Work with us

Principal Workplace Relations

People & Assurance | Adelaide

Lead. Influence. Protect. Strengthen.

Uniting Communities is seeking a highly experienced workplace relations leader to shape and drive our approach to employee and industrial relations across a complex, purpose-driven organisation.

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, this role is the organisation’s subject matter expert in workplace relations providing strategic leadership, managing high-risk and complex matters, and strengthening capability across leaders and teams.

About the Role

You will lead the organisation’s workplace relations function, including the leadership and development of a small team of Senior HR Business Advisors, ensuring matters are managed fairly, consistently, and in line with legislative and industrial requirements.

You will lead the organisation’s workplace relations function, ensuring matters are managed fairly, consistently, and in line with legislative and industrial requirements. 

This includes:

• Leading complex case management, investigations, and conflict resolution
• Providing expert advice to senior leaders on sensitive workplace matters
• Driving enterprise bargaining strategy and union engagement
• Monitoring legislative and IR landscape changes and translating these into organisational practice
• Strengthening frameworks, policies, and organisational capability in employee relations
• Leading, coaching and developing Senior HR Business Advisors to build organisational capability and ensure consistent, high-quality ER/IR practice

You will operate as a trusted advisor, balancing risk, compliance, and people-centred outcomes.

About You

You are a seasoned workplace relations professional with deep expertise in Australian employment and industrial relations.

You bring:

• Significant experience in complex ER/IR environments
• Strong knowledge of enterprise agreements, modern awards, and employment legislation
• Proven capability managing investigations, disputes, and high-risk matters
• Experience engaging with unions and supporting enterprise bargaining
• The ability to influence and advise at senior leadership level
• Exceptional judgement, communication, and stakeholder management skills

You are calm under pressure, commercially and ethically grounded, and able to navigate complexity with confidence.

Why Join Uniting Communities

At Uniting Communities, our work is driven by purpose—supporting individuals and communities to thrive.

In this role, you will:

• Influence organisation-wide people practices and risk management
• Work closely with executive leaders on critical workforce matters
• Shape strategy in a dynamic and evolving IR landscape
• Contribute to a culture grounded in fairness, respect, and accountability

How to Apply

If you are ready to take on a strategic and impactful workplace relations leadership role, we welcome your application.