Associate Director, Workplace Relations | Senior Advocate

 

Main characteristics

Location

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Company

Michael Page

Employment type

Permanent

Category

Legal

Industry

Business Services

Job summary

About Our Client

Our client is Australia's peak council of business organisations and the leading voice of Australian business. As Australia's largest and most representative business association, our client speaks at the National and International level on behalf of State and Territory Chambers of Commerce and Industry, corporates and national Industry Associations representing all sectors of the economy.About the Team

Our client's workplace relations team is responsible for workplace relations and employment law policy development, regulatory and legislative analysis, and advocacy. The team:

- Leads employer representation and advocacy for major Fair Work Commission (FWC) cases, including test cases on the application of the Fair Work Act and modern awards, and for the Annual Wage Revie. They regularly appear before the Full Bench of the FWC on matters of national importance.
- Represents Australian business on the National Workplace Relations Consultative Committee (NWRCC) and its sub-committees. As a trusted member of the Committee of Industrial Legislation, the team is consulted with by Government on all changes to workplace relations law.
- Sits on a range of tripartite working groups convened by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, the FWC, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO), the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and the Attorney-General's Department.
- Represents employers internationally at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and other international organisations.
- Provides policy leadership and advocacy on key and emerging areas of workplace relations law, including employment and industrial relations, workplace discrimination and diversity, privacy, modern slavery, gender pay equity and international labour law. Our client provides advice and other support to members to assist them in navigating these areas of law.

Our client is a member organisation, whose interests they represent publicly through their strong media presence, directly with Government and regulators/ agencies, through their advocacy in the FWC and in Parliament and parliamentary inquiries.

Job Description

While the Associate Director/ Senior Advocate will assist the team with all functions from time to time, core responsibilities include:

- Overseeing their court and FWC advocacy, including regular appearances before the Full Bench of the FWC on matters of significance to the business community.
- Working with members and others to identify test cases on the application of new provisions of the Fair Work Act.
- Workplace relations analysis, monitoring, research, and policy development.
- Advising members, including state and territory chambers of commerce, industry associations and large corporates, on a wide portfolio of workplace relations issues, including employment and industrial relations, workplace discrimination and diversity, modern slavery, gender equity and international labour law.
- Effective and regular communications (circulars, bulletins, correspondence etc) to their members on policy, legislative and case developments,
- Providing technical support during consultation with Government and agencies/ regulators on proposed changes to workplace relations law and implementation issues, and related parliamentary inquiries.
- Developing and maintaining effective relationships with members, policy makers and advisers, departmental and agency staff and regulators and industry.
- Assisting in responding to media inquiries in workplace relations matters from time to time.

General Responsibilities

As a senior member of the team, the Associate Director will:

- Oversee and mentor other staff.
- Contribute to wider initiatives in the organisation from time to time, such membership projects, organisational initiatives, or internal project teams.
- Perform other duties as directed by the Director - Workplace Relations and CEO.

The Successful Applicant

- Workplace relations/ employment law expert (4-7 PQE).
- Passion to work on behalf of the business community, and experience advising private sector clients.
- Strong advocacy skills.
- Understanding of government and parliamentary processes.
- Capacity to analyse policy, legislation and regulation, its application, and the views of different stakeholders.
- Experience in policy development and advice desirable, but not essential.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Capacity to manage, oversee and deliver independent work with minimal direct supervision.
- Ability to prioritise, multi-task and deliver to multiple / overlapping deadlines.
- Capacity to source and critically analyse research, evidence, and data.
- Excellent stakeholder / member management skills.

Qualifications

- Legal qualifications sufficient for eligibility for admission as a legal practitioner or equivalent.

What's on Offer

What's on Offer for You?

As the Associate Director of Workplace Relations | Senior Advocate, you can expect a highly rewarding and impactful career in the heart of Australia's capital, Canberra. Here's what's waiting for you:

Influence and Impact: Join a team at the forefront of workplace relations and employment law policy development.

High-Stakes Advocacy: Lead their court and Fair Work Commission advocacy appearing regularly before the Full Bench of the FWC.

Policy Leadership: Drive policy development in key areas, including employment and industrial relations, workplace diversity, modern slavery, gender pay equity, and international labor law.

International Exposure: Represent Australian employers on international stages, including the International Labour Organisation.

Mentorship: As a senior member of the team, you'll oversee and mentor other staff, contributing to a collaborative work environment.

Strong Network: Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders, policy makers, government agencies, regulators, and industry leaders.

Independent Work: You'll have the autonomy to manage, oversee, and deliver your work with minimal supervision.

Varied Responsibilities: You'll work on court advocacy, policy development, media inquiries, member communications, and more.

Collaborative Environment: Work directly with government, regulators, agencies, and the Fair Work Commission.

Don't miss this opportunity to join our client in a role that offers a blend of high-stakes advocacy, international exposure, and the chance to shape policy.