Head of Employee Relations

Babcock International; Kirkcaldy; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense and engineering organization in the UK is seeking a Head of Employee Relations to lead their employee relations strategy and manage complex ER cases. You will develop proactive strategies, negotiate with trade unions, and guide senior leaders on ER matters while ensuring compliance with UK employment law. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in a senior ER role. The position offers a competitive salary package with hybrid working options.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Matched contribution pension scheme

Access to a Digital GP

Employee share scheme

Special paid leave for reservists

Holiday Trading

‘Be Kind Day’ for volunteering

Excellent development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior employee relations role within a complex or unionised environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience managing high-risk and sensitive ER cases.

Responsibilities

• Drive the creation and implementation of proactive employee relations strategies.
• Act as the primary liaison with trade unions, building constructive relationships.
• Provide expert guidance to senior leaders on ER matters.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Conflict resolution

Influencing skills

Knowledge of UK employment law

Education

CIPD qualified or equivalent experience

Job description

Job Title: Head of Employee Relations

Location: Rosyth, Fife – Hybrid Working

Compensation: £75,000 - £88,400

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF68661

Lead the Future of Employee Relations at Babcock

At Babcock, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Head of Employee Relations at Rosyth, near Dunfermline, Fife.

The role

As Head of Employee Relations, you’ll lead the development and execution of our employee relations strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational values, legal compliance, and business objectives. This is a pivotal role that influences how we engage with our people, manage change, and foster a positive workplace culture. You’ll make a real difference by shaping policies and practices that protect our workforce and strengthen our business.

Day-to-day, you’ll have the following responsibilities:

• Drive the creation and implementation of proactive employee relations strategies.
• Lead and manage complex ER cases including grievances, disciplinaries, and investigations.
• Act as the primary liaison with trade unions, building constructive relationships and leading negotiations.
• Provide expert guidance to senior leaders and HR colleagues on ER matters and employment law.
• Influence organisational change programmes with a focus on people impact.

This role is full time, 37 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements.

Essential experience of the Head of Employee Relations:

• Proven experience in a senior employee relations role within a complex or unionised environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Excellent negotiation, influencing, and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience managing high-risk and sensitive ER cases.
• Ability to build trust and credibility with stakeholders at all levels.

Qualifications for the Head of Employee Relations:

• CIPD qualified or equivalent experience.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at www.gov.uk.

What we offer

• Generous holiday allowance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee share scheme
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually.
• ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

Babcock International

For over a century Babcock has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal.

We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email [e-mail] with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing date: 11/11/2025