Senior Legal Counsel IR/ER

Navitas is a leading global education provider that has helped generations of learners transform their lives through education. Working in our HR Australasia team you’ll be part of a team supporting Navitas’ portfolio of colleges, campuses, and offices. Employing 5,000 staff, we create life-changing opportunities for students to learn by delivering an extensive range of educational services to over 60,000 aspirational students across our global network each year.

Our global footprint offers you the chance to connect with people from around the world.

About the role

This is a senior, hands‑on IR/ER role for an experienced legal practitioner who thrives in complex, unionised environments governed by multiple Enterprise Agreements.

Reporting to the General Manager, HR Australasia (with a dotted line to General Counsel where applicable), you will lead the organisation’s national IR/ER strategy, provide trusted legal advice to executives, and act as the senior representative before the Fair Work Commission. The role has significant exposure to enterprise bargaining, dispute management and high‑risk industrial matters across multiple business units.

📍This position is available in multiple locations, offering flexibility to join our team from Sydney, Melbourne or Perth.

Key responsibilities

• Lead enterprise bargaining across multiple Enterprise Agreements and unions
• Represent the organisation before the Fair Work Commission and regulators
• Provide strategic and legal IR/ER advice to executives and senior leaders
• Manage complex industrial disputes, litigation risk and industrial action
• Oversee high‑risk employee relations matters, including grievances and misconduct
• Ensure compliance with employment law, awards and industrial instruments
• Lead and develop a specialist IR/ER team and uplift leader capability
• Identify and mitigate industrial risk across projects, policies and frameworks

About you

You are a senior IR/ER professional with strong legal capability and proven experience operating at enterprise level and will bring:

• Admittance (or eligibility) to practice as a solicitor in an Australian state or territory with at least 5 years of legal post admission experience in an employment practice of a law firm or equivalent in-house role with demonstrated capability in representing employers in Fair Work Commission and/or court proceedings and advising on Australian employment law.
• Extensive experience working with multiple EBAs in unionised organisations
• Strong, credible experience representing employers at the Fair Work Commission
• Deep knowledge of Australian employment law and the Fair Work system
• Proven ability to manage high‑risk disputes and complex ER matters
• Exceptional stakeholder management and negotiation skills
• Confidence advising executives on sensitive and strategic IR/ER issues
• Tertiary qualification in Law, HR, Industrial Relations or similar
• Working knowledge of New Zealand employment legislation (desirable)

What we can offer 

• We offer careers across our global operations.
• We recognise and reward.
• We understand the importance of showing appreciation.
• We care for you. We offer a range of employee benefits, support to help you be your best, and flexibility, to help us all thrive.
• Navitas is where work has meaning. Our impact is far-reaching – we create lasting legacies for students and communities.
• Access to LinkedIn Learning for your development

Diversity Equity and Inclusion 

• At Navitas we promote and embrace an inclusive and diverse workforce. We believe equality, flexibility, and diversity deliver a rich collaborative environment. We strive to ensure that all our staff – no matter where they are from or who they are – feel safe, supported, and given opportunities to thrive.
• We encourage applications from candidates with disabilities, of all ages and genders, First Nations and Indigenous peoples, and people of diverse community groups. 

How to Apply

Applicants are assessed upon receipt, so you are encouraged to apply now. For enquiries about the role, please contact Colette Bacalhau on 0477 392 747. To view other opportunities, please visit navitas.com/careers 

All applicants must have full working rights within Australia to be considered. Successful candidates will be required to undergo a Police Check.