Employee Relations Consultant

It starts with YES!

At Optus, we are committed to creating exceptional employee experiences. As part of the People & Culture team, we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. We partner with the business to deliver innovative HR solutions that drive performance, foster a culture of growth, and make Optus a great place to work. If you are passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a dynamic team, we invite you to join us.

Join Optus as an Employee Relations Consultant on a 9-month fixed term contract, where you'll take the lead in managing complex employee relations (ER) matters from end to end. Reporting to the Associate Director, Employee Relations (Case Management) this is a high-impact role where your expertise will support a positive and respectful workplace culture.

The day to day

• Manage complex employee relations matters from start to finish.
• Leading ER litigation up to and including conciliation/conference, including applications in relation to unfair dismissals, general protections, and stop bullying/sexual harassment in the Fair Work Commission, in consultation with in house lawyers.
• Conduct workplace investigations, addressing sensitive concerns related to bullying, harassment (including sexual harassment), discrimination, racism, vilification, and victimisation.
• Manage disciplinary processes, ranging from informal conversations to formal actions, including termination of employment, ensuring compliance and delivering pragmatic outcomes.
• Provide insightful guidance and coaching to leaders on effectively managing employee performance concerns, promoting a culture of constructive feedback and improvement.
• Oversee the management of employees on long-term sick leave, providing support and ensuring compliance with relevant policies and legislation.
• Drive continuous improvement by exploring and developing tools and resources.
• Assist the team, offering guidance, coaching, and support to enhance their expertise and effectiveness.

What makes you a great fit?

• Tertiary qualifications in HR, ER, Legal or a related field.
• Extensive experience providing ER advice within a fast-paced, large organisation.
• Proven experience in conducting conciliations in the FWC or other employment tribunals.
• Hands-on experience in leading workplace investigations, disciplinary matters, grievances, and terminations, ensuring procedural fairness and legal compliance.
• Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders across different parts of the organisation confidently, adapting your approach to their varying levels of experience in ER matters.
• Experience in the creation and facilitation of engaging and informative training programs.
• Comfortable working independently in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Perks we love at Optus

• 3 days in the office, 2 days remote – with flexible hours to suit!
• Discounts to Optus products and services
• Vibrant and collaborative office campus that includes cafes, convenient store, chill out zones, GP, post office, gym, and an on-site childcare centre.
• Inclusive carer neutral paid Parental Leave of up to 16 weeks
• Competitive leave including 2 additional 'Connected Leave' days
• All Optus employees have access to resources, webinars and support via the ‘Parents at Work portal’
• Own your own growth by accessing an extensive online and facilitator led learning catalogue.
• Novated car leasing, and other financial benefits
• Connect at work through our employee-led volunteer groups: Culture Connect, Elevate Women, Disability Network, Express Yourself (LGBTQIA+), United Veterans, Yarn Network, Wellbeing Network and Young Professionals.
• Free Optus bus from Macquarie University Metro Station (every 6-8 minutes); morning and afternoon!

Keen to see what it’s really like to work at Optus? Search #OptusLife on LinkedIn to go behind the scenes!

At Optus, we are strengthened by others and that means valuing diversity and saying ‘yes’ to embracing individual differences. We are committed to ensuring that our application process provides an equal employment opportunity to all job seekers, including individuals from diverse gender, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, individuals with a disability, individuals identifying as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals who may have served in the armed forces or who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. We also want to do our best to make our recruitment process inclusive. If you require any adjustments or accessibility support to participate fairly and equitably in the recruitment process, please email [email protected] or call 1800 309 170. We're here to help. When you contact us, please advise your preferred method of contact and we will be in touch within 48 hours.

For more information on Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Optus, please visit https://www.optus.com.au/about/inclusion-diversity.