Director, Industrial Relations

at  Queensland Health

About Queensland Health
The Corporate Services Division provides essential business, corporate, and operational services to the Department of Health and, in certain circumstances, to the broader Queensland public health system, which includes Queensland Health and its 16 hospital and health services. This division is responsible for leading the department’s budget and financial reporting processes, human resource services, knowledge management, legal services, business enhancement, and facilities management. Additionally, it oversees system-wide industrial relations activities, major capital infrastructure projects, specific human resources functions, and other corporate services functions. The Corporate Services Division employs a ‘shared services’ approach to support the operational activities of the Department of Health and hospital and health services, ensuring the delivery of patient care and departmental activities by providing vital information and support for system leadership and necessary corporate and business functions.
The Human Resources Branch partners with stakeholders across Queensland Health to deliver strategic human resource support, maximising the potential of their people in providing quality healthcare to Queenslanders. By offering a comprehensive range of services, the branch attracts and retains top talent, fosters a strong workforce culture, enhances staff capabilities, develops and maintains effective employment arrangements, and ensures robust performance management. Additionally, the branch guarantees that the department meets its statutory obligations, underpinning a thriving and compliant workforce dedicated to exceptional healthcare delivery.
About the Role and You
This pivotal leadership position is responsible for providing strategic advice and leadership on the development and implementation of best practice human resources, industrial relations and employment related initiatives to provide innovative solutions to support the organisation’s strategic objectives. The role will lead enterprise bargaining processes, and significant industrial relations projects impacting the Queensland Health workforce. The role requires highly developed conceptual thinking, strategic focus, leadership, and mentoring skills, along with a strong sense of integrity and political astuteness and an ability to manage competing priorities in a fast paced environment. The successful candidate will lead, coach, and develop a team of professionals, ensuring the delivery of customer-focused human resources management and industrial and employment relations initiatives.

• developing and implementing business and project plans, ensuring continual service improvement, and maintaining high standards of communication tailored to various stakeholders.
• You will lead the development and implementation of best practice human resources, industrial relations, and employment initiatives to support strategic objectives.
• Develop team capability to meet changing priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders, including government departments, hospital and health services, senior executives, managers, and unions.
• Provide high-level strategic policy advice and support on HR and IR issues to senior executives and managers.
• Lead enterprise bargaining negotiations and the implementation of certified agreement initiatives.
• Stay current with HR and IR case law, policies, and emerging trends in the health industry and public sector.
• Report to the Senior Director and manage up to 10 direct reports.
  The ideal candidate will possess proven leadership and vision, a strategic approach, and strong conceptual thinking abilities. You will excel in mentoring, negotiation, prioritisation, and collaboration within a complex environment. You should also demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the Queensland and/or Australian industrial relations systems and possess advanced advocacy, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. The ability to work dynamically and agilely, manage competing priorities, and communicate effectively with executives and stakeholders is essential. This role involves occasional intrastate travel and requires adherence to Queensland Health’s core values and leadership behaviours, including strategic thinking, relationship building, and governance excellence.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License