Workplace Relations Lead - Strategic Partnering (6-month fixed term contract)

at  Australian Unity

JOIN US AND LET’S MAKE A BIGGER DIFFERENCE TOGETHER.

It’s an exciting time to be joining Australian Unity – we have grown significantly over recent years and are transforming to capitalise on further growth opportunities to help our customers and employees thrive. We operate with commercial principles and with a strong social purpose to create community value. Australian Unity is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Established in 1840, we’re Australia’s first member-owned wellbeing company. Today we have over $1 billion in revenue and provide smart solutions and services to more than 700,000 Australians. We employ over 7000 people and our purpose is to Help People to Thrive.

Key Accountabilities Include, but are not limited to:

• Provide comprehensive advice to people leaders and employees regarding complex interpretation issues relating to legislative obligations, modern awards, Australian Unity enterprise agreements, employment contracts and policies.
• Maintain respectful and constructive relationships with union officials and delegates.
• Oversee the administration of union consultation forums and continuously review and refine such forums to ensure relevance and effectiveness. Effectively support the business in developing appropriate responses to issues raised.
• Regularly engage with employees, people leaders and unions on enterprise agreement interpretation and the provision of complex advice, in addition to the management of our Joint Consultative Committee.
• Identify areas of non-compliance at the organisational level, perform analytical work (including detailed data analysis) to identify the extent of non-compliance and remediation approaches, and work with stakeholders to find solutions to overcome compliance deficits.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with parts of the organisation that are responsible for systems relating to time and attendance, rostering and pay, by providing technically strong instrument interpretation advice appropriate to the needs of these stakeholders.
• Work with relevant teams to provide accurate guidance on Australian Unity systems modern award and enterprise agreement compliance through participation in testing of time and attendance, award interpretation, HRIS, leave management and payroll systems (currently UKG, SAP and ECP Payroll)
• Participate in regular reviews of existing People & Culture policies, including providing feedback on a broad range of policies not “owned” by Workplace Relations.
• Provide accurate advice and assist in the implementation of the outcomes of the Aged Care Work Value Case for the appropriate businesses.
• Provide sound impact and risk advice to our people leaders and People and Culture Business Partners in the instances of major change.
• Assist the Workplace Relations Operations team in and actively supporting the team and people leaders in the appropriate management of / response to complex sensitive and high risk cases involving misconduct and performance matter, employee grievances and ill / injured employees not fit to return to work.
• Lead the planning, analysis and development of negotiation strategies (for identified negotiations) which enable the business to realise their operational and cultural objectives

Due to an internal secondment we are now looking for a senior workplace relations professional to join our team. The Workplace Relations Lead is an expert advisor on workplace relations and employment regulation to all businesses within Australian Unity and to the broader People & Culture team. The role will ensure that Australian Unity’s employment regulation, compliance and risk management activities are maintained over the period and will also focus on the regular review of workplace relations policies. The role will provide leadership through providing accurate modern award guidance in the participation in UKG testing and instrument interpretation. The role will partner with the business and broader People & Culture in the provision of strategic advice for major change and change management.
The Workplace Relations Lead also plays a key role in ensuring the organisation is meeting its employment obligations.

Key Accountabilities Include, but are not limited to:

• Provide comprehensive advice to people leaders and employees regarding complex interpretation issues relating to legislative obligations, modern awards, Australian Unity enterprise agreements, employment contracts and policies.
• Maintain respectful and constructive relationships with union officials and delegates.
• Oversee the administration of union consultation forums and continuously review and refine such forums to ensure relevance and effectiveness. Effectively support the business in developing appropriate responses to issues raised.
• Regularly engage with employees, people leaders and unions on enterprise agreement interpretation and the provision of complex advice, in addition to the management of our Joint Consultative Committee.
• Identify areas of non-compliance at the organisational level, perform analytical work (including detailed data analysis) to identify the extent of non-compliance and remediation approaches, and work with stakeholders to find solutions to overcome compliance deficits.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with parts of the organisation that are responsible for systems relating to time and attendance, rostering and pay, by providing technically strong instrument interpretation advice appropriate to the needs of these stakeholders.
• Work with relevant teams to provide accurate guidance on Australian Unity systems modern award and enterprise agreement compliance through participation in testing of time and attendance, award interpretation, HRIS, leave management and payroll systems (currently UKG, SAP and ECP Payroll)
• Participate in regular reviews of existing People & Culture policies, including providing feedback on a broad range of policies not “owned” by Workplace Relations.
• Provide accurate advice and assist in the implementation of the outcomes of the Aged Care Work Value Case for the appropriate businesses.
• Provide sound impact and risk advice to our people leaders and People and Culture Business Partners in the instances of major change.
• Assist the Workplace Relations Operations team in and actively supporting the team and people leaders in the appropriate management of / response to complex sensitive and high risk cases involving misconduct and performance matter, employee grievances and ill / injured employees not fit to return to work.
• Lead the planning, analysis and development of negotiation strategies (for identified negotiations) which enable the business to realise their operational and cultural objectives.