About Southern Ports

Southern Ports operates the gateway ports of Albany, Bunbury, and Esperance, connecting regional WA to global markets. We focus on safe, efficient, and sustainable port operations, delivering value to our customers and communities. With a strong commitment to our people, we’re building a diverse, high-performing workforce to support the future of regional trade.

Benefits of Joining Southern Ports

Joining Southern Ports Authority comes with numerous benefits that cater to a wide range of professional and personal needs, some examples being:

Flexible Working Arrangements: Enjoy a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle and personal commitments.
Annual Health and Well-being Benefits: Take advantage of programs and resources aimed at maintaining your physical and mental health.
Salary Sacrificing Options: Maximise your take-home pay through tailored salary packaging arrangements such as Novated Car Leasing and Superannuation
Opportunity to Travel: Experience different geographical regions in Western Australia, enhancing your professional and personal growth.
Generous Purchase Leave Options: Gain additional leave options to suit your personal needs and preferences.

Salary:

$128,651 + superannuation + regional allowance if based regionally.

The Role

Southern Ports is seeking an Employee Relations Advisor to join our Employee Relations team in a fixed-term role for two years, with flexibility to be based in Perth, Bunbury, Albany or Esperance.

Reporting to the Employee Relations Lead, you will play a key role in providing general employee relations advice across the organisation. Your primary focus will be supporting the management of workplace investigations and assisting external investigators, ensuring matters are handled fairly, professionally and in accordance with employment legislation, WHS requirements and best-practice principles.

You will also contribute to a broad range of employee and industrial relations activities, including employee grievances, disputes, claims and enterprise agreement negotiations. This role requires strong judgement, excellent stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to navigate sensitive and complex workplace matters with professionalism, integrity and a trauma-informed approach.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced ER professional to make a meaningful impact in a values-driven organisation that supports a safe, respectful and high-performing workplace culture while contributing to key organisational priorities over the next two years.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Support workplace investigations, including misconduct, grievances, bullying, harassment and WHS-related matters, ensuring procedural fairness and compliance.
Conduct investigation activities including case assessment, evidence gathering, interviews, analysis and preparation of investigation findings.
Apply trauma-informed practices and promote the psychological safety, confidentiality and wellbeing of all participants throughout the investigation process.
Provide general employee and industrial relations advice and support on workplace matters, disputes, grievances and case management activities.
Maintain accurate employee relations records, data and reporting to support compliance, governance and informed decision-making.
Maintain investigation-related policies, procedures and frameworks, while building effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Required

Formal qualification, certification or diploma in workplace investigations and demonstrated experience in an ER/IR Advisor role with a focus on investigations – minimum 3 years
Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise responsibilities and easily move between different tasks
Excellent communication and customer service skills
Working knowledge of the Fair Work act and the application of legislation at a state and federal level.
Demonstrated understanding of workplace relations legislation, and modern award and Enterprise Agreement interpretation

Preferred

Relevant tertiary qualification in Employee Relations, Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Employment Law or a related discipline
Experience supporting enterprise agreement negotiations or industrial bargaining
Experience working in a complex or unionised environment. Desirable criteria are the extras that would make someone stand out.

To see the PD for this role, please copy and paste the below link into your browser:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xtjw8y0e3c2mfo9t5g2a0/Southern-Ports-Administration-and-Specialist-Agreement.pdf?rlkey=a190xi2xwukjs3ws12accm8iv&st=q9pw7ot1&dl=0

To see the Employment Agreement for this role, please copy and paste the below link into your browser:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/cze31v4tfzca0epk1ywx4/PD-Employee-Relations-Advisor.pdf?rlkey=mm189o9lin6sh3g7n3zmc92z1&st=lvqfb26s&dl=0

Requirements

To apply, please submit your application through our advertisement. Ensure you include an up-to-date resume.

To be eligible for this role, applicants must reside either Perth, Bunbury, Albany or Esperance and provide proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residency.

The successful applicant must:

Have a current Western Australian driver’s licence
Be able to obtain and maintain a Maritime Security Identification Card
Pass a pre-employment medical assessment including drug and alcohol testing
Provide a National Police Certificate that is within a 6-month period.

Southern Ports is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not discriminate against race, gender, age, religion, sexual preference or disability. We encourage applications from all culturally diverse backgrounds, Indigenous Australians and Non-Indigenous Australians. Southern Ports is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and impartial workplace with equal opportunities for all employees.

Applications close: COB 9 July 2026

We reserve the right to commence the recruitment process during the application period.