Location: Darwin, Northern Territory
Employment Type: Full-time | Two-Year Fixed Term Contract
Shape Workforce Strategy at the Northern Land Council
Enterprise bargaining, Workforce transformation, Complex employment law & Executive influence. If you're an experienced Industrial Relations professional looking for an opportunity to shape organisational strategy while contributing to meaningful outcomes for Aboriginal people, this is a role where your expertise will genuinely make a difference across a workforce of approximately 500 employees operating from seven regional offices throughout the Top End. If you're ready to apply your Industrial Relations expertise in an organisation where your work creates lasting impact, we'd welcome hearing from you.
About the Role:
Reporting to the People and Culture Manager, you'll be one of the senior specialists within the People & Culture leadership team, providing expert industrial relations advice to senior leaders. Working collaboratively across Recruitment, Workplace Relations, WHS and Payroll, you'll help strengthen organisational capability by delivering contemporary Industrial Relations practices that support the NLC's ongoing workforce transformation.
You'll play a leading role in:
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Enterprise Agreement planning negotiations and implementation.
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Workforce strategy, remuneration and job evaluation.
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Complex Industrial Relations and employment matters.
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Employment policy development and governance reform.
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COMCARE and psychological injury strategy
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Organisation-wide workforce transformation initiatives
This is an opportunity to influence organisational direction while building a modern, culturally responsive workplace for one of Australia's most significant Aboriginal organisations.
Why This Role is Different:
This is far more than a traditional Industrial Relations role.
You'll have the opportunity to:
- Support Enterprise Agreement planning, negotiations and implementation as a senior Industrial Relations specialist.
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Provide strategic advice directly to senior executives.
- Influence workforce strategy across a large, geographically dispersed workforce.
- Drive policy reform and organisational change.
- Help to develop culturally responsive employment practices that support Aboriginal employment and leadership.
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Every day presents new challenges, complex work and the opportunity to make a lasting contribution.
What You'll Bring:
You're an experienced Industrial Relations professional who enjoys solving complex workplace issues, influencing organisational outcomes and building trusted relationships.
You'll bring experience in:
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Leading Enterprise Agreement negotiations or significant bargaining projects.
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Advising senior leaders on complex Industrial Relations and employment law matters.
- Managing complex employee relations matters, investigations and workplace disputes.
- Developing employment policies, governance frameworks and workforce strategies.
- Building productive relationships with executives, unions and key stakeholders.
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Coaching and mentoring HR professionals to strengthen organisational capability.
You will also possess:
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Extensive knowledge of the Fair Work Act, WHS legislation, anti-discrimination legislation and COMCARE.
- Strong judgement, integrity and professional credibility.
- Excellent written communication and analytical skills.
- A current NT Driver Licence and willingness to travel within the NLC region.
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Experience within government, statutory authorities or other complex unionised environments will be highly regarded.
For a full copy of the Position Description refer to the link provided below.
Why Join the NLC?
This role is ideal for someone who wants to influence organisational strategy—not simply administer Industrial Relations.
We offer:
- A base salary of $150,000 per annum plus 15% superannuation
- Salary sacrificing up to $15,900 + Meal Entertainment and Holiday Accommodation benefit up to $2,650 per year.
- Other benefits include:
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Generous leave provisions 5 weeks annual leave, 18 days personal leave;
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Paid Christmas close down.
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Relocation assistance is available for the successful candidate;
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Flexible working arrangements where operationally appropriate;
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Direct access to senior executives while contributing to organisation-wide strategic initiatives;
How to Apply:
Please submit your current CV together with a cover letter outlining your experience and why you're interested in joining the Northern Land Council.
For further information, please contact: Irfan Bhat on 0488 072 117
Applications Close: Monday 17 August 2026
This is a designated Special Measures position under Section 57 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 (NT). Suitably qualified Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants are strongly encouraged to apply and will be given priority consideration.
About the NLC
The Northern Land Council (NLC) is an independent statutory authority of the Commonwealth. The NLC is established under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT) 1976 and its purpose is to serve its constituents who are Traditional Owners (TOs) and other Aboriginal people living in their region. Cultural knowledge and lived experience are central to the work that we do here at NLC. We are committed to enhancing Aboriginal peoples social, political and economic participation by supporting their aspirations and amplifying their voices on a range of issues impacting on their lands, seas, culture and communities.
