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ER Advisor

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Employee Relations Advisor for this Retail Bank. Reporting to the Head of Employee Engagement you will be part of a specialist team responsible for the management of the employee relations infrastructure.  This key role ensures that the employee relations climate remains positive, through the fostering of constructive relationships with senior trade union officials. You will be required to give advice to senior managers and HR Business Partners across the organisation on complex employee relations issues against a background of significant organisational change. The role works closely with internal senior stakeholders influencing decisions to ensure stability of climate in line with the ER strategy.

 

You will need to possess extensive employee relations experience and an in depth knowledge of HR policies and procedures, coupled with a proven track record of operating in a large complex unionised environment. Additionally, you must be able to work in a high-pressurised environment and have the ability to build relationships at all levels within the organisation. As a graduate member of the CIPD, you may also have had experience of working in the financial services sector. With excellent written communications skills, you will be required to draft reports, briefs and letters, as well as being highly organised with the ability to plan and prioritise without close supervision. Project management experience would also be desirable within this role.

 
Candidates must have:

* Experience of dealing with trade unions

* Come from a large unionised company


To assist the Head of Employee Engagement to develop and execute the Employee Relations Strategy and to determine the shape of the ER infrastructure that effectively delivers the Partnership Agreement across the bank

To maintain a constructive relationship with the General Secretary and Assistant General Secretaries building trust through regular informal contact, encouraging information and debate on issues outside the formal meetings infrastructure.

To provide coaching and training to senior stakeholders and HRBPs on the Employee Relations Strategy. Advising on complex ER issues associated with business change and the provision of feedback and coaching when these arrangements are not adhered to or understood.

Advising Managers, Reps and HRBPs on the appropriate method of Union engagement e.g. whether it is necessary to communicate, consult or negotiate in the circumstances to ensure we comply with legislation and policy and to ensure positive employee relations are maintained.

Conducting external benchmarking to ensure that our ER agreements continue to mirror employment legislation and external best practice in the ER arena.

Building relationships with ER external bodies such as the Involvement and Participation Association and ACAS in order to determine the ER strategy and tactics in line with best practice.

To provide training to Managers, Reps and HR BPs on Employee Relations arrangements

Actively contributing at the Partnership, Business Unit Committee and other BAU or specialist Abbey meetings.

Advising when to set up and how to run exceptional meetings in order to discuss items that are connected to business change.

To be the expert advisor to HR BPs on the ER aspects to be included in their project planning for business change projects with a people impact and advising the HRBPs on how to effectively manage a consultation over a business change issue e.g. contractual changes, changes to working patterns etc