Employee Relations Manager

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Employee Relations Manager - Assistant Director

The opportunity

As one of our Employee Relations Managers, you will support a high‑performance culture by acting as an senior exprienced subject‑matter expert for the business. This role is focused on the management of complex and high‑risk employee relations matters, rather than people leadership.

You will work closely with leaders, HR Business Partners and other centres of excellence to manage escalated matters such as workplace investigations, conduct issues, ill‑health, redundancies and restructures, and senior or sensitive performance matters, as well as other complex employee relations issues.

This role does not have direct reports. Instead, you will provide expert advice, guidance and coaching to stakeholders and Employee Relations Advisors on complex cases. You will also contribute to priority projects aligned to the Talent agenda, including legislative change, policy development and continuous improvement initiatives.

We are currently recruiting for two hybrid opportunities, one permanent position and one 12-month parental leave contract. Both roles can be based in any of our EY offices across Australia or in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), New Zealand. Our roles can potentially be adjusted to work flexibly with reduced hours. Please speak with us about potential options.

Your

Key Responsibilities

• Acting as the escalation point for complex and high‑risk ER case management
• Partnering with HR Business Partners, General Counsel and other Talent Centres of Excellence on matters such as investigations, restructures and acquisitions
• Working with leaders at all levels to deliver practical, sustainable solutions to sensitive employee issues
• Providing expert guidance and informal coaching to Employee Relations Advisors on complex cases
• Contributing to ER‑related projects, including legislative updates and process improvement initiatives
• Maintaining work–life balance through a flexible, hybrid working model
• Skills And Attributes For Success
• Strong ability to influence and partner with senior leaders across the organisation
• Demonstrated experience managing complex and escalated employee relations cases
• Strong knowledge of employment legislation and statutory requirements
• Up‑to‑date understanding of case law, legislative changes, awards and emerging ER issues
• Ideally, you’ll also have the skills and attributes below but don’t worry if you don’t tick all the boxes.
• We’re interested in your aptitude, attitude and willingness to learn.
• Experience applying employment legislation and ER practices across both New Zealand and Australia would be highly regarded
• A practical, solutions‑focused approach to complex and ambiguous problems
• The ability to work autonomously while collaborating effectively within a specialist team
• Proven capability managing diverse stakeholders and navigating sensitive situations

What We Offer

YouAt EY, we’ll fuel you and your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams. We’re proud to be recognised as the #1 WORK180 Endorsed Employer in the Top 101 Employers for Women 2026. Learn more.

Career development: At EY, your career is yours to shape!

We’ll develop you with future-focused skills and equip you with world-class experiences com/au/careerdevelopmentFlexible work arrangements: Our flexible work policies empower you to balance your professional and personal life, fostering a culture of trust and autonomy.A comprehensive benefits package: From a yearly wellness incentive, to access to additional 8 weeks of flex leave per year, and family-friendly policies, including up to 26 weeks of gender-neutral paid parental leave, we cater to your diverse needs to help you thrive both personally and professionally www.ey.com/au/benefits Salary: We offer a competitive salary which is open to negotiation pending on skills and experience.

Acknowledgement of CountryEY acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which EY offices are located around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures, and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging.

Find out more about our vision for reconciliation at ey.com/en_au/careers/indigenousInclusiveness is core to who we are and how we work together, driving value for our people and for our business. We encourage applications from people of all ages, nationalities, abilities, cultures, sexual orientations, and gender identities and are committed to providing an equitable and barrier free recruitment experience for all.

We encourage you to share any support and adjustments you need to be your best and participate equitably in our recruitment process. We understand sharing your needs with us can be daunting, so if you have questions before or during your application, we welcome you to get in touch at contactrecruitment@au.ey.com or +61 3 8650 7788 (option 2). Anything you tell us will be kept completely confidential.

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today. EY | Building a better working worldOur preferred applicant will be required to undertake employment screening by EY or our external third-party provider. © 2026 Ernst & Young Australia. A member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited. All Rights Reserved.