Job description
Join Apex Industrial Solutions as a Senior Industrial Relations Manager, guiding strategic labor relations initiatives across a dynamic portfolio of manufacturing and engineering operations. You will partner with senior leadership to navigate UK employment law, union relations, and collective bargaining cycles, ensuring alignment with business goals and regulatory requirements.
This role offers the opportunity to shape IR strategy, oversee complex casework, and drive policy development that fosters productive labor-management partnerships while maintaining a safe and compliant workplace.
Responsibility
- Lead and execute the company's industrial relations strategy across multiple sites, balancing business objectives with employee rights.
- Manage collective bargaining processes, prepare proposals, conduct negotiations, and secure agreements that support operational performance.
- Provide guidance on UK employment law, compliance, disciplinary and grievance procedures, and risk mitigation; advise HR and operations on complex cases.
- Lead case management for disciplinary, redundancy, and grievance matters; coordinate external advisers and counsel as needed.
- Collaborate with senior leadership on workforce planning, change management, and organization design during transformation initiatives.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with trade unions, works councils, and regulatory bodies; represent the company in hearings when required.
- Monitor and report on IR metrics, trends, and risk indicators; drive continuous improvement in policies and processes.
Qualification
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Law, Business, or a related field; master’s degree preferred.
- 8+ years of progressive IR experience with exposure to UK collective bargaining.
- In-depth knowledge of UK employment law, ACAS guidance, and best practices in industrial relations.
- Proven track record negotiating with unions; strong negotiation and dispute resolution skills.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and influencing abilities; able to handle sensitive matters with discretion.
- Strong analytical capabilities with experience in policy development and IR data reporting.
- Project management and change management experience; proficiency in HRIS and MS 365 tools.