Make a Meaningful Difference With Us
We want people who are great as individuals, and even better in a team.
About the Role
We're on the lookout for an experienced and strategic Special Counsel – Workplace Relations, who will operate as the key authority on complex, high‐risk and strategic workforce relations matters across the organisation. The role provides authoritative employment and industrial relations legal advice, shapes organisational industrial strategy, and leads the management of the most complex and sensitive workforce relations matters. The position is a trusted advisor to the General Manager, Workforce Strategy, senior executives and People and Culture leaders, and plays a critical role in safeguarding organisational outcomes, managing legal and industrial risk, and supporting long‐term workforce sustainability.
The Workforce Relations Special Counsel is also accountable for professional leadership of workforce relations legal practice, including oversight, mentoring and quality assurance of Workforce Relations Counsel and Workforce Relations Associate roles.
Key Responsibilities
* Act as the primary escalation point for the most complex, high‐risk and high‐impact employee and industrial relations matters, including those with significant legal, reputational, psychosocial or commercial implications.
* Lead legal strategy for critical workforce relations cases, including unfair dismissal, general protections, discrimination, adverse action and complex industrial disputes.
* Represent the organisation in conciliation, mediation and hearings before the Fair Work Commission and other relevant jurisdictions for sensitive or precedent‐setting matters.
* Determine when matters require external legal counsel and manage briefing, strategy and oversight to ensure quality and value.
* Provide authoritative enterprise‐level legal advice on employment and industrial relations legislation, Modern Awards, enterprise agreements, employment contracts and workforce‐related regulatory obligations.
* Advise on complex workforce change initiatives, restructures and large‐scale transformation programmes.
* Identify emerging legal and industrial risks and proactively develop mitigation strategies in partnership with People and Culture and senior leaders.
* Provide professional leadership and technical oversight of the workforce relations legal practice, including mentoring, peer review and capability uplift.
* Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and represent the organisation externally with regulators, tribunals, unions and professional bodies at a senior level.
* Lead continuous improvement in workforce relations legal processes, governance frameworks and reporting.
What You Will Bring
* Admitted as a legal practitioner in Australia with a current practising certificate.
* Extensive post‐admission experience in employment and industrial relations law, including management of complex, high‐risk matters.
* Demonstrated experience representing organisations in tribunals and commissions on complex or sensitive matters.
* Proven experience providing strategic legal advice to senior executives and influencing organisational outcomes.
* Strong capability in mentoring and developing legal or employee relations professionals.
* Experience within large, complex or highly regulated environments highly regarded.
* Experience working in or advising public, not‐for‐profit or health and community services sectors desirable.
* High proficiency across Microsoft Office suite.
* Strong judgement, discretion and professionalism in sensitive matters.
* Commitment to the mission and values of the not‐for‐profit sector.
Why You Will Love It Here
* A large, complex organisation supporting more than 400,000 people across Queensland and the Northern Territory.
* Multiple service streams including health, aged care, disability and community services.
* Strategic workforce transformation initiatives that directly support frontline care delivery.
* Opportunities to influence enterprise‐level industrial strategy and organisational risk management.
And the perks
* Flexible work arrangements to support work‐life balance.
* Access to salary packaging, meal and entertainment benefits – up to $15,900 per year tax free and up to $2,650 of your pre‐tax income to pay for meal and entertainment benefits.
* A recognition and rewards platform, providing employee discounts at hundreds of retailers, including everyday expenses, holidays, health insurance, a wellbeing programme and employee assistance programme.
* Career development opportunities to challenge yourself, grow and make a meaningful difference.
* 12 weeks paid parental leave and 2 weeks paid partner leave, available after 6 months service, in addition to the government scheme.
* Diversity and inclusive leave, offering paid gender affirmation leave and cultural leave options (paid and unpaid) for those who may celebrate Lunar New Year, Diwali, Ramadan, NAIDOC weeks and other significant cultural events.
Commitment to Safety and Inclusion
We're committed to creating safe, inclusive, and welcoming environments for all—especially children, young people, and the elderly. Our services are built on trust, care, and a deep sense of responsibility.
UnitingCare is committed to being a Child Safe, Child Friendly organisation and will provide welcoming, safe and nurturing services for children, implement measures to prevent child abuse and neglect, and appropriately and immediately address child abuse and neglect if it does occur.
Our approach is simple—everyone is welcome. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees no matter their sex, race, culture, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity. Demonstrating our commitment to reconciliation, we build long‐term employment opportunities for First Nations peoples and strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants for this position.
We work hard to make our services welcoming and safe for every person. We are united in keeping children, young people and the elderly safe from harm, within our services, workplaces and the communities we support. We are committed to speaking up loudly for their safety.
Apply Today
Ready to bring your whole self to work and make a real difference? Apply now and join a team where your work truly matters.
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