Cochlear’s mission is to help people hear and be heard. As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear is dedicated to helping people with moderate to profound hearing loss experience a world full of sound. We aim to transform the way people understand and treat hearing loss and innovate to connect people with future technologies. Our employees tell us that the number one reason they enjoy working for Cochlear is the opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives. Learn and grow with us as we tackle the most complex challenges in helping more people to experience a lifetime of hearing.
The Opportunity
We're looking for an experienced Employment Relations Specialist to join our Global People & Culture Service & Experience team and play a pivotal role in shaping employment relations practices across our Australian operations.
You will be a trusted advisor to senior leaders, people managers, HR colleagues and specialist teams, providing expert guidance across complex employment relations, industrial relations and workplace governance matters. From award interpretation and wage compliance projects through to workplace investigations, organisational change initiatives and legislative reform, you'll help ensure Cochlear remains compliant while fostering a positive, inclusive and high-performing workplace.
Working as part of the Workplace Governance & Specialist Advice Team, you'll have the opportunity to influence policy, drive continuous improvement, support strategic initiatives, and strengthen leadership capability across our sites in Macquarie Park, Lane Cove and Brisbane.
Please note, this is a fixed term contract until July 2027.
Championing best practice ER/IR initiatives across Cochlear’s Australian operations
Interpret and advise on relevant Awards and applicable State & Federal legislation.
Setup and maintain the ongoing governance of frameworks including but not limited to record keeping, wage reviews including salary reconciliation, employment contracts, payroll rules, and visa management.
Support the implementation of amendments in IR reform.
Take leadership of proactive ER/IR projects
Support complex case management
Developing robust relationships with key internal stakeholders
We're looking for someone who combines deep technical expertise with strong stakeholder management skills and a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach.
Strong knowledge of Australian employment legislation, Modern Awards and employment relations frameworks
Demonstrated experience in wage compliance, award interpretation and workplace governance
Proven capability managing complex workplace investigations and sensitive employee relations matters
Experience partnering with unions, employee representatives and workplace delegates
Sound judgement, strong problem-solving skills and the ability to influence with confidence
Experience working within a contemporary People & Culture function
Exposure to enterprise bargaining and implementation activities
Experience working within matrixed organisations and partnering across HR Centres of Excellence
Process improvement, systems transformation or governance experience
Tertiary qualification in Industrial Relations, Workplace Relations, Human Resources or a related discipline
If you feel that you have the skills and experience to be successful in this role and take on new challenges to build your career with Cochlear, please start your application by clicking the apply button below.
#CochlearCareers
How we recognise your contribution
At Cochlear we value and welcome the unique contributions, perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds of our employees and aim to build a culture that celebrates and leverages these differences, creating a sense of belonging and enabling our people to realise their full potential. Through our internal programs and employee benefits, we aim to create an environment where our people will feel value and supported. Whether your focus is on continuous learning, professional development or simply finding an environment which enables you to thrive whilst balancing family or personal life commitments, then we have several programs in place to support you.
For more information about Life at Cochlear, visit www.cochlearcareers.com
Hear now. And always
As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, at Cochlear (ASX: COH) we are committed to our mission to help people hear and be heard. Our story started more than four decades ago when Professor Graeme Clark pioneered the world's first multi-channel cochlear implant and created an entirely new treatment for hearing loss.
Since our formation in 1981, we continue Professor Clark’s work to help people with moderate to profound hearing loss experience a life full of hearing.
We have provided more than 650,000 implantable devices. Each recipient helps form a global community of millions, through families, friends, colleagues, teachers and more. And they’re not just connected to their own community — each shares a link with each other and to Professor Clark’s childhood desire to help people hear.
We aim to give people the best lifelong hearing experience and access to innovative future technologies. We understand the privilege of connecting people to a life lived with hearing. And we listen, respond and move with the times – to continue to bring hearing within reach of all those who need it.
That's how we live our mission every day. Our global workforce of more than 4,000 people shares a collective determination to give more people the opportunity to enjoy a life of hearing.
Cochlear’s global headquarters are on the campus of Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia with regional headquarters in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. Through our offices in over 180 countries we help people of all ages to hear.
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