Work Relations Manager

Grow with us, make an impact

Are you ready to play a key role in shaping a workplace that is both high-performing and well-governed? At Biodiversity Australia, a fast-growing, Indigenous-owned environmental consultancy, we’re looking for a Workplace Relations Manager to lead our people practices with a strong focus on compliance, risk management, and practical support to our leaders.

This isn’t a purely policy-driven role. It’s about being embedded in the business - partnering with managers to navigate complex people matters, ensuring we meet our legal obligations, and building simple, effective people frameworks that support performance, engagement, and sustainable growth.

What you’ll do

• Partner with leaders to provide expert advice on workplace relations, employment law, and people risk, ensuring decisions are fair, consistent, and legally sound.
• Lead and manage employee relations matters including investigations, performance management, grievances, and disciplinary processes.
• Develop, review, and maintain HR policies, contracts, and frameworks to ensure compliance with Australian employment legislation and best practice.
• Support leaders with day-to-day people challenges, providing practical, balanced guidance that aligns with both business needs and compliance requirements.
• Oversee and deliver talent acquisition activities, ensuring structured, compliant, and effective recruitment processes.
• Drive initiatives to support employee engagement and retention, ensuring alignment with organisational culture and workforce needs.
• Support onboarding, performance, and development processes across the employee lifecycle, ensuring consistency and quality.
• Contribute to the implementation and optimisation of HR systems and processes to improve efficiency, governance, and reporting.
• Use data and insights to identify people risks, trends, and opportunities, supporting proactive decision-making.

Who you are

• A confident and trusted advisor who can navigate complex and sensitive people matters with professionalism and sound judgement.
• Commercially minded and pragmatic, able to balance business outcomes with compliance and risk management.
• Strong working knowledge of Australian employment law and frameworks, including experience with matters relating to the Fair Work Commission.
• Experienced in supporting leaders across the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, performance, and employee relations.
• Resilient, hands-on, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• A clear communicator who builds credibility and trust at all levels of the business.

Who you are

• 7+ years’ experience in HR, Workplace Relations, or similar roles, with a strong focus on employee relations and compliance.
• Proven experience managing complex workplace matters, including investigations, performance management, and disciplinary processes.
• Experience supporting talent acquisition, employee engagement, and retention initiatives within a structured and compliant framework.
• Demonstrated ability to support and coach managers in day-to-day people leadership challenges.
• Experience implementing or improving HR systems, policies, and governance frameworks.
• Strong understanding of Australian employment legislation and best-practice people management.

Why join us?

At Biodiversity Australia, your work matters. You’ll play a critical role in ensuring we operate with integrity, fairness, and accountability - while supporting a business that’s protecting ecosystems and creating meaningful Indigenous pathways.

Our Culture Charter sets the tone: we’re values-driven, down-to-earth, and collaborative. We balance high performance with strong support for our people, and you’ll have the opportunity to influence how we grow—safely, sustainably, and with purpose.

We’re proud to be an Indigenous-owned, equal opportunity employer, welcoming diverse talent to join our mission.