Employee and Industrial Relations Advisor

About Ruah

Ruah is a leading values-driven employer in Western Australia’s community services sector. Our staff go boldly—not just supporting people in need, but working to end homelessness and domestic violence and creating opportunities for people experiencing poverty and mental health challenges.

Our operational and corporate services teams are backed by one of WA’s largest peer-support workforces. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion means difference is valued, celebrated and embraced.

By working with us, you will help transform the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our community.

About the Role

Join Ruah in the newly created role of Employee & Industrial Relations Advisor, bringing your workplace relations expertise to an organisation driven by clear social purpose. Reporting to the Manager, People & Culture – Partnering, you will collaborate with leaders, employees and People & Culture colleagues to deliver practical, compliant and solutions-focused outcomes.

You will:

• Lead the coordination of the development, negotiation, and implementation of Enterprise Agreements.
• Manage Fair Work Commission cases, submissions, witness statements and representation.
• Manage complex grievances, workplace investigations, misconduct and disciplinary matters.
• Advise on the Fair Work Act, National Employment Standards, modern awards, enterprise agreements and workplace policies.
• Partner with unions, employee representatives, legal advisers and leaders.
• Coach managers and strengthen employee and industrial relations capability.
• Monitor employment legislation, case law and industrial developments and advise on organisational impacts.
• Strengthen employment policies, compliance and governance through audits, reporting and continuous improvement.

This is a permanent full-time role based in Northbridge.

About You

You are an experienced employee relations, industrial relations or workplace relations professional with strong technical knowledge, sound judgement and a practical, collaborative approach.

You will bring:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Employment Relations, Industrial Relations, Law or a related discipline.
• Employee and industrial relations experience in community services, health, aged care, disability, not-for-profit or a comparable sector.
• End-to-end Enterprise Agreement negotiation and implementation experience.
• Fair Work Commission case management experience, including submissions and attendance at conciliations or hearings.
• Experience managing complex grievances, investigations and disciplinary matters.
• Strong knowledge of the Fair Work Act, National Employment Standards, modern awards and enterprise agreements.
• Excellent stakeholder management, consultation, influencing, negotiation, judgement and risk management skills.
• The ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.

Desirable

• Experience working with unions and employee representative groups.
• Formal workplace investigation, mediation or dispute resolution training.
• Experience supporting organisational change or workforce transformation.

What We Offer

• A salary aligned with Level 6 of the Ruah Enterprise Agreement, starting at $115,709 plus super.
• Five weeks’ annual leave plus 17.5% leave loading for award-based employees.
• Sixteen weeks’ paid parental leave, or 32 weeks at half pay. New employees can access four weeks after six months’ service.
• Valuable salary packaging to extend your take-home pay, including:
• Up to $15,900 in core packaging
• An additional $2,650 in meal entertainment packaging
• Packaging options for travel, accommodation, parking, education expenses and more
• Free, confidential Employee Assistance Program access for you and your family.
• Free Ruah-paid Journey Cover for travel to and from work.
• Opportunities to participate in Pride, reconciliation, cultural and community initiatives.

Compliance Requirements

The successful candidate will require:

• A current Driver’s Licence.
• A National Police Certificate.
• An International Criminal History Check if they have lived overseas for 12 months or more in the past 10 years, in accordance with Ruah’s safeguarding children requirements.

All employees must uphold Ruah’s safeguarding, privacy, information security and workplace health and safety obligations.

How to Apply

We’d love to hear from you!

Please review the attached Position Description for full details of the role’s responsibilities, selection criteria and compliance requirements.

Click Apply, create your LiveHire profile and submit:

• Your current CV
• A cover letter of no more than two pages answering both questions:

1. Looking back on your career, what workplace experience has most shaped your professional judgement, and how has it influenced the way you work with leaders, employees and employee representatives today?

2. What is it about this role, this organisation, and this point in your career that makes this opportunity the right fit for you now?

We encourage concise, authentic responses that reflect your own experiences, insights and motivation for the role, rather than receiving a summary of your resume.

Applications without a cover letter addressing both questions may not be considered.

Applications close Monday, 16 November 2026. The advertisement may close before the stated closing date.

For further information, contact Racheal Moeke, Manager, People & Culture – Partnering, at racheal.moeke@ruah.org.au.

We are building a workplace where difference is embraced and encouraged - and to do this, we need people on our team who are representative of the clients we work with, who are passionate about change and courageous enough to stand up for what is right.  Everyone is welcome. Everyone belongs. 

We are committed to protecting children and young people from harm. All applicants will undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment.