HR Operations Manager, Labor & Employee Relations

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United Kingdom, +1 more country.

📋 Description

• Oversee and implement the labour and employee relations strategy for GE Vernova’s operations in the UK and Ireland.

• Provide guidance to senior business leaders and HR teams regarding UK and Irish employment legislation and industrial relations.

• Handle collective bargaining, trade union recognition, disputes related to industrial action, CAC proceedings, workforce changes, and transformation initiatives.

• Develop and execute proactive frameworks for employee and labour relations.

• Organize information and consultation processes and manage formal dispute resolution.

• Supervise external legal advisors and industrial relations consultants.

• Monitor labour relations activities using auditable systems and maintain necessary statutory records.

• Lead negotiations for collective agreements, annual pay reviews, union recognition/derecognition, and CAC proceedings.

• Manage industrial action disputes and balloting processes while employing risk mitigation and contingency strategies.

• Facilitate collective redundancy consultations and significant organizational redesign efforts.

• Keep logs of disputes, track project milestones, maintain data governance, and ensure proper record-keeping.

• Utilize dashboards and proactive analytics to pinpoint risks ahead of statutory deadlines.

• Create standard operating procedures, templates, playbooks, and training materials for grievance resolution, disciplinary actions, and collective bargaining.

• Establish external networks in labour relations and train leaders on negotiation, engagement, and communication techniques.

• Handle Access requests and manage campaigns for trade union recognition and related access arrangements.

• Perform assessments of labour relations at the site level and enhance HR capabilities in wage negotiation across the UK and Ireland.

• Assist with workforce planning, restructuring analysis, redundancy costing, and various people projects.

• Collaborate with HR and Labour Relations contacts across Europe, the UK, and Ireland.

• Track standard work materials, change documentation, and statutory consultation notices.

• Organize meetings, manage vendors, provide translation/outplacement services, and handle invoicing.

• Maintain local labour relations documentation while working closely with HR, Legal, Compliance, Communications, and business leaders.

• Stay updated on UK and Irish legislative developments and advise leadership on their implications and potential mitigation strategies.

⛳️ Requirements

• Extensive professional experience in Labour Relations or Employee Relations, specifically in a dedicated labour or industrial relations capacity, within complex and highly unionized manufacturing, engineering, or industrial sectors in the UK and Ireland.

• Proven hands-on experience in managing industrial action disputes, trade union negotiations, CAC proceedings, and trade union recognition/derecognition.

• In-depth knowledge of UK and Irish employment law, collective bargaining, collective redundancy processes, and both individual and collective dispute resolution.

• Strong analytical and data management abilities, capable of tracking intricate multi-stakeholder projects and delivering clear summaries to senior executives.

• Demonstrated capacity to oversee multiple complex transformation projects and prioritize competing deadlines under high-pressure situations.

• Exceptional stakeholder management, negotiation, and communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.

• Experience in developing change management strategies, governance models, project charters, and executive-level reports.

• Pragmatic and fast-paced approach: skilled at balancing legal and labour relations risks with business urgency and influencing leaders without direct authority.

• Bachelor's or master's degree in human resources, Employment Law, Business Administration, or a related field (preferred).

• CIPD qualification (Level 7) or a legal qualification is highly advantageous.

• Strong business acumen.

• Proficient in problem-solving, mediation, and conflict resolution.

• Ability to excel in a highly matrixed, global manufacturing or industrial setting.

• Comfort in utilizing data, dashboards, and digital tracking tools.

• Interest in, and ideally experience with, European Works Council contexts and cross-border European labour relations processes.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive base salary.

• Car allowance.

• Performance-related bonus.

• Flexible pension scheme.

• Employer-funded private health insurance.

• Income protection.

• Life assurance.

• Generous annual leave entitlement in accordance with UK/Irish statutory standards and company policy.

• Public and bank holidays.

• Optional dental coverage.

• Wellness programmes.

• Additional insurance coverage.

• Financial planning services.