Location
London, London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£10,000 per month

About the Role
As the Union Relationship Specialist, you will support the creation and delivery of effective Employee and Industrial Relations (ER/IR) with our Unions across the business. You will provide support to line managers to ensure union-related matters are handled timely and appropriately in line with our Employee Relations strategy. You will be responsible for developing and activating the union relationship strategy, building strong working relationships with Union representatives including senior National Officers, and acting as a trusted advisor with detailed knowledge of tactical ER and IR issues.

Your daily responsibilities include implementing the ER/IR and Union Relationship strategy, liaising regularly with Union officials, drafting insightful reports and recommendations on the impact of change, and ensuring a cross-divisional view of pay negotiations and ER/IR risks to minimize union unrest. You will proactively keep stakeholders informed of key Union activity and support change teams and the wider business through Union consultation and negotiation processes aligned with National Agreements.

Utilizing your broad and specialist ER/IR experience, you will resolve day-to-day ER/IR queries, manage Post Implementation Reviews (PIR) to capture successes and opportunities, interpret current and future ER/IR legislation, and provide up-to-date guidance. You will coach and upskill managers and business leaders on ER/IR matters, manage budgets related to Union spend, develop robust communication plans to engage Unions, and advise leadership teams on ER/IR tactics and approaches.

This role requires confidence in influencing senior stakeholders, commercial awareness, and the ability to balance risk while driving commercially suitable outcomes. You will play a leading role in designing and implementing an effective ER/IR strategy and actively support comprehensive business change by mitigating ER/IR risks.

Experience
Proven hands-on experience working with Unions, preferably in both Retail and Logistics environments. Specialist knowledge advising senior leaders on handling and mitigating union activity impacting the business. Extensive experience planning and delivering ER/IR initiatives with discretion and confidentiality. Ability to build strong relationships and influence internal customers and external Union officials at a National level. Experience working strategically and operationally with high PC literacy, numeracy, language skills, and attention to detail.

Proven ability to organize and prioritize workload, work independently with confidence, and produce, analyze, and interpret data to identify opportunities and form well-considered recommendations. An engaging and articulate communicator able to inspire confidence verbally and in writing. Broad and thorough understanding of employment legislation with extensive experience managing complex employee relations cases and influencing at senior levels. Experience working in an efficient change environment and coaching line managers through transition.

About you
Confident in the presence of senior people, able to respond appropriately to challenge and influence while remaining optimistic. Commercially aware with extensive business and industry ER/IR knowledge. Able to understand the importance of issues, balance risk, and make judgements on prioritizing urgent versus important matters. A proactive and trusted advisor who can lead the design and implementation of ER/IR strategies and support business change effectively.

Qualifications
Relevant qualifications or equivalent experience in Employee Relations, Industrial Relations, or related fields are desirable. Commitment to continuous professional development and staying current with ER/IR legislation and best practices.