Employee and Industrial Relations Lead

About Snowy:

Snowy Hydro is a dynamic, integrated energy business that has been providing on-demand, reliable energy to Australia for generations. Snowy Hydro owns and operates a powerful combination of generation assets, including the mighty Snowy Mountains Scheme, gas and diesel plants, and contracted wind and solar energy. We also provide electricity and gas to about 1.6 million retail customers through our retail brands Red Energy and Lumo Energy.

An exciting full-time, permanent opportunity is available for an Employee and Industrial Relations Lead to join our dynamic People and Culture team.

About the position:

As the Employee and Industrial Relations Lead, you will drive Snowy Hydro’s enterprise strategy for employee and industrial relations. Reporting to the General Manager People and Performance, this role is responsible for translating business strategy, employment obligations, and workforce risks into practical operational frameworks, successful bargaining outcomes, and defensible employment decisions. Working closely with Legal, People and Culture, and executive leadership, you will serve as the enterprise functional authority on employment policy, case governance, and industrial relation matters across our operational environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Set Snowy Hydro’s enterprise approach to employee and industrial relations, including bargaining strategy, union engagement and the resolution of significant industrial matters.
• Lead the development and ongoing improvement of employment policies, standards, frameworks and decision tools that support our business strategy, values and obligations.
• Lead complex and high risk employee relations matters and investigations, providing sound advice and guiding fair, consistent and defensible outcomes in partnership with Legal.
• Build the capability of leaders and People and Culture teams to manage routine matters confidently, while providing appropriate oversight and first line assurance.
• Provide clear advice and risk reporting to executives and the Board, and contribute to managing employment, industrial and organisational risks.
• Support business strategy and enterprise wide transformation initiatives by identifying workforce implications and helping leaders manage change in a fair and practical way.
• Contribute to a safe and respectful workplace by integrating psychosocial risk considerations into employment frameworks and advice.

About the location:

This role can be performed from our Sydney, Melbourne or Cooma office, with the location to be determined by the right candidate. Minimum 3 days per week in the office with flexible working options available. Relocation packages are offered to those looking to move to the Snowy Mountains, Cooma. The successful candidate may also be required to travel at times across Snowy sites, including interstate. Minimum 3 days per week in the office with flexible working options available. Relocation packages are offered to those looking to move to the Snowy Mountains, Cooma. The successful candidate may also be required to travel at times across Snowy sites, including interstate.

About you:

• Deep expertise in Australian employment and industrial relations law, enterprise agreements, modern awards, and dispute processes.
• Proven senior experience managing enterprise wide employee and industrial relations strategies in a diverse operational environment.
• A commercial mindset that integrates people, operational, cultural and reputational considerations.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills with the ability to navigate difficult conversations and high-pressure situations.
• High integrity, discretion and robust decision-making.
• Proven ability to build and sustain effective working relationships across diverse stakeholder environments, driving collaborative outcomes.
• Desirable: A relevant tertiary qualification in human resources, industrial relations, employment law, or a related discipline.

About our workforce:

Diversity and inclusion is important to us. Snowy Hydro has a culture of decency and inclusion, with a commitment to the health and wellbeing of our people and a supportive environment to ensure that everyone - regardless of background - feels included and can succeed. At Snowy Hydro, we recognise that we are made stronger by the unique capabilities and qualities that each individual brings, and we believe in providing an environment that allows that uniqueness to thrive.

Snowy Hydro is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We are committed to the values of Equal Employment Opportunity and provide accessibility accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for a role with Snowy Hydro and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please send an email with your request to the Snowy Hydro recruitment team at recruitment@snowyhydro.com.au

If this role sounds like you, apply now! Applications open until Sunday 22nd November. We may close the role early if the position is filled, so don't wait—apply today.

A few of the benefits we provide:

• An annual performance based bonus.
• A range of parental leave options, including 30 weeks paid leave for primary carers and 10 weeks for non-primary.
• We provide additional leave over and above the minimum National Employment Standards.
• Family discounts on fitness, gyms, pools and leisure centres (location dependant).
• A Service Award Program - employees reaching continuous employment anniversaries receive additional benefits.
• An employee referral plan - good employees attract similar colleagues
• Corporate clothing allowance.

Working for Snowy

Position Description

Employee and Industrial Relations Lead