Employee Relations Partner - 12 month contract

Join AstraZeneca as an Employee Relations Partner and shape a fair, inclusive, high‑performance culture across Australia and New Zealand. Use your expertise in employment law, industrial relations, union engagement, and workplace investigations to enhance the employee experience, strengthen risk management, and build leadership capability in a global, science-led organisation.

About the role

This is a full-time, 12‑month contract role that operates across two Macquarie Park sites -commercial and manufacturing, partnering closely with HR Business Partners, Legal, and business leaders. You will enable a consistent, compliant, people‑centric approach to employee relations across collective and non‑collective environments. Acting as coach, counsellor, mediator, negotiator, and trusted advisor, you’ll provide ER consultancy and contribute to the strategic direction of ER policy and practice, including market‑specific management coaching.

Key responsibilities

• Provide guidance on employment legislation, contracts and terms, enterprise agreement negotiations, policy creation and interpretation, performance management, disciplinary matters, bullying and harassment investigations, and workplace mediations.

• Lead implementation of employee relations and broader employee engagement programmes, policies, and processes within your market; contribute to and develop new ER policies and guidelines.

• Manage relationships with senior leaders to define and deliver ER support services; coach leaders to build positive employee relations cultures.

• Industrial relations and compliance: Administer legally required ER structures, collective labour agreements, extra contractual agreements, and ensure compliance with corporate policies and local laws/regulations.

• Support organisational change aligned to relevant policies and legislation; identify risks and propose pragmatic resolutions to complex workplace matters.

• Monitor ER trends and practices through analysis of internal/external HR metrics and convert insights into continuous improvement.

What you’ll bring

• Minimum 5+ years’ experience in Employee/Industrial Relations (ER/IR) within HR, including coaching, counselling, negotiation, and complex case management.

• Proven experience in large, complex organisations with a broad workforce span (supply chain/operations including unionised environments, commercial/sales, and office-based/white-collar).

• Industrial relations expertise: Ability to negotiate union contracts, manage labour disputes, and lead mediations and workplace grievances.

• Strong understanding of Australian and New Zealand employment law; experience with the Australian union environment.

• Tertiary degree in Human Resources/Industrial Relations (or equivalent).

• High autonomy with the confidence to constructively challenge and influence senior leaders.

• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple and changing priorities across diverse stakeholder groups.

• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to engage effectively from supply chain and operations staff to commercial and office-based employees

• High autonomy with confidence to constructively challenge and influence senior leaders on complex ER/IR matters.

Desirable

• Experience in the pharmaceutical or life sciences industry.

• Postgraduate qualification in HR, IR, Employment Law, or related field.

ABOUT ASTRAZENECA

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in four therapy areas – Oncology; Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM); Respiratory & Immunology (R&I); and Rare Disease.

At AstraZeneca Australia, we have been working to deliver the best value to patients for more than 60 years, and we push th

Why AstraZeneca?

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in four therapy areas – Oncology; Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM); Respiratory & Immunology (R&I); and Rare Disease.

At AstraZeneca Australia, we have been working to deliver the best value to patients for more than 60 years, and we push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines

Where can I find out more?

Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

Visit our website: www.astrazeneca.com.au

AstraZeneca in Australia has been formally recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) and as a Gold Tier Employer within the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI). Visit our ANZ Careers Page - www.astrazeneca.com.au/careers.html  to learn more about our commitment to fostering a flexible, diverse, and inclusive environment.

We recognise that any recruitment process may present challenges, if there is anything we can do to make our recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know via this Form.

Date Posted

02-Dec-2025

Closing Date

16-Dec-2025

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.