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Industrial Relations Manager

Location:
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Posted:
11th March 2026
Advertiser:
Hays - ANZ - 2985802
  • Challenging and Rewarding Opportunity
  • Heavily Unionised Environment
  • Senior Role

An experienced Industrial Relations Manager is required for the marine sector.

We are seeking an experienced and strategically minded Industrial Relations Manager to lead all IR activities across our client's marine operations.

This role requires a highly capable professional with a deep knowledge of Australia's industrial relations framework, a confident negotiation style, and proven experience dealing with complex, unionised environments.
As the Industrial Relations Manager, you will be responsible for managing union engagement-often in adversarial settings-ensuring constructive outcomes that support operational continuity while maintaining strong compliance with the Fair Work Act and relevant maritime industrial instruments. You will also play a key role in managing Fair Work claims and providing expert support alongside the internal legal counsel.

Core Responsibilities include:
  • Develop and execute IR strategies that safeguard the organisation's operational and commercial objectives.
  • Lead negotiations with multiple unions, including in high-pressure or adversarial environments.
  • Build and maintain productive working relationships with union representatives, delegates, and external stakeholders.
  • Oversee the management of Fair Work claims, conciliations, and disputes, ensuring timely and compliant resolution.
  • Provide expert IR advice to senior leadership, HR, and operational managers across the organisation.
  • Prepare documentation for hearings, disputes, and enterprise bargaining processes.
  • Partner closely with internal legal counsel to support the organisation's position in workplace and IR matters.
  • Monitor legislative changes, case law, and industrial trends to ensure ongoing compliance and proactive organisational readiness.
  • Support the ongoing development of leaders to build internal capability in managing employee relations and industrial frameworks.

To be successful in your application, you must demonstrate experience in a senior industrial relations role within a complex, unionised environment. It is preferred that experience be from within the marine or heavy industry sectors. You will possess strong negotiation skills with the ability to manage adversarial union interactions confidently and constructively and a comprehensive working knowledge of the Fair Work Act 2009, modern awards, enterprise agreements, and industrial relations processes. You will have prior capability in managing Fair Work Commission matters, including dispute resolution, conciliations, and hearings. Commercial acumen is of the utmost and the ability to partner with the Executive and Senior Leadership team in a collaborative and advisory manner.

This is an opportunity to utilise your existing skills and hone your expertise within a strongly unionised environment. You will be resilient, strategic and creative in your thinking and thrive within a fast-paced environment.

To register your interest or to gain further information, please send your resume in the first instance to simone.partridge@hays.com.au or call on (08) 9254 4570.


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