Employee Relations Manager

📍 Melbourne | 🕓 Full-Time (12-month Contract) 

Join UP Education and shape the future of workplace culture at Acknowledge Education. 

UP Education is a leading trans-Tasman education group and Acknowledge Education (AE) is one of our flagship providers in Australia—currently undergoing exciting growth in student numbers and workforce scale. We’re looking for a passionate and experienced ER Manager to help us build a values-led, inclusive, and high-performing culture across AE. 

About The Role 

This is a hands-on, individual contributor role where you will partner with AE’s HR Director and leadership team to strengthen workplace culture, lift manager capability, and ensure compliance with Australian employment law and internal HR governance. You will be an experienced and pragmatic ER Manager who will help guide AE leaders through a period of operational growth. 

Key Focus Areas 

• Lead end-to-end ER case management including complex investigations, disciplinary matters, grievances, and performance issues. 
• Coach and guide leaders through sensitive conduct and capability matters, ensuring compliance with Modern Awards and Fair Work obligations. 
• Redesign and enhance onboarding and induction experiences to reduce early attrition and increase engagement. 
• Develop and deliver leadership and capability initiatives that empower managers to drive performance and uphold AE’s values. 
• Analyse workforce data to diagnose root causes of ER trends and provide actionable insights. 

About You 

• 5+ years in a specialist ER or ER-focused HR generalist role within a dynamic, fast-growing environment. 
• Proven experience managing complex workplace investigations, misconduct, performance matters, and workers compensation cases. 
• Strong knowledge of Australian employment law, the Fair Work Act, and Modern Awards. 
• Confident coaching leaders and navigating sensitive or complex people issues. 
• Strategic, emotionally intelligent, and solutions-driven. 
• Tertiary qualifications in HR, Law, Industrial Relations or a related discipline. 

Why This Role? 

• Play a key part in shaping the employee experience at one of Australia’s most established private education providers. 
• Collaborate with passionate professionals across a supportive, agile team. 
• Work within a purpose-driven organisation that genuinely values culture and people. 

Be part of a team transforming education from the inside out. Apply today. 

Questions about your identity help us appreciate the diversity of individuals looking to work with us, ensuring we’re attracting applications from people with identities and perspectives that are as diverse as our students. 

We are an equal opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to equity, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to an inclusive work environment.