Wollongong, New South Wales
Contract
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, and work toward the community's goals in the Our Wollongong Our Future Community Strategic Plan 2035.
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.
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 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
* Lead the delivery of employment relations, payroll, and change programs across Council
* Translate People and Culture strategies and business plans into clear and achievable programmes 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.
Benefits
* True work‐life balance – hybrid work options, flex‐time and rostered days off give you real flexibility
* Great working conditions – a 35‐hour work week or 9‐day fortnight with a regular rostered day off (RDO)
* Career growth and recognition – reward and recognition programme, corporate learning opportunities, study assistance and leadership development programmes
* Generous leave provisions – five weeks of annual leave per year (pro‐rated) and access to long‐service leave after five years
* Health, safety and wellbeing – wellbeing programmes, Employee Assistance Programme, skin and hearing checks, discounted gym memberships
* A vibrant social culture – social club activities, annual trivia night, fantastic Christmas events
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
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.
Child Safe Organisation
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.
Application Deadline
Applications close 11:59 pm Sunday 3 May 2026
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