Operations Manager - Industrial Relations
- Location:
- Perth CBD, Western Australia, Australia
- Posted:
- 25th May 2026
- Advertiser:
- Hays - ANZ - 2985802
- Maritime Sector
- Newly Created Position
- Perth CBD
An Operations Manager with strong industrial relations is required for our client within the maritime sector.
We are seeking a highly capable and driven Operations Manager with strong industrial relations to join a growing organisation within the maritime sector. This is a pivotal leadership role in a fast-paced, evolving environment, offering the opportunity to drive operational performance, strengthen client relationships, and play a critical role in shaping workforce strategy.
Reporting to the Managing Director, you will be responsible for leading day-to-day operations across multiple marine contracts, ensuring safe, efficient, and commercially sound service delivery.
This role requires a hands-on and influential leader who can balance operational performance with people leadership and industrial relations, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing strong, visible leadership to operational teams, driving a high-performance culture focused on safety, accountability, and results
- Leading, coaching, and developing teams while promoting effective collaboration and clear communication across all levels
- Building and maintaining trusted client relationships, acting as a key point of contact and ensuring high standards of service delivery
- Overseeing contract management, including client liaison, compliance, performance monitoring, and commercial outcomes
- Managing industrial relations matters across the workforce, including interpretation and application of enterprise agreements
- Leading and supporting enterprise agreement negotiations, engaging with employees, unions, and key stakeholders
- Maintaining effective relationships with union representatives, proactively managing issues and resolving disputes
- Ensuring compliance with industrial legislation, regulatory, safety, and environmental requirements
- Identifying and implementing opportunities for operational improvement, efficiency, and business growth
To be successful in your application, you will be an experienced operational leader with a background in the maritime, marine, logistics, or related heavy industry sectors, and you will thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
It is essential that you bring strong and consolidated industrial relations expertise, with the confidence and capability to manage complex workforce environments.
You will demonstrate:
- Proven leadership capability, with experience managing and influencing diverse operational teams
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to navigate complex and sensitive discussions
- Strong and practical experience in industrial relations, including interpreting, applying, and managing enterprise agreements, leading or supporting enterprise agreement negotiations, managing union relationships, fostering constructive engagement and resolving workplace disputes, and providing sound IR advice whilst ensuring compliance with industrial legislation and frameworks
- A commercial, balanced approach to aligning operational outcomes with workforce considerations
- Demonstrated experience in contract management and commercial delivery
- Strong client engagement capability, with the ability to build and maintain long-term partnerships
- High levels of resilience, judgement, and professionalism in complex operational and IR environments
To register your interest or to gain further information, please send your resume in the first instance to simone.partridge@hays.com.au or call on (08) 9254 4570.
