Executive Manager Industrial Relations

We have an exciting opportunity at nbn for an Executive Manager Industrial Relations. This role will report to the General Manager Employee Relations.

A bit about your role

As the Executive Manager Industrial Relations, you will lead the definition and delivery of nbn’s industrial relations (IR) strategy. You will bring clarity to a complex and evolving industrial landscape, ensuring the organisation is well positioned to navigate regulatory change, workforce dynamics, and union engagement.

In this role, you will partner closely with senior leaders, Legal, and delivery teams to translate strategy into meaningful enterprise-wide outcomes. You will play a central role in building organisational capability by supporting leaders in union engagement, strengthening approaches to dispute management, and embedding consistent, practical frameworks across the business.

As a trusted escalation point, you will draw on insights to inform longer-term improvement across the organisation. Your impact will extend across governance and risk, where you will establish clear frameworks and bring greater transparency to industrial risks, ensuring they are well understood, actively managed, and addressed in a way that supports sustainable business outcomes.

A bit about you

The successful candidate will bring deep experience in industrial relations within complex, highly unionised environments, with a track record of shaping and implementing effective IR strategies. You are comfortable operating at both a strategic and operational level, combining sound judgement with a calm, considered approach to managing sensitive and high-impact matters.

You are known for your ability to build trust across diverse stakeholders, engaging collaboratively with senior leaders, unions, and delivery partners to achieve balanced and sustainable outcomes. Your approach is thoughtful and inclusive, and you take pride in building capability in others, supporting leaders to feel confident and well equipped in navigating industrial relations matters.

With a strong grounding in governance and risk, you bring a structured and pragmatic perspective, ensuring industrial relations practices are both compliant and aligned to broader organisational goals. Above all, you are purpose-driven, with the ability to navigate complexity with care, influence, and integrity while contributing to a supportive and high-performing culture at nbn.

Life at nbn

To be part of nbn is to be part of something bigger. There’s so much more from here. Our pioneering spirit drives us forward every day. Together, we help lift the digital capability of the nation by building and connecting Australia’s best fibre infrastructure into homes and businesses, plus places and things, everywhere. We’re continuing to create Australia’s network—a network made for more. Not just a way for everyone to do the things they love but transforming the way they do them.

A more inclusive working world

nbn is committed to an inclusive, flexible, and supportive workplace where everyone can feel heard, valued, and respected. We believe diverse perspectives are the key to unlocking greater outcomes and encourage applications from people of all ages, nationalities, abilities, and cultures. That's why we have a Reconciliation Action Plan, Accessibility & Inclusion Plan, offer 18 weeks of paid parental leave, are a Pride in Diversity Platinum Employer, and have active employee-led diversity pillars. Click here to see our list of employee benefits and why we're recognised as a WORK180 Endorsed Employer for Women.

Equal Opportunities for All 

We champion equal opportunities for all employees. If you have any accessibility requirements and would like to discuss adjustments for the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to contact us by emailing [email protected] or calling our Recruitment Accessibility Enquiry Line at +61 2 8918 9990. Please note, this line is dedicated to accessibility-related enquiries for the purposes of recruitment, and only enquiries related to accessibility adjustments will be answered. For other matters, please visit our Contact Us page on our website.

Where to from here?

If you think this role might be for you, we want to hear from you. Please apply by following the links and sending in your resume only. We do not require a cover letter or any selection criteria to be addressed.

Please note that this role is a permanent opportunity and applications will close at midnight on Tuesday, 30th June 2026.

To be eligible for this role, you must have full working rights in Australia