Employee Relations Business Partner

Hunter Savage; Craigavon; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist recruitment consultancy is seeking an Employee Relations Business Partner in Craigavon. The role requires expertise in Employee and Industrial Relations, project management, and relationship building with trade unions. The ideal candidate will hold a CIPD Level 5 qualification and have significant experience in a unionized environment. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and generous benefits, including an early finish on Fridays and a supportive workplace culture.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous annual leave

Health insurance

Pension

Cycle to Work Scheme

Employee discount on products

Values Awards

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Employee or Industrial Relations within a multi-site environment.
• Proven experience in leading people transformation projects.
• In-depth knowledge of UK, NI & ROI employment law.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted partner to leaders, providing coaching on ER/IR issues.
• Manage industrial relations activities, including negotiations.
• Lead and manage ER/IR initiatives, defining project scopes.

Skills

Employee Relations expertise

Industrial Relations knowledge

Project management skills

Stakeholder influence

Education

CIPD Level 5 qualification or higher

Job description

Overview

Employee Relations Business Partner - Newry
Salary: Competitive salary. Benefits: Generous annual leave - Westfield Health - Excellent employee discount on products - Early finish on Fridays – Pension - Cycle to Work Scheme - Values Awards

Due to continued growth and restructure, our multi-site client, a global leader in energy solutions, are seeking a commercially astute Employee Relations Business Partner to join their People & Culture team.

This is an exciting, permanent, Management opportunity to provide expert advice and leadership on Employee Relations (ER) and Industrial Relations (IR) across 3 key sites.

In this role, you will be instrumental in driving positive employee relations, managing union relationships, and leading people-related transformation projects aligned with our strategic objectives.

Top Things to Know About This Job:

• Strategic business partner for ER/IR matters across multiple regions (UK, NI, ROI).
• Lead key transformation projects and ensure fair, legally compliant approaches to people initiatives.
• Competitive salary with excellent benefits, Generous annual leave - Westfield Health - Excellent employee discount on products - Early finish on Fridays – Pension - Cycle to Work Scheme - Values Awards

The Role:

Business Partnering & Transformation

• Act as a trusted partner to leaders and managers, providing coaching on complex ER/IR issues to improve people management capabilities.
• Lead change management initiatives, ensuring a fair and legally compliant approach.
• Use data and insights to identify trends and recommend proactive strategies to enhance employee engagement and performance.

Industrial Relations & Union Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for trade union representatives, managing relationships through regular consultation and negotiation.
• Manage industrial relations activities, including negotiations, consultations, and dispute resolution to maintain a positive working environment.
• Provide expert guidance on collective bargaining agreements and IR policies.

Employee Relations Casework & Advisory

• Manage complex ER casework, including disciplinary, grievance, and appeal matters, ensuring timely and fair outcomes.
• Conduct workplace investigations into complex allegations, providing detailed reports and resolutions.
• Provide training to managers and People & Culture colleagues to ensure consistent handling of ER issues.

Project Management

• Lead and manage ER/IR initiatives, defining project scopes, timelines, and deliverables.

The Person:

• CIPD Level 5 qualification (or higher), or equivalent experience.
• Significant experience in Employee Relations or Industrial Relations within a complex, multi-site environment (preferably unionised).
• Proven experience in leading large-scale people or business transformation projects.
• Demonstrable ability to build credibility and influence senior stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple workstreams effectively.
• In-depth knowledge of UK, NI & ROI employment law and its practical application.

The Rewards:

• Competitive salary package
• New, permanent opportunity
• Based in Newry
• Full time hours with an early finish on Fridays at 1 pm
• Generous annual leave
• Excellent employee discount on products
• Westfield Healthcare plan
• Opportunity to work with a global market leader and an excellent HR team
• Inclusive and supportive workplace culture
• Pension
• Cycle to Work Schem
• Values Award
• Opportunities to drive impactful people transformation projects and make a strategic difference across the supply chain.

Next Steps:

For more information or to apply for this Employee Relations Business Partner role, please contact Stephanie Mulholland.

Visit our website for a full list of HR opportunities.

Hunter Savage is a specialist recruitment consultancy committed to expert, confidential advice and long-term career partnerships.

We reserve the right to heighten shortlisting criteria depending on the calibre of response.