Employee Relations Specialist

Islington Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 31 days leave per year

Flexible working arrangements

35-hour working week

London Living Wage

Learning & development opportunities

Excellent local government pension

Cycle to Work scheme

Local discounts

Job summary

Islington Council is seeking an experienced Employee Relations professional to support organisational change across the council. You will provide specialist advice on consultation, employee relations matters, and change implementation, helping managers navigate complex issues and deliver changes in line with council procedures and employment law.

You will join the HR team to build strong working relationships with managers and trade unions, contributing to an inclusive and compliant change

Qualifications

• Significant experience providing employee relations advice in a large and complex organisation.
• Experience supporting organisational change, consultation processes or workforce transformation programmes.
• Strong knowledge of employment legislation and employee relations best practice.
• Experience building productive relationships with managers, colleagues and trade unions.
• Strong communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
• A commitment to inclusion and excellent customer service.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist advice and practical support on consultation activity, employee relations matters and organisational change implementation.
• Help managers make informed decisions, build positive working relationships and ensure change is delivered consistently and in line with procedures and employment law.

Skills

Employee relations

Organisational change

Employment legislation

Trade unions relationships

Communication

Negotiation

Inclusion & customer service

Job description

Focused on changing the future.

Help deliver organisational change that is consistent, inclusive and sustainable. At Islington, we're committed to creating a more equal future. As we continue to deliver significant organisational change across the council, we're investing in additional HR capacity to support managers and colleagues through periods of change and help services navigate complex employee relations challenges.

About The Role

This is an opportunity to play an important role in supporting organisational change across the council, providing specialist advice and practical support on consultation activity, employee relations matters and organisational change implementation. Working across a range of services, you'll help managers make informed decisions, build positive working relationships and ensure organisational change is delivered consistently and in line with council procedures and employment legislation.

What We're Looking For

• Significant experience providing employee relations advice in a large and complex organisation.
• Experience supporting organisational change, consultation processes or workforce transformation programmes.
• Strong knowledge of employment legislation and employee relations best practice.
• Experience building productive relationships with managers, colleagues and trade unions.
• Strong communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
• A commitment to inclusion and excellent customer service.

The team and environment

You’ll join the Employee Relations team within Human Resources, working alongside Strategic HR Business Partners and Organisational Development Partners to provide a joined-up approach to supporting change across the council. Together, we support managers and services to navigate employee relations matters and organisational change activity, building positive employee relations and strong partnership working with trade unions and stakeholders.

About You

Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future.

We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.

To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.

Our offer to you

We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.

We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.

We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.

Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.

Pre‑Employment Checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre‑employment checks. These may include:

• Proof of address
• Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
• Right to work in the UK
• Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Disability Confident Scheme

Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.