Manager, Employee Relations

**TAFE SA**
**Job reference**: 671835
**Location**: 5000 - ADELAIDE
**Job status**: Long Term Contract
**Eligibility**: Open to Everyone
- **Long term contract until August 2026**

**- Based at TAFE SA Adelaide City Campus**
**- AS08 salary range $121,107 - $127,679 p.a. + super**
**About TAFE SA**
Awarded the Training Provider of the Year at the 2021, 2022 and 2024 SA Training Awards, TAFE SA ensures all South Australian students have access to quality education and skills training across a number of regional and metropolitan locations.

By working with TAFE SA, you’ll have the opportunity to advance your career in a diverse and inclusive organisation, while helping to deliver job-ready skills and meaningful outcomes for students across our state.

**About the role**
TAFE SA is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to fill the role of **Manager, Employee Relations**. This pivotal position is responsible for leading the Employee Relations team in partnership with the Workforce Alignment Team to deliver streamlined, effective processes and outcomes that reinforce TAFE SA’s reputation as a model public sector employer.

As a strategic advisor, the Manager will provide expert guidance on complex employee and industrial relations matters and ensure that TAFE SA is represented to the highest professional standard in all escalated cases. The role requires a proactive and consultative approach to stakeholder engagement, fostering strong relationships across our workforce, senior leadership, government agencies, affiliated unions, and industry partners to support the organisation’s strategic direction.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence and shape employee relations practices in a way that aligns with public sector values of integrity, accountability, and service.

**Key Outcomes of this role**
- Provide expert, hands-on advice and leadership to the Employee Relations team and broader People & Culture function on complex employee relations issues and disputes, ensuring timely and compliant resolution in line with legislative and industrial obligations.
- Represent TAFE SA with professionalism and integrity in escalated matters before the South Australian Employment Tribunal and other relevant industrial forums, securing outcomes that reflect the organisation’s values and legal responsibilities.
- Effectively identify and manage industrial relations risks through strategic oversight and guidance, leading the Employee Relations team in proactively addressing emerging issues.
- Drive the development, review, and implementation of employee-related policies, procedures, frameworks, and work instructions to ensure legal compliance and organisational alignment.
- Lead enterprise bargaining processes and formal negotiations in partnership with key stakeholders, ensuring alignment with TAFE SA’s Employee Relations strategic framework and the delivery of robust, fair outcomes.
- Build organisational capability by coaching, mentoring, and supporting the Employee Relations team and broader TAFE SA workforce in best-practice employee relations.
- Facilitate effective consultation with union stakeholders, promoting constructive dialogue aligned to TAFE SA’s strategic direction and supporting continuous improvement in engagement practices.
- Provide timely and strategic advice to the Director, Workforce Alignment, ensuring key insights, issues, and developments within Employee Relations are communicated clearly and proactively.

**Essential Key Selection Criteria**
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a team environment, lead and support others, show initiative, operate with a high degree of self-motivation, and uphold confidentiality and professional integrity in all interactions.
- Proven capability to effectively prioritise and manage competing demands under pressure, ensuring high-quality outcomes are delivered personally and through clear, accountable delegation.
- Highly developed communication skills, including the ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders through clear, concise verbal and written communication-such as briefings, reports, correspondence, and discussion papers
- and support others in producing high-standard content.
- Strong conflict resolution, problem-solving, and negotiation skills, with a demonstrated ability to manage difficult conversations and advocate effectively in complex or sensitive situations.
- Experience in the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies and procedures, with a focus on continuous improvement and alignment with organisational strategy.
- Proven ability to build and sustain effective networks, partnerships, and operational relationships with internal and external stakeholders, fostering trust and professional credibility.
- Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with a demonstrated ability to identify issues, develop innovative solutions, and implement actions that support organisational goals.
- Knowledge and unders