- Join an ambitious and newly uplifted People, Culture and Safety team
- Lead a high impact people partnering model across Team Melbourne
- $195K - $220K TRP (negotiable, based on skills and experience)
About the role
The Head of People Partnering & Workplace Relations is a pivotal enterprise leadership role that influences organisational culture, workforce capability and employee experience through the delivery of exceptional people partnering workplace relations across the City of Melbourne (CoM). As a trusted adviser to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and senior leaders, you will drive a high performing partnering model that balances strategic influence and operational excellence.
This role is both operationally strong and strategically influential. You will guide leaders through day-to-day people matters, organisational change, performance and capability uplift, while stewarding complex ER/IR matters with sound judgement, composure and credibility.
This role is both operationally strong and strategically influential. You will guide leaders through day-to-day people matters, organisational change, performance and capability uplift, while stewarding complex ER/IR matters with sound judgement, composure and credibility.
You will coach, challenge, and empower leaders to build their confidence, capability, and accountability. You will play a pivotal role in guiding leaders through complex people matters, ensuring high-risk and sensitive issues are managed lawfully, respectfully, and with psychological safety at the forefront. Through your expertise and influential partnering approach, you will help shape leadership capability, strengthen organisational culture, and contribute to strategic decision-making across the business.
This is a unique opportunity to drive meaningful organisational change and create a positive, lasting impact at an enterprise level. The successful candidate will be a proven trusted advisor who is passionate about developing leaders, fostering inclusive and high-performing workplaces, and influencing organisational strategy at scale.
We work from a baseline of excellence, so if our ad resonates with you, please read on!
Strategic Impact
- Lead a tiered People Partnering model that delivers timely, high-quality and consistent support across the organisation.
- Create a People Partnering & Workplace Relations function recognised for its strategic value, professionalism and practical impact on culture, safety and organisational performance.
- Strengthen organisational confidence in people advice through clear service standards, accountabilities and escalation pathways.
Workplace Relations Excellence
- Drive successful enterprise agreement negotiations that achieve fair, sustainable and strategically aligned outcomes.
- Proactively manage workplace relations risks through early intervention, disciplined governance and evidence-based advice.
- Provide authoritative leadership on complex employee and industrial relations matters.
Leadership Capability
- Build the capability and accountability of leaders to manage performance, conduct, wellbeing, change and conflict confidently and effectively.
- Develop trusted relationships with executives, people leaders and employee representatives to enable constructive and respectful engagement.
Who We Are and How We Make a Difference
People, Culture and Safety (PCS) exists to empower our people, leaders and volunteers to be safe, capable and inspired, so the city can flourish today and into 2050. We champion physical, psychological and cultural safety; build a values driven, high performance organisation; and uplift capability and leadership grounded in courage, care and accountability.
By transforming the employee experience, embedding inclusion and belonging, and using data to guide evidence-based decisions, PCS supports Team Melbourne and the city itself to connect and thrive.
Why join Team Melbourne?
Located on the traditional lands of the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation, Melbourne is globally recognised as one of the most liveable, diverse, and dynamic cities.
At the heart of it all is the City of Melbourne – a passionate, purpose-driven organisation where your work truly matters. As part of Team Melbourne, you’ll help deliver what’s most important to the people who live, work, study, visit and invest in our great city.
We are proud champions of diversity, committed to continuous improvement, and driven by a shared vision for a vibrant and sustainable future.
This is more than just a role – it’s your chance to make a real impact and shape Melbourne’s future alongside a collaborative and forward-thinking team. Contribute to shaping Melbourne's future through one of Australia's most recognised local government organisations.
About you
You are a respected leader who combines strategic insight with practical judgement. You thrive in complex environments, build trusted relationships quickly, and are known for you ability to navigate sensitive issues with credibility, empathy and courage – what you will bring to this role:
- Extensive experience leading people partnering and workplace relations functions within a large, complex organisation.
- Highly developed ER/IR expertise, including end-to-end leadership of enterprise agreement negotiations, multi-stakeholder bargaining and dispute resolution.
- Demonstrated experience representing organisations in Fair Work Commission proceedings, including conciliations, mediations and hearings.
- Strong capability in managing high-risk, complex and sensitive employee matters, including misconduct, performance, grievance, industrial action and organisational change.
- A proven ability to uplift service models, improving responsiveness, consistency and quality of people support across an enterprise.
- Exceptional relationship-building skills, with the credibility to act as a trusted adviser to executives, directors and senior leaders.
- The ability to balance risk, pragmatism and care, applying sound judgement in fast-moving and high-pressure environments.
- Experience leading and developing high-performing people partnering teams, with clear accountabilities, escalation pathways and standards.
Benefits of working with us
- Attractive remuneration & benefits: Excellent pay package with a range of exciting benefits. Flexible working, study assistance & other great corporate discounts.
- Excellent leave entitlements: Enjoy up to 20 weeks of fully paid parental leave for primary carers, in addition to the government-funded parental leave, with no waiting period to access.
- Career progression: Career development support and opportunities to learn new skills within a creative and exciting environment.
- Work-life balance and hybrid working: We support flexible hours, alternative work arrangements, and hybrid work-from-home options.
How to apply
We would love to hear how you can make an impact in this role! As part of your application, you will be required to:
- Attach your updated resume
- Include a cover letter (max one page) outlining your relevant experience and why you are a great fit for this role.
Submit your application no later than 11:45pm on Wednesday July 29, 2026.
A few important things to note – do not miss out!
- Applications must be submitted online. Unfortunately, we cannot accept applications via email, so please ensure you apply through the official job link provided.
- Apply early. This role may close sooner than the listed closing date if we find the right candidate — so do not wait to get your application in.
- We are a child safe organisation. The City of Melbourne has a zero tolerance for child abuse. All employees undergo thorough safety screening, including a Police Check and a Working with Children Check.
Need more information?
Refer to the position description below or contact Quetta Serradura – Team Leader-Talent Acquisition - [email protected]
Inclusion matters
We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from all cultural and linguistic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTIQA+ individuals, and people of all ages and faith backgrounds.
We provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to support all applicants. If you require any adjustments, please let us know via the application prompts or inform our Careers team if you’re contacted for an interview.
