Senior Industrial Relations Manager

Surrey | Hybrid Working (Minimum 3 Days On-Site) £80,000 – £90,000 + Excellent Benefits

Are you an Industrial Relations professional who can operate at both a strategic and operational level?

Do you have the credibility to influence senior leaders, build trusted relationships with employee representatives, and help shape the future of employee voice across a complex organisation?

We’re seeking an experienced Industrial Relations Manager to lead the development of a modern Industrial Relations and Employee Voice strategy within a highly regulated and workforce-centric environment.

This is a rare opportunity to create real impact in a standalone specialist role with significant exposure to Executive Leadership and Board-level stakeholders.

The Role

Reporting into the senior HR leadership team, you’ll act as the organisation’s subject matter expert for Industrial Relations, Employee Voice and Workforce Consultation.

You’ll lead the development of a fit-for-purpose Industrial Relations strategy, strengthen employee representative forums, modernise people policies and provide expert guidance on trade union engagement and recognition matters.

This is not a role for someone who prefers to sit on the sidelines. We’re looking for a hands-on practitioner who is equally comfortable shaping strategy, advising senior stakeholders and delivering practical solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the organisation’s Industrial Relations strategy.
• Build trusted relationships with employee representatives and trade union stakeholders.
• Act as the first point of contact for all Industrial Relations matters.
• Create and embed an effective Employee Voice framework.
• Establish, develop and coach employee representative forums to maximise their effectiveness and influence.
• Support Executive Leadership with workforce consultation and engagement activity.
• Lead the organisation’s approach to trade union engagement, recognition discussions and workforce relations planning.
• Review and modernise people policies to support a high-trust, adult-to-adult culture.
• Provide expert advice to senior leaders on Industrial Relations risks, opportunities and best practice.
• Partner closely with HR, Communications, Legal and business leaders to drive positive employee relations outcomes.

About You

You could currently be an Industrial Relations Manager, Employee Relations Manager, HR Business Partner with a strong IR focus, or a specialist Industrial Relations professional looking for a broader strategic remit.

You’ll bring:

• Significant experience in Industrial Relations, Employee Relations or Workforce Engagement.
• Experience working with trade unions, employee representatives or consultative forums.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and consultation frameworks.
• Experience supporting negotiations, collective consultation or recognition discussions.
• The ability to influence stakeholders at Executive and Board level.
• Strong policy development and governance experience.
• A pragmatic, commercially-minded approach.
• The confidence to operate autonomously in a standalone specialist role.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.

What’s in it for you?

• Genuine opportunity to shape the future Industrial Relations agenda.
• High visibility with Executive and Board stakeholders.
• Autonomy to create and deliver strategy.
• Broad remit covering IR, Employee Voice and Policy.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Hybrid working model.

If you’re looking for a role where you can make a lasting impact, drive meaningful employee engagement and become the trusted expert on workforce relations, we’d love to hear from you.