Enterprise Bargaining Lead Lead enterprise bargaining at scale Melbourne locations | Hybrid working 2 year, fixed-term contract V/Line’s purpose is to connect Victorians through safe, reliable, and accessible transport. We believe in giving all Victorians opportunities through travel and transport – connecting them to jobs, education, family and friends, services, tourism and trade. V/Line is experiencing significant growth and we’re delivering more services, more trains, cheaper fares, and huge projects. With more than 3700 weekly train and coach services, an expansive freight network and unprecedented rail investment, millions of Victorians depend on us to deliver. You could be one of our 3100 committed team members who are up to the challenge. About the role Reporting to the Chief People Officer you will have end-to-end accountability for V/Line’s enterprise bargaining strategy and delivery. You will define and execute V/Line’s bargaining strategy, act as chief negotiator in complex and high-stakes discussions at the bargaining table, and manage industrial risks, including protected industrial action and dispute escalation. An important part of the role is ensuring full compliance with the Victorian Government Wages Policy and broader public sector governance requirements. This includes preparing high-quality submissions and materials for direct consideration by Government. You will work closely with senior leaders, unions, government stakeholders and internal partners across finance, legal and operations, and collaborate with the Head of Workplace Relations to ensure enterprise bargaining is aligned with ongoing management of industrial relations matters. Key accountabilities include: Leading V/Line’s enterprise bargaining strategy and negotiations as chief negotiator Ensuring compliance with government wages policy, approvals and governance processes Preparing Cabinet‑level, DTP and DTF submissions addressing strategic, financial and industrial impacts Providing clear, pragmatic advice to the executive on bargaining risks, options and trade‑offs Building and maintaining constructive relationships with unions and employee representatives Drafting complex enterprise agreement clauses and overseeing legally robust agreement outcomes Overseeing detailed financial costing and workforce modelling to support bargaining positions Managing and mitigating industrial, operational, financial and reputational risk during bargaining Representing V/Line in industrial disputes, including engagement with the Fair Work Commission Leading cross‑functional teams contributing to enterprise bargaining activity Location & Travel Considerations This role is based out of our Melbourne CBD office with some requirement for occasional travel to our regional depots. About you You are a highly experienced workplace relations professional with a track record of leading or supporting complex negotiations in unionised environments across the public or private sector. You bring strong strategic and financial acumen, excellent drafting and stakeholder management skills, and the personal resilience to operate effectively in high-pressure‑ and adversarial settings. You are comfortable balancing competing priorities, exercising sound judgement, and influencing outcomes without direct authority while maintaining credibility across unions, executives and government stakeholders. Our ideal candidate will possess the following: Experience leading or supporting enterprise bargaining in complex, unionised environments, ideally within the public sector. Proven capability in leading high-stakes negotiations and managing industrial conflict, including protected industrial action. Strong financial acumen, including oversight of complex costing and workforce modelling. Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging senior government and union stakeholders. If your skills or experience don’t exactly match our listed requirements, we still encourage you to apply. We value diverse perspectives and believe in the potential for growth and development. Why V/Line In addition to free myki travel, we offer: Community impact – Make a genuine difference. Work in a role that connects Victorians, every day. Huge potential – We’re transforming, and you can too. Be a change maker, recognised for your contribution and creativity. Dynamic environment – V/Line operates in a constantly changing space. Join a fast-paced and exciting organisation. Collaborative team – You’ll be part of a broader supportive team. Surround yourself with talented, passionate peers. Flexible working – We support flexible working. Work in a way that supports you to thrive in your role. We are committed to ensuring a comfortable and accessible recruitment experience. If you need any adjustments or have specific accessibility requirements at any stage of the process, please contact our Talent team at or for confidential support. As an equal opportunity employer, V/Line is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace and network that reflects the communities we serve. We accept and value the contributions of all our employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability. We are also proud to be endorsed by Work 180 as a great place for women to work, second year in a row. V/Line are proud to be a part of the Department of Transport & Planning's Yani Bangal Transport and Planning Portfolio First Peoples Careers Strategy . We take this opportunity to welcome and encourage applications from First Peoples. At V/Line, safety is our priority. Successful applicants will undergo relevant pre-employment and medical checks to meet our safeworking standards. Applications close: Sunday the 3rd of May 2026
