Employee Relations Lead

Balfour Beatty plc; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure company is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Lead for the Sizewell C Project in Ipswich. You will support a significant initiative by managing complex change projects, advising leaders on employee relations issues, and driving a positive workplace culture. Ideal candidates will possess strong communication skills and practical knowledge of employment law. This role offers flexibility, competitive benefits, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in sustainable energy.

Benefits

Smart working

25 days paid annual leave

Family friendly policies

Pension and share incentive plan

Qualifications

• Experience of leading and advising on organisational change initiatives.
• Ability to demonstrate strong analytical skills with complex information.
• Credibility to coach and influence senior colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Leading and managing complex business change projects.
• Managing ER issues for the supply chain.
• Building strong relationships with stakeholders.

Skills

Strong communicator with excellent written and verbal skills

Self-driven

Practical knowledge of employment law

Strategic thinker

Skilled in influencing

Job description

About the Role

Join the Future of Clean Energy: Employee Relations Lead – Sizewell C Project

Are you passionate about fostering positive workplace culture and driving meaningful employee engagement? We’re looking for an experienced and proactive Employee Relations Lead to support the landmark Sizewell C nuclear power project — one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure initiatives in the transition to net zero.

If you thrive in complex, fast-paced environments and are ready to make a lasting impact on the future of sustainable energy, we’d love to hear from you.

What you'll be doing

• Leading and managing complex business change projects (e.g., restructures, redundancies, mobilisations).
• Management of ER issues for the supply chain.
• Advising and coaching leaders on ER issues in line with policy.
• Identifying and implementing performance and process improvements.
• Ensuring early visibility and effective planning of ER/change activities.
• Building strong relationships with stakeholders, including Trade Unions and the Employment Affairs Unit.
• Evaluating HR initiatives and driving corrective actions.
• Developing line manager capability through coaching and training.
• Supporting whistleblowing and compliance investigations.
• Lead tribunal case management, collaborating with HR and legal partners.
• Share expertise and promote best practices to ensure consistent, high-quality case handling.
• Foster strong internal and external relationships, working collaboratively across HR teams.
• Champion a “right first time” approach to uphold standards and reputation.
• Manage ER cases effectively and in a timely manner, including union/staff association liaison.
• Coach and support line managers to build ER capability and prevent future issues.
• Contribute to HR projects and apply sound judgment in complex cases.

Who we're looking for

Knowledge And Skills

• Strong communicator with excellent written and verbal skills
• Self-driven, emotionally intelligent, and collaborative
• Practical knowledge of employment law and ER case handling
• Strategic thinker with sound judgement and decision-making
• Builds effective relationships with senior stakeholders
• Skilled in influencing, planning, and project management
• Adaptable, resilient, and able to manage high workloads

Qualifications And Experience

• Experience of leading and advising on organisational and operational change initiatives.
• Ability to demonstrate strong analytical skills with the ability to absorb complex information, considering the potential impacts of a variety of courses of action.
• Experience of providing a true consultancy service to project leaders. Able to demonstrate a positive approach to customer service and focus on delivering customer requirements.
• Credibility to coach and influence senior colleagues.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and drive change.
• Skilled in building effective relationships and managing multiple stakeholders.

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Benefits

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About Us

Balfour Beatty’s Major Projects business is delivering some of the UK’s most complex and iconic infrastructure projects including HS2, the new high-speed railway and the first nuclear power station in a generation, Hinkley Point C. Using the latest technology, we’re driving productivity and creating a lasting legacy by delivering sustainable solutions that strengthen communities. From consultancy and design, to all aspects of construction and maintenance. We have the proven expertise to deliver large-scale projects safely and successfully.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, we are committed to diversity and inclusion initiatives and related programmes. We are also a Disability Confident Employer and actively encourage applications from armed forces personnel, veterans and reservists. We are committed to creating an inclusive process and will consider applicants with disabilities in line with the minimum requirements for the role. For more information on our diversity and inclusion commitments, please contact [e-mail]