Principal Adviser, Workplace Relations and Integrity Services

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Date: 11 Aug 2026

Location: Melbourne, VIC, AU, 3000

Company: VicGov People Careers

About Us 

The Department of Government Services (DGS) was established on 1 January 2023 to improve everyone’s experience of doing business and interacting with the Victorian government.  We bring important day-to-day services together in one department to make things easy and seamless for Victorians and businesses.  We are doing this by connecting and digitising our systems and platforms across state and local government as well as streamlining our corporate and procurement services.   

You can find out more about our Ministers, leadership and entities here: Department of Government Services.  

About the Group

The Operations Group delivers frontline customer services to Victorians and the public service. It maintains the foundational digital infrastructure and platforms that support efficient, secure and reliable service delivery.

About the Role 

Principal Adviser, Workplace Relations and Integrity Services provides expert advice and guidance in relation to workplace relations and integrity. The Principal Adviser, Workplace Relations and Integrity Services will demonstrate a sound understanding of contemporary developments in industrial relations and employee relations and will work cross-functionally, delivering quality outcomes and excellence in service delivery .

Key Accountabilities

  1. Build strong working relationships with key stakeholders, including the CPSU, Office of the General Counsel, Industrial Relations Victoria, and senior managers across DGS and other government departments, to effectively engage, influence and negotiate at a senior level to resolve sensitive and/or high-risk issues related to employment matters and the effective management of industrial risk and compliance.
  2. Develop and lead training in collaboration with the HR Business Partnering team and associated materials on departmental initiatives, including identifying and responding to inappropriate workplace behaviours, mental health and wellbeing support and change management responses.
  3. Assist the Manager, Workplace Relations to ensure the team delivers robust support to their client departments by overseeing the development, implementation and improvement of employment-related policies, procedures and projects.
  4. Provide pragmatic and authoritative advice, direction and guidance to internal human resources staff undertaking complex case management work, based on advanced expertise in the fields of workplace relations and industrial relations legislation and policy. 

 

About You

 

To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate experience in the legislative and industrial frameworks that applies to the Victorian Public Service, including the Public Administration Act 2004, the Fair Work Act 2009 and the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024, as well as extensive experience in employee/industrial relations.

 

  • Technical Experience: Extensive specialist experience managing complex workplace relations or industrial relations matters in a highly sensitive environment, preferably within a government context, including coaching and mentoring more junior staff. 

  • Partnering and Co-creation: Champions the importance of partnership through co-creation approaches; brings people together to share resources, tools and case studies to build capability and confidence around co-design; takes the lead in complex and high profile VPS wide co-create activities; identifies potential issues and setbacks and is aware of the broader political, organisational and demographic landscape that may influence co-design, sharing expertise with others. 

  • Political and Organisational Context: Uses strategic relationships and knowledge to predict and prepare for the impact of events on the organisation; understands the impact of external events and changing stakeholder needs on the organisation and government; drives a values-based organisation by holding self and organisation accountable in adhering to public sector values. 

  • Managing Difficult Conversations: Facilitates discussions and/or decision making on major and complex issues; manages conflict to achieve a timely and pragmatic resolution.  

This role is an ongoing position. This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia. 

 

For more information, please see the Position Description

How to apply  

Apply before the advertised closing date 11:59pm on 25 August 2026. All applications should include:   

·       a resume; and   

·       a cover letter which addresses the key selection criteria (within three pages). 

 

Other relevant information 

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing role is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.  Preferred applicants will be required to undertake pre-employment screening. DGS actively promotes diversity, inclusion and an equal opportunity workplace. We welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds, including people with disabilities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All roles at DGS can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.