Head of Workplace Relations

Do you want to work for a values-based, emergency service organisation that puts the community at the centre of everything we do?

We are proud of the work we do in protecting lives and property, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

With over 51,000 volunteers CFA strives to be an organisation of choice for volunteers and employees. We, embrace individuals with diverse skills, experiences, and backgrounds, recognising the unique value they bring to CFA.

To learn more about the Country Fire Authority (CFA), we invite you to visit our About Us page.

**About the Role**
- Lead Positive Change in One of Victoria's Most Vital Emergency Services_

As a statutory authority reporting to the Minister for Emergency Services, CFA plays a pivotal role in Victoria's emergency response capability-delivered through a unique combination of volunteer and paid professionals. We are now seeking an accomplished Head of Workplace Relations to join our People & Culture executive leadership team.

This critical leadership role will shape and implement CFA's industrial relations strategy in alignment with our future vision and organisational values. You'll drive best-practice workplace relations frameworks, lead complex enterprise bargaining processes, and provide expert guidance on matters of employee and volunteer relations.

Key to your success will be your ability to build and maintain collaborative, productive relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders-including unions, Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria, and internal teams. You'll champion initiatives that support our People & Culture strategy, such as:

- Embedding Right Environment systems and frameworks
- Driving employee complaints resolution and positive workplace reform
- Advancing diversity, inclusion, wellbeing, and psychological safety
- Strengthening leadership capability across the organisation

**About You**

This role is ideal for a strategic and hands-on industrial relations leader who thrives in complex environments where influence, trust and integrity are paramount.

You bring deep expertise in employment law and industrial relations, supported by a successful track record of leading workplace relations functions in complex, service-driven environments. You are known for your:

- Strong leadership and mentoring capability
- Proven experience in industrial negotiations and enterprise agreement delivery
- Ability to partner with unions, volunteers, and operational stakeholders constructively
- Strategic thinking and sound judgement under pressure
- Experience delivering cultural transformation and organisational change
- You hold relevant tertiary qualifications and will ideally have experience working in or alongside volunteer-based or emergency services organisations.

Join CFA and make a difference where it truly matters.

**Why choose CFA**
- Meaningful Purpose: Your contribution truly makes a difference
- Work-Life Balance: Paid parental leave, generous leave provisions
- Growth Opportunities: Learning and development
- Flexibility: Hybrid work options with flexible work arrangements
- Discounts: Emergency Memberlink discounts on various services
- Wellbeing Focus: Healthy for Life programs, flu vaccinations
- Member Assistance Program: Access support across 8 service pathways

**Your Application**

**Pre-employment Checks**
- Successfully complete Reference Checks, a National Police History Check, Working Rights Check and hold a valid Working with Children Check.

**CFA is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse, inclusive, and safe volunteer and work environment. Our aim is to have a volunteer and paid workforce that reflects the community it serves. First Nations people, women, people of all ages, with disabilities and culturally and linguistically diverse people are encouraged to apply.**

**Applications close: 11:59pm 1 June 2025