Corporate Services Melbourne Contract Immediate start Hybrid working available Our client seeking an experienced Employee Relations & Policies Senior Manager to join a high-performing People & Culture team on a 6-month contract. This is a senior, strategic role where you will lead complex employee relations matters, drive policy governance, and partner with senior leaders to strengthen organisational capability across Australia and New Zealand. This position is ideal for a seasoned ER professional who thrives in complex environments, brings strong commercial judgement, and is passionate about balancing organisational risk with employee wellbeing. About the Role: As the senior Employee Relations authority for ANZ, you will provide expert advice on complex and high-risk matters across the employee lifecycle. You will play a key leadership role in shaping ER strategy, leading investigations, enhancing policy frameworks, and uplifting ER capability across HR and the broader business. Key Responsibilities Strategic ER Advisory Provide high-quality, pragmatic advice on complex employee relations matters Partner with senior leaders on workforce transformation, restructures, and organisational change Manage sensitive issues including performance, conduct, workplace conflict, and exits Deliver guidance aligned with employment legislation, industrial instruments, and internal policies Analyse ER trends and risks, translating insights into proactive strategies Investigations Leadership Lead complex and sensitive workplace investigations end-to-end Ensure procedural fairness, consistency, and defensibility Coach and support HR teams on investigation processes and outcomes Partner with legal and specialist teams on escalated or high-risk matters Case Management & Governance Oversee ER case management frameworks, ensuring consistency and quality Establish strong governance, documentation, and reporting standards Deliver executive-level insights and dashboards on ER trends and risks Policy Leadership Act as the subject matter expert on HR policies across ANZ Interpret and localise global policies to meet regional requirements Monitor legislative changes and drive policy updates accordingly Educate leaders and HR teams on policy application and risk management Program & Stakeholder Leadership Lead ER and policy-related projects and initiatives end-to-end Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and executives Influence and embed best-practice ER approaches across the organisation About You Extensive experience in Employee Relations within large, complex organisations Deep knowledge of Australian and New Zealand employment law and frameworks Proven ability to manage high-risk, sensitive ER matters with sound judgement Strong experience leading workplace investigations Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills Calm, strategic, and decisive under pressure Strong ethical approach with a focus on fairness and respect Why Join Opportunity to operate at a senior, strategic level Exposure to complex and impactful ER work Collaborative, high-performing HR environment Immediate start If you’re an experienced ER leader ready to step into a high-impact contract role, we’d love to hear from you.
