Principal Adviser - Industrial Relations

• Utilise your supervision expertise to provide support and advice to Corporate Strategy and Delivery

• Ongoing, Full-Time opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service

• VPS Grade 6 : $142,790 - $191,084 plus superannuation.

About the Business Unit

Employee and Workplace Relations is responsible for management of the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS)'s industrial relations program, the management of employee relations issues including employee conduct, the Human Resource Business Partnerships, and administration of the internal review of actions process.

About the Role

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Industrial Relations, this role will work and provide advice across an extensive range of employment matters, including drafting and negotiating enterprise agreements; risk and change management; dispute resolution and litigation; advocacy in industrial tribunals, including the Fair Work Commission; and providing advice on a broad range of employee-related matters and processes.

A critical aspect of the role is the ability to apply legislative and policy frameworks while ensuring that advice considers the particulars of specific issues.

The Principal Adviser, Industrial Relations will work closely with key stakeholders and human resource practitioners to resolve complex workplace issues as they arise, with the primary focus on workplace and industrial relations, providing guidance and direction in line with general policy.

This role will also provide strategic, evidence-based advice and recommendations on workforce issues relevant to the department and the Victorian Public Service more broadly. This will include reviewing and advising on proposed policy and legislative changes.

Some of your duties will include:

• Provide expert support and authoritative employment and industrial relations advice, which includes a clear assessment, consideration and articulation of risk, to executive and senior management stakeholders on a range of highly complex and sensitive employment issues.
• Provide pragmatic advice, direction and guidance to internal human resources staff undertaking complex case management work, based on advanced expertise in the fields of workplace relations and industrial relations legislation and policy.
• Prepare technical reports, policy papers and authoritative briefings on complex employment and industrial relations matters.

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

About You

As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Significant experience in the provision of authoritative employee and industrial relations advice and issue management to deliver successful organisational outcomes, preferably within a Government workplace.
• An expert understanding of the legislative and industrial framework that applies to the Victorian Public Service, including the Public Administration Act 2004, the Fair Work Act 2009 and the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2020.

How to Apply

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include reference checks, national police checks and misconduct screening. Dependant on the role, other checks may include VicRoads checks, drivers licence checks, medical checks, Working with Children Checks, and Declaration of Private Interests (for executive and responsible officer roles).

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

To be eligible, please apply by June 17th at 11.59pm 2026.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.