About the role
In this role, you will be responsible for managing People Partner and Workplace Relation teams ensuring the workplace relations/industrial relations environment enables achievement of Geelong City’s business objectives. This position plays a critical role in ensuring Council strategies, business performance expectations and change initiatives are achieved through an innovative, proactive and effective Workplace Relations environment; ensuring an engaged workforce that is flexible, agile, accountable and high performing.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the People Partnering & Workplace Relations team to deliver on the Workplace Relations Plan.
• Operate as an effective member of the P&C Leadership team working in partnership with other leaders to deliver the People & Culture Strategy.
• Ensure that People Partners equip and enable leaders, across all levels, with the tools to effectively manage their people and help them perform and achieve their best.
• Develop and integrate the department’s initiatives and annual business plans in line with the P&C and the Directorate strategy; balancing value for our community and customers within the financial, social, environmental and resource constraints.
• Determine the most effective Workplace Relations framework and architecture and ensure its successful implementation.
• Provide subject matter or expert advice on organisational design to the Directorate, ELT and other leaders across the organisation. 
• Lead the provision of expert advice to the P&C Department and the Executive team regarding the prevention and resolution of significant industrial disputes, grievances and union consultation to ensure an effective environment and culture is achieved including compliance with relevant legislations, industrial instruments and government policy
• Guide the P&C leadership team and P&C PP’s in dealing with complex employee matters including legislation, policies, and practices

About you
To be successful in this role, you will have experience in developing and implementing Policy and Workplace Relations plans and approaches in a complex and often challenging environment.

Essential Experience:

• A tertiary qualification in Commerce, Human Resources, Industrial Relations or a similar field and/or significant professional experience in a comparable organisation.
• Demonstrated experience in managing senior stakeholders i.e. government, boards, coaching an executive team and collaborating with others in the pursuit of P&C goals. 
• Extensive commercial/business experience and ability to demonstrate bottom line value add through innovative workplace relations transformation.
• Extensive knowledge and proven contemporary experience in developing Workplace Relations approaches in a complex and often challenging environment.
• Demonstrated people management skills to support, influence and foster a productive team culture.  
• Accomplished negotiation, writing and public speaking skills to influence stakeholders and achieve support for department outcomes.

If this sounds like the role for you, then click apply now! 

Child Safety Responsibilities   
We are committed to being a child-safe organisation and have zero-tolerance for child abuse. We have specific policies, procedures, and mandatory training in place to support employees, volunteers, and contractors to achieve and adhere to these commitments. Please read our Child Safe Standards Management Policy.  

Diversity and Inclusion  
At the City we want a workforce that reflects the community we live in. We welcome and embrace everyone, all people with their own unique experiences, and support and encourage all our employees to do their best work, have equal access to opportunities and a just working environment. For this reason, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from First Nations people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, from the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disability and people of all genders, ages and diverse experience.  

We are the City
From parks to offices, childcare centres to works depots, leisure facilities to the Wool Museum and waterfront, our team plays a vital role in shaping our vibrant and growing community. Our community counts on us to get the essentials right while looking for ways to go beyond. By listening, collaborating, and focusing on sustainability, we strive to do the basics brilliantly and create a lasting impact. If you’re ready to be part of something bigger, join us in shaping the future of Geelong.

We support accessibility and encourage discussions about any adjustments or support you may need during the recruitment process.

Applications and Enquiries
Click the Position Description link to view more information about this position.

Enquiries: Monica Thomson  | Chief People Officer  | Monica.Thomson@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

Click the Apply button to submit your application or find out more about this opportunity. If we can assist you with any reasonable adjustments in order to submit your application for this role, please contact the Talent Acquisition team via email at careers@geelongcity.vic.gov.au noting your preferred method of communication and contact details and a member of the team will be in touch.

We collect demographic data to help us learn who our advertisements are reaching and how we can reach an even more diverse audience.  We are committed to building a more diverse team. Your responses to our demographic questions are strictly confidential and will not be individually shared.