Title:  Employee Relations Specialist - Legal Auckland | Wellington

Employment Relations Specialist – Legal 

• Play a Critical Role in KiwiRail’s Employment Relations  

• Permanent, full-time role with flexible working options 

• Based in Auckland or Wellington 

Position Description 

He kōrero mō mātou | About Us 

At KiwiRail, we are shaping the future of New Zealand’s transport system — creating stronger connections for our cities, regions, communities and economy. As a State-Owned Enterprise with a proud history of more than 150 years, rail continues to play a vital role in enabling sustainable growth and supporting Aotearoa’s future. Guided by our purpose Hononga Whaikaha, Oranga mō Aotearoa - Stronger Connections, Better New Zealand, we are delivering significant transformation across rail and ferry services. This is an opportunity to join an organisation where your expertise will directly influence national-scale outcomes. 

He whakamārama mō te tūranga mahi | About the Role 

We are seeking an experienced Employment Relations Specialist – Legal to provide specialist employment relations and employment law expertise as part of KiwiRail’s People and Culture team, during a period of significant transformation across our rail and Interislander ferry services. This is a genuinely multi-faceted role, spanning employment law, industrial relations, union engagement, collective bargaining, mediation and dispute resolution, and day-to-day employment relations advisory work. You will translate KiwiRail’s people strategy into practical, legally robust employment relations outcomes, and support senior leaders with clear, pragmatic advice that balances fairness, risk, operational requirements and commercial outcomes. This is a broad and varied portfolio, well suited to someone with strong commercial experience who is looking for an interesting, high-impact role that draws on legal, union engagement and employment relations expertise.

Key Responsibilities 

• Provide specialist employment relations and employment law advice to senior leaders, managers, People Partners and internal stakeholders 

• Act as a lead advocate or strategist in collective bargaining, union engagement forums and implementation of collective agreement outcomes 

• Support organisational change programmes by ensuring employment relations strategy, employment law advice, consultation processes and risk management are integrated from the outset 

• Provide high-level strategic, technical and practical expertise on complex employment matters, including personal grievances, mediations, litigation, investigations, disciplinary processes and settlement approaches 

• Provide legally robust, practical and commercially focused advice on employment-related risk within the People and Culture function 

• Maintain current knowledge of employment legislation, case law and regulatory developments, translating implications into policy, practice and leader guidance 

• Work closely with external employment lawyers where appropriate, supporting instructions, oversight, advice quality and cost-effective use of specialist legal input 

• Build and maintain constructive relationships with unions and union representatives, while protecting KiwiRail’s legal, commercial and operational interests 

Ngā pukenga e rapu nei mātou | What You Will Bring 

• A law degree with a current practicing certificate 

• Significant experience in employment law or employment relations, gained within a law firm or a large, complex organisation 

• Demonstrated lead advocate experience in collective bargaining, union engagement and implementation of collective agreement outcomes 

• In-depth knowledge of New Zealand employment legislation, case law, good faith obligations and employment dispute resolution processes 

• Proven ability to provide specialist advice on complex employment matters, including grievances, investigations, disciplinary processes, mediation and litigation risk 

• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to balance legal risk, fairness, operational need and business outcomes 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to tailor advice for senior leaders, operational managers, HR teams, unions and other stakeholders 

• A collaborative, composed and pragmatic approach, with sound judgement and discretion in sensitive and high-risk matters 

• A genuine interest in ongoing professional development, with a desire to broaden your experience across legal, industrial relations and employment law disciplines 

Nōu te rourou | What’s in it for You 

• Competitive salary plus 4% employer KiwiSaver contribution 
• Ongoing professional development opportunities, with genuine scope to broaden your experience across legal, employment relations and industrial relations disciplines 

• 5 weeks annual leave 

• Discounted staff travel 

• A wide range of discounts with retail partners 
• Ongoing professional development opportunities, with genuine scope to broaden your experience across legal, employment relations and industrial relations disciplines 

• Access to the NZ Rail Staff Welfare Trust, including holiday homes and support for optometry, physiotherapy, GP visits and prescriptions 

• The chance to work on nationally significant projects with real impact 

Kua rite, kia rite | Ready to Make a Difference? 

If you are an experienced employment relations or employment law specialist looking to apply your expertise across a broad and interesting portfolio and play a key role in KiwiRail’s transformation journey, we would love to hear from you. 

Applications close: 31 of August 2026

Please note: Appointment is subject to passing a pre-employment medical and drug and alcohol screening. NZ residency or citizenship is required.