Employment Relations team. You bring extensive experience leading employment relations or business partnering teams within large or complex organisations, along with a strong understanding of industrial relations legislation and contemporary employment practices. Your background includes supporting or overseeing payroll functions and contributing to change and people readiness initiatives that deliver meaningful organisational outcomes. You build strong, trusted relationships and provide clear, balanced and practical advice.
You are known for your measured approach and your ability to influence through collaboration, contributing to a high performing and inclusive workplace. You will hold a degree qualification in Human Resources, Employee Relations, Commerce, Psychology, or an equivalent discipline, and demonstrate the ability to deliver both strategic and operational advice to people leaders across Council.
As an active and engaged member of the People and Culture leadership team, you work collaboratively to enhance organisational outcomes and lead a customer focused, team focused culture. You bring a strong commitment to Council's values of Respect, Integrity, One Team, Sustainability and Courage, and model these values in the way you lead and engage with others.
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 Sunday 3 May 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.