Make your mark with Thiess

Everyday, all around the world, Thiess supports and celebrates our people. We recognise talent and reward transparency. We champion diversity and embrace change.

Join us. Hone your skills and develop new ones. Take on big challenges and grow, through mentorship, collaboration and empowerment.

Thiess is the place to make things happen.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Industrial Relations Manager to join our Employee and Industrial Relations team, with opportunities to be based in Brisbane and Perth.

Reporting to the Group Manager, Employee and Industrial Relations, you will provide strategic and practical IR leadership across our Australian operations. Working closely with operational and People leaders, you’ll help the business navigate complex industrial matters, manage workforce risk and build constructive relationships with employees, unions and other key stakeholders.

This is a highly influential role where you’ll combine deep IR expertise with strong commercial judgement, providing trusted advice on everything from enterprise bargaining and industrial strategy through to disputes, workplace investigations and representation before employment tribunals.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and support enterprise bargaining, including the development of bargaining strategies, negotiation, documentation and implementation of enterprise agreements.
• Provide strategic advice to leaders across our East and West Coast operations on complex industrial and employee relations matters.
• Lead engagement and negotiations with trade unions, building constructive relationships while effectively managing industrial risk.
• Represent and advocate for Thiess in matters before the Fair Work Commission and other relevant employment jurisdictions.
• Identify emerging industrial relations risks and develop practical, commercially focused strategies to manage them.
• Lead and provide guidance on complex workplace disputes, grievances and investigations.
• Interpret and provide advice on enterprise agreements, awards, employment legislation and other industrial instruments.
• Partner with operational and People teams to ensure IR considerations are embedded into workforce planning, organisational change and business decisions.
• Build IR capability across the organisation through coaching, advice and targeted training for leaders.
• Contribute to broader employee and industrial relations strategy, governance and continuous improvement initiatives.

About You

You are an experienced industrial relations professional who combines strong technical expertise with sound commercial judgement and the confidence to influence at a senior level.

You’re comfortable operating in complex, operational environments and can move between strategic IR planning and resolving challenging issues as they arise. You build credibility quickly with leaders and understand how to balance legal and industrial risk with practical business outcomes.

You will ideally bring:

• Significant experience in industrial relations and employee relations, ideally within mining, resources, construction, infrastructure or another complex operational environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise bargaining negotiations and developing effective bargaining strategies.
• Strong experience managing relationships and negotiations with trade unions and resolving complex industrial matters.
• Sound knowledge of the Fair Work Act, Modern Awards, enterprise agreements and the Australian industrial relations framework.
• Experience representing or supporting employers in matters before the Fair Work Commission.
• Strong capability in industrial dispute resolution, workplace investigations and complex employee matters.
• The ability to influence senior operational and corporate stakeholders and translate complex IR matters into clear, practical advice.
• Strong negotiation, communication and stakeholder management capability.
• A tertiary qualification in law, employment relations, human resources or a related discipline. A legal qualification and/or admission as a lawyer would be highly regarded, but is not essential where you can demonstrate significant IR expertise and experience.

What we offer

• Supportive, inclusive culture that values innovation and continuous improvement.
• Career development and technical training opportunities.
• Collaborative, values-led culture with a global reach.
• Access to leading-edge technology and systems.
• Competitive salary and employee benefits package.
  
  

About us

Thiess works with clients in Australia, Asia and the Americas in the dynamic field of open-cut and underground mining. 

The pioneering spirit of our founders – the legendary Thiess brothers – is our legacy, and inspires our vision to harness the power of people and technology to drive sustainable change. 

At Thiess, you will have the opportunity to play a part in the global energy transition. We are growing our commodities portfolio to include metals and minerals critical to the energy transition, and developing services to enable sustainable mining. 

We’re creating a culture of curiosity, knowledge-sharing, and continuous learning – supporting our people to contribute to Thiess’ success and continued growth in sustainable mining. 

We’ll support you to hone your skills and develop new ones, take on challenges and grow, through mentorship, collaboration and empowerment. We offer our people ongoing technical training and development opportunities so they can reach their full potential. We also invest in the workforce of the future, with a range of programs for people starting their careers. 

We recognise the value of an inclusive and diverse workplace through our vision of better together. We’re focused on creating an inclusive environment to enable our people to bring their best self to work because they feel safe, included and empowered. 

Learn more http://thiess.com/makeyourmark

How to Apply

This role is an opportunity to take the next step in your career. With our culture of recognition, development, and a stimulating and satisfying work environment, there is no better time to join Thiess.

Thiess follows a Pre-Employment Process for all successful applicants, which includes two employment references, a National Police Check and a medical assessment. These checks are essential to your application, and your recruiter will support you through the process.

Please click the “apply” button to apply for this role.