Senior P&C Business Partner - Urgent Cover

• Richmond (Hybrid)
• $400-$480 per day (equivalent to $50-$60 per hour + Super)
• 5-7 week short contract (immediate start)
• Senior stakeholder-facing role - High-trust ER/IR advisory
• Potential to convert to permanent for the right candidate

The Opportunity
We're supporting a progressive inner-Melbourne council that need an experienced Senior People & Culture Business Partner to step in on a short-term basis and keep things steady while the team goes through some unexpected leave and transition.

This is a high-impact backfill: They need someone who can walk in, build trust fast, manage complex cases, and provide confident advice to leaders.

You'll report into the People & Culture Business Partnering Lead and act as a senior internal advisor across ER/IR, investigations, performance management, employee grievances, and industrial matters. You'll also partner closely with unions and leadership, so credibility and composure are key.

It's a great fit for a seasoned BP or Senior BP who's done heavy workplace relations work in unionised and/or local government environments and is comfortable being "the person in the room" for escalations.

What You'll Be Doing

• Act as a trusted internal partner to senior stakeholders across the organisation
• Provide expert, timely advice on:
• Performance management and underperformance
• Misconduct and disciplinary matters
• Grievances, complaints and behavioural issues
• EA interpretation, conditions, and entitlements
• Run and/or support workplace investigations and ensure outcomes are procedurally fair
• Coach managers to resolve matters early and within the right frameworks
• Liaise with unions, legal, and external bodies where required
• Lead and contribute to HR initiatives and policy uplift across ER / IR / people governance
• Prepare and interpret workforce metrics and trends to inform leadership decisions (workforce risk, attrition, demand, etc.)
• Support recruitment quality, position description reviews, contract terms, etc.
• Prepare concise reports and recommendations for senior management and executive
• This is not an "advice from the sidelines" role. You'll be in it, doing it.

Must Haves

• Extensive experience as an internal HR / P&C Business Partner (or Senior BP) in a complex organisation
• Strong ER/IR capability in a unionised environment
• Demonstrated experience managing complex people and performance matters end-to-end
• Confident conducting or supporting investigations into grievances, complaints and conduct issues
• Ability to interpret and apply Enterprise Agreements, Awards, Fair Work obligations and internal policy
• Exceptional written and verbal communication - able to brief senior leaders clearly, and document outcomes defensibly
• Calm, pragmatic, and able to influence without escalating everything to Legal

Nice to Have

• Local Government experience (highly regarded)
• Experience with CHRIS21 or similar HRIS
• Experience drafting / updating people policies, procedures, position descriptions

Why This Gig?

• You're stepping in at a genuinely critical moment - your work keeps the machine running
• You'll have direct access to the Business Partnering Lead and visibility with exec stakeholders
• The environment is high-trust and outcome-focused: they want someone who can operate like a true partner, not a policy robot
• Short-term contract with real impact (5-7 weeks) while they recruit permanents and cover extended leave
• ~$400-$480 per day (~$50-$60/hour + Super)
• This suits someone who's immediately available, strong on ER/IR, and comfortable being "the steady pair of hands" in a unionised environment.