"Associate Director, Workplace Relations and Business Partnering"

The University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) is seeking an experienced and confident leader to step into a high-impact opportunity as our Associate Director, Workplace Relations and Business Partnering. This fixed-term senior role offers the chance to contribute meaningfully to a growing, values-led university, directly influencing our people strategy, workplace culture, and university-wide People and Culture initiatives.

Reporting to the Director, People and Culture, you will lead high-performing Workplace Relations and Business Partnering teams, provide strategic advice to executive leaders, and drive enterprise-wide initiatives. With a strong focus on proactive, risk-aware, and people-centred solutions, you’ll shape the university’s approach to complex employment matters, compliance, and organisational change.

Team leadership is foundational to this role. We’re looking for a strong and supportive people leader. You’ll inspire, coach, and empower two highly skilled teams to deliver impactful, collaborative, and forward-thinking solutions across the university.

This is a unique opportunity to lead with impact in a bargaining year (2026), playing a pivotal role in enterprise bargaining negotiations and broader workforce transformation. The position is a 12-month parental leave cover, concluding in October 2026.

You will:

• Lead the development and implementation of UniSC’s workplace relations strategy, including enterprise bargaining, performance and conduct management, and compliance with employment legislation;
• Lead and support both the Workplace Relations and Senior HR Business Partner teams to deliver integrated, strategic, and solutions-focused support to senior leaders across faculties, schools, and professional units;
• Advise and support executive and senior stakeholders on workforce planning, organisational change, complex case management and reform;
• Represent the University in external industrial forums and negotiations, and lead collaborative relationships with union stakeholders;
• Oversee conduct and compliance processes including public interest disclosures, conflict of interest, and risk culture reporting;
• Keep the university ahead of changes in legislation, employment law and sector trends, translating insight into clear action plans, education and implementation; and
• Support the broader People and Culture strategic direction and contribute to a values-based, inclusive, and high-performing culture.

About you

You are a confident and credible people leader with a deep understanding of contemporary workplace relations and strategic HR partnering in complex, values-driven environments. You bring both presence and pragmatism, able to advise executive leaders, engage with union stakeholders, and lead high-performing teams with clarity, empathy, and sound judgement.

With extensive experience navigating complex employment matters, enterprise bargaining, and organisational change, you’re known for your ability to translate complexity into practical, risk-aware solutions that balance compliance with compassion. You lead by example, creating a culture of trust, accountability, and shared purpose.

Given the nature of this 12-month parental leave cover, you’ll be someone who can step in with confidence, quickly establish credibility, and make an immediate impact, supporting business continuity while driving key initiatives forward, including preparations for the 2026 bargaining round.

You thrive in dynamic settings and are energised by the opportunity to support a multi-campus university committed to innovation, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

You will possess:

• Tertiary qualifications, supported by extensive experience in senior HR leadership roles;
• Strong knowledge of contemporary human resource management and workplace relations practices, including enterprise bargaining, dispute resolution, performance management, and conduct matters;
• Proven success in leading and developing high-performing teams within complex or unionised environments, preferably across multiple sites;
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic and operational advice to senior leaders, contributing to business outcomes through effective workforce planning, risk management, and change leadership;
• Advanced understanding of the Australian employment and industrial relations legislative framework, and the ability to apply this knowledge in a pragmatic and compliant manner;
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and influencing skills, with a track record of building trusted relationships with executive teams, staff, and union representatives; and
• A working knowledge of the higher education sector (desirable) or experience within similarly regulated or complex industries.

UniSC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, women in STEM, First Nations Peoples, and individuals of diverse cultures, genders, abilities, and experiences. We value achievement relative to opportunity and encourage your commentary on your achievements in this context. For additional support during the application process, please contact us at unisc-careers@usc.edu.au or call +61 7 5430 2830.

Position Description: 493515_PD_Associate Director Workplace Relations and Business Partnering.pdf

Your completed application must include your resume and cover letter (not to exceed two pages), which will be reviewed in alignment to the selection criteria as outlined within the position description.

Further information regarding how to prepare your application is available on our website: Join our team

Have questions or want to know more? For a confidential discussion, please contact: Deborah Walker, Director, People and Culture, Email: dwalker3@usc.edu.au