Balfour Beatty plc
Employee Relations Business Partner
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About The Role
In this role, you will support delivery of an effective and consistent HR ‘one team’ service across the UK, partnering with HR Directors, Heads of HR, HRBPs and senior leaders on people-related change and employee relations activity and be part of the delivery of the UK Industrial Relations Plan, ensuring early identification of risks, opportunities, workforce trends, recognition, access and collective bargaining issues, and translating these into practical, forward-looking SBU aligned plan.
In addition to this, you will lead on annual pay negotiations, collective bargaining machinery and relationships with full time trade union officials and staff representatives in aligned SBU’s (if relevant). You will provide expert ER support across aligned SBUs in partnership with ERLMS, ensuring effective management of high-risk cases, minimisation of business risk, and consistent application of policies and best practice.
This role will support, and lead as appropriate, in the design and delivery of projects and solutions for ER, operational change programmes, performance management, education and training in relation to the advice & guidance tiered model. Ensure external legal spend is considered and reported upon and that decisions are made on conciliation and tribunals on a commercial basis, weighing up cost v risk, using legal financial risk assessments. You will be required to identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives that enhance ER/IR processes, promote operational excellence and support a cohesive, high-performing HR function, monitor and analyse IR and ER trends and metrics to identify areas for positive change and process optimisation, with a focus on business wide trends and developing a clear action/education plan, you will actively be involved in the IR Community of Practice, driving capability development, continuous improvement, and a unified approach to industrial relations across the UK.
You will also maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislative changes impacting employment and industrial relations, ensuring timely interpretation and clear guidance to the business and HR teams.
What you'll be doing
- Build and maintain constructive relationships with recognised trade unions through SBU level engagement. Be part of the IR Community of Practice to enhance capability, ensure consistency and support a one-team approach to trade union engagement.
- Interpret legislation and regulatory changes affecting ER/IR, producing clear guidance for HR and the business.
- Balance strategic IR responsibilities with hands-on support for complex or high-risk ER matters, ensuring robust governance and risk mitigation. Develop and maintain mature, respectful and solution-focused relationships with SBU trade unions
- Liaising/managing local Trade Union relationships in relation to ER cases. Ensuring local collective agreements are up to date and relevant to the SBUs
- Support local HR and operational managers in managing local union relationships and collective issues.
- Lead pay negotiations and collective bargaining processes with trade unions within SBU to reach mutually beneficial agreements on wages, working conditions and other employment terms.
- Engage with, participate in and support employer representative bodies to ensure BB is at the forefront of IR thinking and positioning in the construction sector. Ensure insights from ER cases feed into IR planning and wider workforce engagement strategies
- Provide insight and strategic inputs to bids as required by Work Winning team in SBU.
- Provide expert guidance and support on consultation processes, restructures, organisational redesign, TUPE and workforce change from both an ER and IR perspective
- Support HR teams with prioritisation and planning of ER/Change activity to ensure appropriate resourcing and timely delivery.
- Coach and develop HR colleagues and line managers to strengthen ER capability and ensure consistent policy application.
- Advise and coach business unit managers to effectively manage all employee relations issues in line with the HR policy & guidance tiered model
- Proactively identify issues and/or areas of improvement/development, identifying and implementing appropriate interventions to resolve issues/improve performance
- Working in partnership with the assigned SBU HR/Leadership team to ensure early visibility of ER and IR
- Leading as a specialist in a particular topic/field on behalf of the wider HR employee relations team – viewed as the expert in this area
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Who we're looking for
The Following Qualities/experience Are Essential
- Able to demonstrate a proven track record of building, developing and maintaining positive, collaborative working relationships, with senior leaders, ideally with experience of working in complex, matrix structures
- Excellent communication skills, demonstrated through a variety of methods including written and verbal communication, both face to face and over the telephone.
- Proven experience of effectively utilising a variety of effective influencing skills to achieve business aims and objectives
- Proven ability to work without close supervision, emotionally intelligent, a self-starter who enjoys working as part of a team but who is equally comfortable working on their own, utilising their initiative in an effective manner
- Strong organisational, planning, time and project management skills with evidence of ability to work to tight deadlines whilst maintaining quality, accuracy, attention to detail and high standards
- Experience of leading and advising on organisational and operational change initiatives
- Able to demonstrate a flexible, proactive, resilient and innovative approach to work
- Ability to demonstrate strong analytical skills with the ability to absorb complex information, considering the potential impacts of a variety of courses of action
- Good prioritisation skills with proven experience of being able to manage a high and diverse workload and able to respond positively to changing priorities, working effectively in a proactive and reactive manner, displaying a flexible approach, making balanced and timely decisions
- Experience of providing a true consultancy service to business leaders. Able to demonstrate a positive approach to customer service and focus on delivering customer requirements
- Experience of working across the full breadth and complexity of ER advice and guidance.
- Up to date employment law knowledge and its pragmatic application to cases
- Proven ability to demonstrate an understanding of the business and how HR can support the delivery of business goals
- Strong decision making skills. Able to make timely, informed decisions that take into account the facts, goals, constraints and risks
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and integrity in all matters, displaying appropriate judgement and initiative when required
- Able to identify and focus on ‘value-add’ activity; able to measure the benefits of the HR Consultant intervention
- Credibility to coach and influence senior colleagues
- Strategic thinker with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
- Skilled in building effective relationships and managing multiple stakeholders.
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Why work for us
Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.
Why join us?
Benefits
As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:
- Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
- 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
- Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
- Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…
About Us
Balfour Beatty Group Enabling Functions are Legal, Finance, IT and Procurement, Communications, Health Safety and Environment, HR and Sustainability. Together, they support delivery of our Build to Last strategy whilst improving efficiencies and standardising our approach, systems and processes.
Diversity and inclusion
At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion
To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/
We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: candidaterecruitmentqueries@balfourbeatty.com
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