Principal (Managing Counsel), Employee Relations | Perth

About the Role

The BHP Legal function is responsible for providing strategic legal advice to enable the business to achieve its commercial objectives and manage legal risk in compliance with applicable laws and consistent with the BHP Charter.

We have an excellent opportunity for a solutions focused lawyer to join BHP’s Legal team as a Principal (Managing Counsel) – Employee Relations. 

Reporting to the Head of Legal – Employee Relations, this is a unique opportunity to utilise your skills and experience with a leading global resources company. This role will provide legal advice and support to the BHP Group and particularly the Minerals Australia Business on employee relations legal matters including strategy, legal reform, bargaining, industrial dispute, unfair dismissals, termination and redundancy. 

Core accountabilities of the role include, but are not limited to:

• Acting as a key adviser and providing independent specific legal advice on complex employee and industrial relations legal matters to the Minerals Australia Business.
• Working on strategic advice across assets, balancing short and long term considerations and working collaboratively both within Legal and with other functions to ensure BHP is appropriately managing risk.
• Leading complex employment and industrial relations projects with a focus on BHP’s Western Australian and South Australian assets. 
• Acting as key advisor to senior stakeholders on employment issues supporting our Functions across Australia, Asia, the United Kingdom and Europe, including advising on annual reporting, ESG issues, legal reform, the management of racism, sexual assault and harassment, bullying and harassment and workplace conduct issues and advising on restructures and redundancy.
• Assisting to mentor and develop lawyers within the Legal – Employment Relations team and proactively recognising and developing talent in others.
• Seeking and promoting opportunities for working collaboratively within the Legal – Employment Relations team and Legal and with Assets/other Functions, and seeking to break down barriers.

About You

An employee relations professional, you will have previous experience in the mining sector across enterprise bargaining and the operation of industrial instruments. 

You will be a polished communicator (verbally and written) with strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.  Presenting strong commercial acumen and practical problem-solving skills, you are able to influence at all levels.

You are willing to undertake occasional travel, when required.

Formal requirements include:

• Law degree or equivalent 
• Certification to practice Law in Australia
• 8-10 years post-qualification experience (PQE). 

Please note: Applications for this role close at 11:59pm AEST on 9 August 2023.