Company description:

The Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. For more information about the Department of Education, please visit http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/

Job description:

At the NSW Department of Education, we educate and inspire lifelong learners - from early childhood, through schooling to vocational education and training.

• 2x Ongoing/Full-Time positions
• Located in Parramatta with flexible working arrangements available
• Salary ranges from $125,693 to $138,510 p.a. plus super & annual leave loading

About the role

The Department of Education (department) is seeking an experienced senior industrial relations (IR) expert to work in a centralised team of high-performing IR experts within a fast-paced work environment with competing priorities.

The Senior Industrial Officer supports the IR team's leadership and more junior members to provide technical and legally accurate strategic specialist IR advice, in a timely, consistent manner to ensure industrial compliance and risk mitigation.

As a Senior Industrial Officer, you will:

• Apply your demonstrated knowledge and experience in interpreting IR legislation/law, industrial instruments and case law to advise on complex employment and IR issues
• Make defensible decisions, utilising strong analytical skills and a strategic mindset, based on legally sound IR principles supported by legislative and industrial instruments
• Act as an advocate to effectively represent the department, with IR leadership support, in industrial and other relevant tribunals
• Lead negotiations of industrial instruments
• Build, manage, and maintain collaborative relationships with a variety of stakeholders that includes unions and senior management

For further information please click here to view the role description

About you

• Demonstrated experience in providing legally sound industrial advice and identifying industrial risk in an IR/ employee relations role
• Demonstrated thorough knowledge of the industrial relations framework, NSW public sector issues and trends
• Experience contributing to the development of strategic industrial solutions
• Experience in maintaining strong working relationships utilising high level interpersonal, influencing, and conflict resolution skills
• Demonstrated ability to draft briefings and submissions for internal and external stakeholders
• Strong analytical and research skills to assess complex employment matters and develop effective solutions and/or recommendations
• Ability to professionally and effectively represent the department in negotiations and forums with internal and external stakeholders
• Leading IR projects
• Relevant tertiary qualifications are highly valued but are not essential
• Ability to obtain knowledge of, and commit to implementing, the Department's Aboriginal Education Policy and uphold the Department's Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people.

Essential requirements of the role

• Demonstrated experience in a senior IR or employee relations role is essential
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education

What we can offer

• Work/life balance and flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working
• 35 hour working week
• Competitive salary, including salary sacrificing, plus 11.5% employer contribution to superannuation and 17.5% annual leave loading
• Flex Leave entitlements, generous holidays & leave conditions
• Modern buildings and facilities
• Partnership with fitness passport for ongoing staff and their families to access gyms and pools at a discounted rate
• Study assistance for approved courses
• Ongoing professional training and development opportunities
• Opportunities for advancement and mobility across the Department to support your career growth

How to apply

To be considered for this role, please provide a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining your suitability- ensuring you address the capabilities for the role and the below question- plus an up-to-date resume which details your relevant work skills and experience (maximum 5 pages).

Question: Can you describe a time when you had to manage a complex industrial issue involving multiple stakeholders? What strategies did you use to resolve the matter, and how did your actions influence the outcome?

Please refer to the Applicant's Guide to Applying to assist you with your application.

If you are an existing Education Support Staff (corporate staff) with the NSW Department of Education, click here for instructions on how to submit your application.

All other applicants please submit your application by clicking ‘Apply Now'.

The Selection Process
The selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining an applicant's suitability for the role.

Successful candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening for this role which includes a National Criminal History Check.

A condition of employment for successful candidates who have not worked for the department previously, is the ability to obtain and, following this, provide a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number.

Closing date Sunday, 25th of May at 11:59pm

For role enquiries please contact Marisa Whitington on [email protected]

We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees and people with disability. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better enable you to shine, please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team ([email protected]) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion.

A recruitment pool may be created through this recruitment process. A recruitment pool is a group of applicants who have been assessed and identified as suitable for this role, and who may be considered for a range of similar roles, including temporary, term or ongoing roles, over the next 18 months.