Labour Relations Lead, Australia

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Corporate Functions

At Apple, we're a diverse collection of thinkers and doers, continually reimagining our products, systems, and practices to help people do what they love in new ways. This is a deeply reciprocal place, where everything we build is the result of people in different roles and teams working together to make each other's ideas stronger. That same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices, strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found itThe Employee & Labour Relations team is a globally connected team, focused on caring for our employees and enhancing the experience of our diverse global workforce. Integrity and fairness are at the heart of everything we do. We provide subject matter expertise on issues including workplace investigations, compliance, employee and labour relations. We are solutions-oriented advisors and strategic partners, helping employees, leaders and stakeholders to embody Apple's values in solving employment and business challenges.The Labour Relations Lead is a critical role responsible for shaping and executing Apple's labour relations strategy in Australia and New Zealand.This role will proactively manage labour relations, ensure compliance with local regulations, continue to foster a positive and productive work environment, lead internal bargainings and serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on all labour related matters.The position involves close collaboration with the People organisation, unions, as well as closely working with the Leadership teams of several Lines of Business in Australia, Europe, New Zealand and the US.

• Strategic Labour Relations: Develop and execute a comprehensive labour relations strategy aligned with Apple's overall business objectives to foster a positive and productive work environment.
• Union Engagement: Serve as the primary point of contact for union representatives, building and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships based on mutual respect and understanding.
• Collective Bargaining: Lead and manage the negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements, ensuring outcomes that support Apple's business goals, our customer's experience, and employee's needs.
• Disputes: Support the management and resolution of disputes and workplace issues, providing advice to leaders and the People team.
• Strategic Advisor: Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and the broader organisation on implementing projects and initiatives in compliance with local legislation.
• Compliance & Legal Risk Management: In partnership with HR Legal, ensure compliance with all applicable labour laws, regulations, awards and collective bargaining agreements in Australia and New Zealand.
• Reporting & Analysis: Track and analyse key employee and labour relations metrics, providing regular and insightful reports to leadership on trends and issues and opportunities for improvement.
• External Representation: Represent the company in interactions with labour authorities, unions and other external stakeholders.
• Training: Develop and deliver targeted training programs for LOB leaders, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to effectively manage labor relations dynamics.
• Team Mentorship & Development: Provide mentorship to a team of Employee & Labour Relations professionals to anticipate and deal with potential Labour issues.

• Experience leading industrial relations in a large organisation, including leading complex collective bargaining negotiations, and fostering productive relationships with unions and employee representatives.
• Expert in interpreting and applying enterprise agreements and awards, with a deep understanding of the Fair Work Act and related employment legislation.
• Proven ability to manage and resolve complex employee relations matters, including conducting thorough and impartial investigations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, stakeholders, and work streams. Demonstrated ability to organise, plan, and prioritise tasks effectively.
• Exceptional leadership and influencing skills, demonstrated by the ability to inspire action and drive positive change across diverse teams.
• Ability to build strong partnerships and collaborate effectively with multiple functional and business partners across multiple countries
• Outstanding communication skills, including active listening, clear and concise writing, and compelling presentation abilities, enabling effective communication at all levels.

• Tertiary qualifications in Law, Business, or some other relevant discipline.
• Proven experience navigating the complexities of a large, international, and matrixed organization, with a strong understanding of HR/ELR principles and practices.