Senior Legal Counsel Industrial Relations/Employee Relations
Navitas is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel specializing in Industrial Relations and Employee Relations to join our HR Australasia team. This role offers the flexibility to be based in Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth, and involves leading the organization's national IR/ER strategy within a complex, unionized environment governed by multiple Enterprise Agreements. Reporting to the General Manager, HR Australasia, with a dotted line to General Counsel, the successful candidate will provide trusted legal advice to executives and act as the senior representative before the Fair Work Commission.
Key responsibilities include leading enterprise bargaining across multiple Enterprise Agreements and unions, representing the organization before the Fair Work Commission and regulators, providing strategic and legal IR/ER advice to executives and senior leaders, managing disputes and litigation risk, leading a specialist IR/ER team, and ensuring compliance with employment law, awards, and industrial instruments.
The ideal candidate will have admittance (or eligibility) to practice as a solicitor in an Australian state or territory with at least 5 years of legal post-admission experience in an employment practice of a law firm or equivalent in-house role. Demonstrated capability in representing employers in Fair Work Commission and/or court proceedings and advising on Australian employment law is essential. Experience working with multiple EBAs in unionized organizations, deep knowledge of Australian employment law, proven ability to manage disputes and ER matters, exceptional stakeholder management and negotiation skills, and confidence advising executives on sensitive and strategic IR/ER matters are also required. A tertiary qualification in Law, HR, Industrial Relations, or similar is necessary, and working knowledge of New Zealand employment legislation is desirable.
Navitas offers careers across our global operations, recognizes and rewards employees, and understands the importance of showing appreciation. We care for our employees by offering a range of benefits, support to help you be your best, and flexibility to help us all thrive. At Navitas, work has meaning, and our impact is far-reaching, creating lasting legacies for students and communities. Employees also have access to LinkedIn Learning for their development.
At Navitas, we promote and embrace an inclusive and diverse workforce, believing that equality, flexibility, and diversity deliver a rich collaborative environment. We strive to ensure that all our staff, no matter where they are from or who they are, feel safe, supported, and given opportunities to thrive. We encourage applications from candidates with disabilities, of all ages and genders, First Nations and Indigenous peoples, and people of diverse community groups.