Employee Relations Advisor

At Officeworks we make bigger things happen. Our customers, our team, and our community are our heart and soul. And if our brilliant people have taught us anything, it is that we can do all kinds of incredible things, each and every day.

Fast paced. Innovative. Inspiring. With close to 10,000 team members and a national footprint of more than 173 retail stores Australia wide – we’re focused on delivering a wide range, low price and great service. We’re about inspiring new ideas and thinking outside the box. We’re about kicking goals, having a laugh and pushing each other. We are about being rewarded and supported. We’re about teaching a customer something new and supporting the community. We’re about making a difference.

Working closely with our People Business Partnering team and operational leaders, you'll provide timely advice and guidance on a broad range of employee relations matters, helping to navigate workplace issues while balancing people, risk and business outcomes.

You'll independently manage a portfolio of low to moderate complexity ER matters, case managing performance, conduct, workplace behaviour, attendance, grievances, award and policy-related issues. Through effective coaching and partnership, you'll support leaders to confidently manage their teams, apply people policies consistently and deliver fair, compliant and sustainable outcomes.

You'll also play an important role in identifying emerging trends, sharing insights and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen leader capability and enhance the employee experience across the business.

What you’ll be doing:

• Partner with Operational leaders and People and Capability partners to manage ER matters end-to-end, including performance, conduct, behaviour, attendance and grievances.
• Provide clear, practical advice to leaders and People stakeholders.
• Apply employment legislation, enterprise agreements, awards and organisational policies.
• Identify, manage and escalate people-related risks where appropriate.
• Coach leaders through workplace conversations and ER processes.
• Prepare high-quality investigation reports, correspondence and case documentation.
• Ensure cases are managed consistently and in line with governance requirements.
• Identify ER trends and contribute to improvements across policies, processes and resources.
• Share knowledge and build ER capability across the People team.
• Support a strong safety culture and proactive workplace practices.

You’re a confident HR professional who can combine sound ER knowledge with strong judgement, empathy and commercial awareness.

#LI-MR1, #LI-HYBRID

You’ll bring:

• A tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Business, Workplace Relations, Law or a related discipline is required.
• Experience with SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central, Kronos and ServiceNow (or similar systems) will be highly regarded.
• 2–4 years’ experience in employee relations, HR, People Advisory or a similar role.
• Experience in a fast-paced, high-volume and multi-site environment.
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment legislation, workplace relations, enterprise agreements and awards.
• Experience managing performance, conduct, workplace behaviour, attendance and grievance matters.
• Experience with unions and, ideally, FWC or FWO.
• Strong analytical, investigation and case management skills.
• The ability to turn legislation and policy into clear, practical advice.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Sound judgement and discretion when handling sensitive matters.
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset and a genuine interest in improving the employee experience.

If you’re searching for an organisation that’s truly committed to its people, where you can thrive in a culture of togetherness, then join Officeworks and let’s make bigger things happen – for all of us!  We celebrate our teams’ uniqueness by offering genuine team member benefits to the Officeworks family:

• We’re all about giving you the flexibility you need to keep things balanced to suit your individual needs. 
• Enjoy generous discounts across Officeworks, Geeks2U, Bunnings, Kmart, Target and the wider Wesfarmers brands.
• Access to our Officeworks benefits program for exclusive discounts and perks across entertainment, travel, lifestyle, and health.
• Our Growing Families Policy supports team members during the exciting and challenging times of expanding their family
• We prioritise safety, mental health and wellbeing, offering access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) as well as other ongoing programs
• Our Flexible Public Holidays Policy supports those who observe cultural or religious holidays different from the standard public holidays in Australia
• Take advantage of outstanding learning and development programs to support your career growth
• Explore fantastic career opportunities across the broader Wesfarmers Group.

At Officeworks, we operate best when our team represents the communities we serve.  We proudly commit to providing a safe and supportive work environment for our team.  We encourage applications from all candidates of all ages, cultures (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), people with disabilities, and the LGBTQI+ community.