Employee Relations Consultant

Location preferred: AU- Hybrid Sydney, Melbourne

We are seeking an experienced Human Resources consultant with strong Employee Relations (ER) experience to support as ER Consultant in Australia, New Zealand and across the APJC region. The role will report to the Employee Relations Leader and is part of Cisco’s People & Communities (P&C) organization.

The Global ER team is responsible for the fair and respectful treatment of employees through the investigation of workplace complaints and advising on HR policies and practices and complex employment matters.

The role will collaborate with business leaders, People Partners and cross‑functional stakeholders to address employee concerns, conduct investigations and be a consultative partner on complex employee relations matters.

The position requires deep subject matter expertise, in depth ER experience, strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Join a high performing ER team, working in close alignment and collaboration with ER and P&C colleagues and leaders in APJC and globally.
• Independently conduct complex workplace investigations and maintain comprehensive case files. Engage with key stakeholders, including providing timely communication to relevant parties, to build partnerships within the P&C ecosystem.
• Provide collaborative guidance to People Partners and management on topics ranging from policy interpretation, workplace investigations, disciplinary action recommendations, performance management and workforce reductions.
• Provide guidance and / or solutions aligned to consistent application of policies and procedures as well as on best practices and ways to mitigate risks while using judgement to balance business needs with fair resolution of issues.
• Review and advise on disciplinary actions including termination documentation – tailoring and delivering recommendations in an effective way to help influence the right outcomes with stakeholders while mitigating risk to Cisco.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement culture within the Employee Relations team, embracing change and driving operational rigor and accountability.
• Communicate with all levels of the enterprise, including senior leadership.
• Remain respectful and empathetic in the face of difficult and sensitive situations. Partner closely and collaboratively with People Partners, People Legal, People Care Crisis, Leader Consulting, Offboarding and other teams to deliver HR strategies.
• Uphold and integrate Cisco’s Guiding Principles and foster a culture of integrity, respect and accountability in all actions, decisions and interactions.

• A bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or related field
• 6+ years of progressive experience in Human Resources
• 3+ years’ experience handling complex Employee Relations investigations
• Strong knowledge of Australia and New Zealand Employee Relations, labor laws and compliance requirements
• Prior ER experience supporting other APJC countries (e.g., ASEAN countries) preferred.

• Ability to exercise good judgment during challenging, sensitive, complex and ambiguous situations
• Ability to execute with quality, a sense of urgency and accountability
• Comfortable challenging the status quo and taking smart risks
• Demonstrated experience collaborating and supporting business objectives.
• Experience in influencing and coaching senior level and executive business leaders
• Strong communication skills, including presentations and training delivery.
• Ability to multi-task and work proactively and independently, managing competing priorities in fast‑paced environment.
• Highly motivated, confident, proactive and intellectually curious
• Willing to embrace emerging AI tools to improve efficiency while balancing the critical human element of employee advocacy and workplace culture.
• Technically proficient in Microsoft tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and can easily adapt to other online tools used by the team