Job description
Join Apex Industrial Solutions as a Senior Industrial Relations Manager. This is a strategic, senior-level position responsible for shaping and executing our employee relations agenda across manufacturing sites. You will partner with site leaders, HR, and unions to ensure a safe, compliant, and productive workplace while delivering measurable IR outcomes.
In this role, you will lead strategic negotiations, policy development, and risk management across multiple shifts and locations. If you thrive in a fast-paced industrial setting and bring a track record of influencing senior stakeholders, we want to hear from you.
Responsibility
- Develop and execute a comprehensive industrial relations strategy across all manufacturing sites.
- Lead collective bargaining negotiations, wage and conditions reviews, and grievance resolution processes.
- Advise executive leadership on regulatory changes, risk, and compliance with relevant laws and awards.
- Partner with unions, site leadership, and HR to foster constructive relationships and proactive issue resolution.
- Design and implement policies, procedures, and training programs to improve employee relations and compliance.
- Monitor and report on IR metrics, trends, and risk indicators to senior management.
- Oversee investigations into employee relations issues and provide final recommendations.
- Lead change management initiatives affecting workforce structure, incentives, and performance management.
Qualification
- Bachelor's degree in Law, Human Resources, Industrial Relations, or a related field.
- Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in industrial relations within manufacturing or heavy industry.
- Strong knowledge of Australian labor law, Modern Awards, and the Fair Work Act; proven negotiation experience with unions.
- Excellent negotiation, conflict resolution, and stakeholder management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to influence at the executive level and across diverse teams.
- Experience designing and implementing IR policies and compliance frameworks.
- Analytical mindset with proficiency in HR analytics and relevant HRIS tools.
- Strong communication, writing, and presentation skills.