Job Description

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

Because of our size, who we are and what we do, each day brings with it a lot of complexity that our legal team make simple. With a deep understanding of Coles Group’s goals and values, we’re able to provide practical and commercial advice that helps us all win.

Are you a passionate employment lawyer looking to make a significant impact in a supportive environment? We are seeking an experienced (5+ years PQE) Employment Lawyer to join our team, supporting one of Australia's largest and most complex workforces.

This is your chance to become a trusted advisor, exercising significant autonomy and partnering with senior leaders across the business on crucial employment law matters to drive commercial success. With fantastic opportunities for career development, this role is perfect for those transitioning from private practice and/or bringing in-house experience from large employers. If you have strong experience in workplace relations, employment law advisory, managing workplace disputes and conducting litigation at the Fair Work Commission, we want to hear from you!

What You’ll Be Doing

• Strategic legal advice: Provide strategic legal advice on a broad range of employment law matters, including litigation, daily employment issues, workplace investigations, transactions, disciplinary actions, discrimination matters, safety matters, and termination issues.
• Dispute resolution and litigation: Independently manage litigation matters and advise on contentious disputes involving employees and former employees. This includes appearing in, or partnering with our external law firm partners to conduct litigation in, the Fair Work Commission, anti-discrimination tribunals and Federal Courts.
• Sensitive workplace investigations: Advise on sensitive workplace investigations, regulatory matters, executive employment matters, legislative reform, employment-related compliance and psychosocial risk.
• Transactions and strategic business projects: Advise on the employment aspects of transactions and strategic initiatives, including partnering with external counsel and assisting the business with employment related issues arising from organisational change.
• Governance and risk management: Advise on enterprise-wide projects, such as psychosocial risk frameworks and emerging workplace law developments.

About You and Your Skills

• Qualifications: Legal qualification and current practicing certificate.
• Experience: 5+ years PQE in employment law, with a proven track record in litigation at the Fair Work Commission.
• Expertise: Managing complex employment law matters in large organisations, ideally ASX listed.
• Preferred Background: Significant private practice experience, ideally combined with in-house, secondment, and/or workplace relations experience.
• Skills: Ability to manage a variety of stakeholders, strong litigation skills in the Fair Work Commission, handle change in a fast-paced environment, strong interpersonal and influencing skills, client and solutions-focused, motivated with a can-do attitude, and adept at multi-tasking and managing competing priorities.

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: 191850

Employment Type: Full time

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