ER Lead

Employee Relations Lead (Trade Union Relations)

Based in London

Length: 6 months with possible extension

IR35 status: Inside

We are looking for an experienced Employee Relations Lead to play a pivotal role in strengthening employee and industrial relations across the organisation.

This is a high-profile interim opportunity for an accomplished employee relations professional with extensive experience of working in local government and leading negotiations with recognised Trade Unions. You'll be responsible for resolving long-standing and complex industrial relations issues, driving constructive partnership working, and providing strategic advice that supports organisational transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain effective, collaborative and professional relationships with recognised Trade Unions
• Lead formal consultation and negotiation activity across the organisation
• Resolve complex industrial relations issues, disputes and high-level employee relations cases in a timely and pragmatic way
• Support major organisational change, transformation and restructuring programmes
• Develop standard operating procedures, workflows and quality assurance processes to improve consistency across Employee Relations
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, collective consultation requirements and ACAS Codes of Practice
• Promote early resolution approaches and foster positive partnership working
• Contribute to the development of employment policies, procedures and workforce initiatives
• Monitor employee relations trends, identify emerging risks and recommend practical solutions

Skills, experience and knowledge

• Significant experience negotiating with Trade Unions and successfully resolving complex disputes
• Extensive Employee Relations and Industrial Relations experience within local government or the wider public sector
• Strong knowledge of employment law, collective consultation requirements, industrial relations practice and Trade Union legislation
• The ability to work at pace while maintaining positive and constructive relationships with Trade Union representatives
• Experience operating confidently within politically sensitive and high-profile environments