Employment Relations Consultant

About the opportunity

Join Auckland Council as an Employment Relations Consultant and contribute to the way employment relations are managed across the organisation. Reporting to the ER Manager, you will work alongside a collaborative group of ER Consultants and provide expert guidance to people leaders and employees so that workplace matters are handled fairly, consistently, and in line with good practice.

This position combines strategic input with practical case work, offering the chance to influence decisions while also being directly involved in day-to-day ER matters.

What you’ll do

• Offer clear, practical advice on a wide range of employment matters such as disciplinary action, conflict handling, investigations, poor performance, and restructures.
• Make sure people leaders and relevant stakeholders understand the possible options and the risks linked to each approach.
• Work with stakeholders to collect the information and supporting evidence needed for employment relations cases.
• Track open cases through to resolution while keeping case records accurate and up to date.
• Coach people leaders and help build their capability and confidence in using ER processes.

About you

You are an experienced employment relations professional with a strong grasp of New Zealand employment law, case law, and current ER practice. You use sound judgement, take a pragmatic approach, and are comfortable advising on complex and sensitive issues.

Your communication, interpersonal skills, and awareness of workplace dynamics help you earn trust and support leaders and stakeholders effectively. You are confident working through formal employment processes and helping achieve outcomes that are fair and balanced.

You also work well in fast-moving environments, manage competing demands with resilience, and bring a collaborative, solution-focused attitude to team work.

Qualifications and experience

• A relevant tertiary qualification, ideally in Law, Human Resources, Employment Relations, or a related field.
• Strong experience in employment relations within a complex organisation, including handling competing priorities and sensitive matters.
• Proven experience supporting and leading formal employment processes such as investigations, disciplinary matters, and complex case management.

What we offer

This is a great opportunity to grow your ER expertise while helping shape meaningful outcomes in a large and complex organisation. You will be part of a supportive and collaborative environment where your experience and advice can make a real difference.

Additional information

Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a workplace that values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, you are encouraged to let the organisation know when applying so appropriate assistance can be provided during recruitment.

Applications close on Monday, 22 June 2026.