ER Specialist

A new role means a new way to win together. We’ve been proudly serving Australian communities since 1914 and at the heart of our continued success lies our 115,000 team members working across the country. If you’re looking for a career-defining opportunity, take the next step and explore another way your work can have impact and make a difference.

About the team

People and Culture are dedicated to fostering  an engaged and empowered workplace. One that’s strong, diverse and where our team members have exciting career pathways to choose from. We do it by making people’s lives easier through better experiences, useful tools, and by providing ongoing opportunities to learn and grow.

At Coles Group, we are committed to fostering a workplace that upholds the highest standards of fairness, compliance, and integrity. As part of our People Advisory team, you will play a key role in ensuring our people practices align with legislative requirements and best-practice workplace relations strategies. We are seeking a Workplace Relations Specialist to provide expert case management and advocacy on complex employment matters, including allegations of serious misconduct, discrimination, bullying, and other breaches of workplace legislation.

About the role

As a Specialist - P&C Advisory, you will be responsible for managing high-risk and complex cases, providing strategic advice to senior stakeholders, and ensuring Coles’ workplace policies comply with relevant laws and industrial instruments. Key responsibilities include:

• End-to-end case management – managing up to 20 complex cases at a time, including workplace disputes, serious misconduct, and unlawful termination claims
• Tribunal representation – preparing for and attending Fair Work Commission proceedings, conciliations, and hearings
• Investigations – conducting legally robust workplace investigations into allegations of discrimination, bullying, harassment, and breaches of workplace legislation
• Medical case management – handling fitness-for-work assessments and managing cases involving medical incapacity
• Enterprise agreement and award interpretation – providing expert advice on industrial relations frameworks and obligations
• Stakeholder engagement – working closely with senior business leaders, HR teams, and legal counsel to mitigate workplace risks and ensure best-practice compliance

Ideally you will have

• Solid experience in workplace relations, employment law, or a related legal discipline
• Extensive experience managing high-risk workplace investigations and complex employee relations cases
• Strong knowledge of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), discrimination law, workplace health and safety legislation, and case law
• Experience preparing for and representing employers in tribunal proceedings, including conciliations and arbitrations
• Proven ability to manage a large and varied caseload, ensuring timely and effective resolution
• Exceptional stakeholder management and the ability to influence senior leaders
• A strategic, solutions-focused approach with strong analytical and communication skills

Let's keep winning together

What’s in it for you?

• Flexible working options: We know that work is only one part of your life, so we actively encourage a positive work-life balance and provide hybrid working options to help you achieve it.
• Office perks: Take advantage of our gym facility and fitness classes, free parking, BBQ area, mini-Coles supermarket, fooderie hub where you can sample new products before they hit the shelves, school holiday program and so much more when you come in.
• Discounts: Eligible team members receive 5% discount all year round on your Supermarket and Liquor online and in-store purchases. We also offer additional periods of double discount (10%) at various times throughout the year. As well as hotdeals exclusive to team members that translate into additional savings.
• Reward through recognition: Give and receive recognition, linked to our Coles values, through our digital recognition platform ‘mythanks’. You can accumulate points to redeem in the online shop for exciting gifts and electronic gift cards from an extensive range of retailers.
• Opportunities for learning and development: No matter where you start within our diverse business, you’ll have experiences, exposure, and education to satisfy you. Discover and explore a variety of career development programs and job-specific training.
• Paid parental leave: We understand how important your life outside work is and offer permanent team members paid parental leave to support you in balancing work and family.
• Investment in your future: Our annual team member share plan offer allows eligible team members to make regular pre-tax salary sacrifice deductions to purchase Coles Group shares.

About the recruitment process

We’re continuing to build a gender equitable team, and a culture that is just as diverse, inclusive and welcoming as the communities we serve. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe and respectful for our team. We encourage applications from people of all ages, cultures (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), abilities, sexual orientation and gender identities.

We’re happy to adjust our recruitment process to support candidates with disability. For further information and additional contact details visit the ‘Our Recruitment Process’ section of our careers site or email inclusionrecruitment@coles.com.au

Job ID: 196462

Employment Type: Full time

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