Employment & Industrial Relations Specialist

We're delighted to be working exclusively with Southwark Council to appoint a new Employment & Industrial Relations Specialist - a crucial role within the organisation.

About Southwark

At Southwark, we are committed to making our borough fair and just, taking positive action to tackle inequality. We support a thriving, diverse and dynamic community, and our passion for Southwark is shared by many who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, visit our hospitals, and study at our universities.

We've started our journey towards transforming HR and OD and are currently engaging with the wider workforce to develop a new people plan. It's an exciting time to join and support the innovation needed to deliver our new borough plan.

About the Role

Our industrial relations' (IR) climate matters to us and you must be passionate about working positively with trade unions, with proven experience of successfully negotiating and delivering complex projects within a fast-paced, and vibrant multi-site environment.

You will:

• Provide strategic and technical subject matter expertise, advice, guidance to support our delivery plan and business objectives ensuring the adoption of best practices

• Lead the development of constructive industrial relations and trade union frameworks, leading negotiations, and reporting to relevant committees as appropriate

• Proactively lead HR policy and practice development, in line with employment law and best practice.

Your background, skills, and experience:

• Graduate membership of the CIPD or equivalent knowledge, skills and experience

• Substantial experience of successfully leading industrial and employee relations matters within a complex, unionised organisation, from a variety of different sectors

• Experience of monitoring trends, applying learning from supportive employment practices, providing high-quality professional HR advice and guidance to others on complex staff/employment issues

• Working collaboratively across organisational boundaries to ensure positive and joined-up outcomes

You will also need to have:

• Strong interpersonal and negotiating skills with the ability to build credibility and maintain effective working relationships both internally within HROD and the wider council, with trade unions and externally with other employers, government departments and professional associations
• Project/programme management, meeting defined objectives in line with workforce strategies and plans

• Commitment to our values and our ambition to become a more inclusive, anti-racist organisation

Hybrid and flexible working arrangements considered.

To be considered your CV must show significant experience in working with various unions in an employee relations capacity

Recruitment timetable

Closing Date - 30th August

Stakeholder panel - 19th September

In-person interviews - 23rd September

We are passionate about our people and understand that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and ethnically diverse communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition