Employee Relations Specialist

Employment Relations Specialist | People Risk & Compliance | Sydney CBD | $140k – $160k | Hybrid

A leading national professional services firm is seeking an Employment Relations Specialist to join its People & Development team in Sydney on a permanent basis. Reporting to the Head of People Risk and Compliance, you will provide specialist advisory support across people risk, workplace relations and regulatory compliance nationally. This is a priority hire with immediate interviews available for suitable candidates.

This is a high-impact opportunity to work on complex, high-risk ER matters at a nationally respected firm with a strong psychosocial safety and positive duty agenda.

About Our Client

Our client is a top-tier national professional services firm with offices across every Australian capital. The People & Development function is a strategic partner to the business, supporting partners and staff nationally. This role sits at the heart of the firm's national people risk and compliance agenda.

The Opportunity

Working alongside the Head of People Risk and Compliance and the People Risk and Systems Manager, you will:

• Provide specialist ER advice to P&D Advisors, Business Partners and leaders on complex employee relations matters — performance management, disciplinary processes, grievances and investigations
• Support high-risk and complex matters including risk triage, psychosocial harm assessment, investigation planning, evidence management and preparation of findings for senior review
• Manage end-to-end conduct of employment matters within approved risk thresholds
• Monitor and interpret workplace relations legislation (FWA, Legal Professions Act and other state/federal) — assess people, regulatory and reputational risks and translate into practical, risk-informed guidance
• Apply the Legal Services Award and employment contracts to support compliant outcomes on pay, conditions and entitlements
• Manage employee relations matters through a psychosocial safety lens — identify, mitigate and escalate psychosocial risks; ensure alignment with WHS obligations, Respect@Work principles and the firm's positive duty
• Draft ER policies, procedures and guidance materials reflecting legislative requirements, risk appetite and control standards
• Partner with Payroll, Finance and P&D advisory on wage compliance controls including classification, coverage, approvals and record-keeping
• Contribute to HRIS and time-and-attendance system governance
• Support compliance training content development and coach leaders and P&D colleagues on ER risk, safety and positive duty obligations
• Contribute to people risk and compliance projects across policies, safety, privacy, pre-employment verification and law society compliance

About You

You are an experienced Employment Relations Specialist, Workplace Relations Specialist, Employee Relations Advisor or Senior HR Advisor with strong ER technical capability ready to step into a specialist role at a national professional services firm. You will bring:

• Tertiary qualifications in Employment Law, Industrial Relations, Human Resources or a related discipline (Diploma or higher)
• Strong technical capability in employee relations and workplace relations — including procedural fairness, investigations support and high-quality documentation
• Demonstrated ability to interpret modern awards and employment contracts and translate obligations into clear, practical advice
• Working knowledge of the Fair Work Act, Respect@Work reforms and positive duty obligations
• Exposure to psychosocial harm assessment and psychosocial safety frameworks (SafeWork NSW Code of Practice, ISO 45003 or equivalent)
• Experience managing high-risk, sensitive ER matters with discretion and professionalism
• Excellent written communication skills — policy drafting, briefing notes, findings documentation
• Confidence advising and influencing senior stakeholders including partners and executives in a professional services environment
• Analytical mindset — able to identify themes, root causes and control improvements from ER data

Applicants must be Australian citizens or Permanent Residents. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

What's On Offer

• Salary of $140,000 to $180,000 plus superannuation (commensurate with experience)
• Hybrid working model with flexibility between the Sydney CBD office and working from home
• Sydney CBD location, close to public transport
• National scope across a well-established professional services firm
• Direct exposure to executive leadership on ER strategy and psychosocial safety
• Career pathway within a national People & Development function
• Work on complex, high-profile ER matters with genuine business impact

How to Apply

This is a priority hire and applications are being reviewed as they arrive. To submit your application, please click "Apply" below. For a confidential discussion, contact Shane O'Neill at Civitas Talent on shane@civitastalent.com. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Civitas Talent is a specialist HR and HSE search firm supporting Chief People Officers and Heads of Risk & Safety to secure the leadership talent that transforms their organisations. This is a permanent, full-time opportunity based in Sydney CBD, Australia.