Employee Relations Advisor

About us

As a department our purpose is to help the community to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from the impact of fire and emergency events.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is the primary provider of fire, rescue and emergency management programs and services throughout Queensland. The department encompasses the Fire and Rescue Service, disaster management services, the Rural Fire Service and the State Emergency Service, and also supports other volunteer groups providing emergency response to Queenslanders.

QFES is one department with many services, many capabilities and many partners.

Purpose of the role

The Employee Relations Unit provides advice, representation, and advocacy on behalf of QFES and performs traditional industrial relations functions such as negotiations and consultation with unions, advocacy before industrial tribunals, and negotiation and administration of industrial instruments, including awards and certified agreements. The team also supports management and employees to enable resolution of matters at the workplace level without the parties having to resort to formal proceedings or litigation and provides advice to managers and employees regarding their respective entitlements, rights and obligations in the context of public sector employment.

Reporting to the Executive Manager, you will be a key member of the team assisting in the delivery of administrative functions and project support for various program of works to support employee and industrial relations functions, including awards and certified agreements for QFES's employee groups. You will liaise with key internal and external stakeholders, including union representatives through the provision of agency consultative committee secretariat coordination. You will assist in mediation and conflict coaching, and provide information and advice relating to workplace conduct and behaviour issues and industrial relations initiatives to ensure governance and compliance with legislative standards.

Key requirements

Highly desirable requirements
- Experience in industrial and/or employee relations or human resources, or related roles.
- Ability to facilitate in-house mediations, investigations and effectively resolve employee disputes.
- Knowledge and understanding of workplace relations legislation and modern award interpretation will be highly regarded.

Your key accountabilities

Your part in the ongoing success of our department, in supporting key frontline services will see you responsible for a variety of work, including, but not limited to:

- Provide timely advice, coaching and support to staff and volunteers relating to industrial instruments and workplace behaviour matters to ensure QFES' meets compliance obligations regarding industrial relations legislation.
- Research and analyse industrial instruments and prepare advice, including publishing updates on the intranet regarding policy, directives and legislation to provide recommendation for improvement and ensure quality service delivery.
- Provide administration support and participate in projects and working groups, including maintenance of records and tasks to ensure outcomes are delivered within agreed timeframes and meet business and client's needs.
- Assist with the development, review and implementation, including quality assurance and interpretation of employee and industrial relations policy, procedures and processes, to ensure best practice and compliance with legislative requirements.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to promote and monitor contemporary employee and industrial relations matters, regulations and standards, and ensure positive outcomes.
- Prepare and review well researched reports, briefs, submissions and correspondence relating to industrial instruments and/or complex issues, in accordance with departmental and governance requirements.
- Provide and/or assist with secretariat and logistics support to committees and working groups by preparing agendas, recording and circulation of minutes and follow up on actions and decisions.
- Assist and/or conduct thorough and well documented internal investigations for grievance matters and mediation meetings as required.

Capabilities

To determine your suitability for the role, you will be assessed on the following Leadership Competencies for Queensland behavioural profiles that link to the "key accountabilities" for this role:
Leadership Competency Stream - Individual Contributor (leading self)

Vision
- Stimulates ideas and innovation
- Leads change in complex environments

Results
- Builds enduring relationships
- Drives accountability and outcomes

Accountability
- Fosters healthy and inclusive workplaces
- Demonstrates sound governance

Once you join us we will want you to exemplify the QFES shared values:

- Respect
- Integrity
- Courage
- Loyalty
- TrustThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attributi