Robert Walters
Trade Union & Industrial Relations Manager - 12 months contract
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Trade Union & Industrial Relations Manager - 12 months contract
London - Hybrid (3 days in office)
Day rate: £700 - £1000 (Inside IR35)
A leading international financial services organisation is seeking an experienced Trade Union & Industrial Relations Manager on a 12 months contract to lead and shape its industrial relations strategy across the UK and wider EMEA region.
This is a senior-level opportunity for an accomplished IR professional with deep expertise in trade union engagement, employee representation, workforce consultation, and employment legislation. You'll play a critical role in influencing business strategy, advising senior stakeholders, and ensuring best practice industrial relations frameworks are embedded across a complex, fast-paced environment.
Reporting into senior HR leadership, you will be responsible for developing and executing a proactive industrial relations strategy that supports organisational objectives whilst ensuring compliance with evolving employment legislation. You will act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders on union relations, workforce engagement, employee voice, and industrial relations risk management.
Key Responsibilities
- Developing and implementing industrial relations strategy across the UK and EMEA.
- Providing expert guidance on trade union rights, recognition processes, employee representation, and workforce consultation.
- Managing trade union recognition requests and supporting responses to formal recognition proceedings.
- Leading negotiations relating to union access agreements and ensuring effective implementation.
- Building and maintaining constructive relationships with trade unions, regulators, and key external stakeholders.
- Supporting employee forums and consultation structures to strengthen employee engagement and communication.
- Delivering education and training programmes to managers on industrial relations best practice and trade union engagement.
- Establishing governance frameworks, reporting, metrics, and risk management processes relating to industrial relations activity.
- Monitoring emerging industrial relations trends and providing data-driven recommendations to leadership teams.
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Experience
We're looking for an industrial relations specialist who can operate confidently at executive level and influence complex business decisions. You will bring:
- Significant experience in Industrial Relations, Employee Relations, Trade Union Engagement, or a related senior HR discipline.
- Strong knowledge of UK trade union legislation and employment law.
- Financial services sector experience.
- Demonstrable experience managing union relationships, recognition matters, consultation processes, and industrial relations programmes.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior leaders and navigate complex organisational environments.
- Strong negotiation and conflict resolution capabilities.
- A commercial mindset with the ability to balance employee, regulatory, and business priorities.
- Strong analytical skills with experience using data and insights to shape strategy and mitigate risk.
- Experience within a regulated, corporate, financial services, or similarly complex environment would be highly advantageous.
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Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates.
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