Head of Employee Relations and Shared Services

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A public service organization in Birmingham is looking for a Head of Employee Relations & Shared Services. This role involves leading employee relations strategies, developing high-quality people policies, and overseeing the People Service Centre. Ideal candidates should have extensive experience in strategic leadership and a strong understanding of employment law. The role operates on a hybrid model with a minimum expectation of 2 days in the office.

Benefits

Local Government Pension Scheme

28 days paid annual leave

EV car benefit scheme

Discounted gym membership

3 days paid volunteer leave

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in a strategic people leadership role within a complex environment.
• Experience of leading a shared service centre for people systems.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and public sector governance.

Responsibilities

• Drive the people and change agenda as a senior leader.
• Shape and deliver the operating model for the People Service Centre.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation across the directorate.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Change management

Excellent communication

Coaching and influencing

Education

CIPD Level 7 or equivalent senior HR experience

Job description

Since 2016, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has worked in partnership with local councils to deliver meaningful change across the region. Our focus spans transport, net zero, housing, skills, and economic development, driving forward initiatives that make a real difference to communities.

People & Culture Services is a newly established directorate undergoing an exciting period of transformation. Under the leadership of Sarah Lal, the team is shaping a refreshed People & Culture strategy and evolving how we work to support the ambitions of WMCA and lead organisational change.

We’re looking for a strategic and forward-thinking Head of Employee Relations & Shared Services to manage employee relations risk and ensure our people practices reflect WMCA’s values and strategic direction.

You’ll lead the development of our People & Culture policies - designing fair, legally sound, and values-driven approaches that are accessible and innovative. You’ll also oversee the People Service Centre, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, customer-focused services, which also includes managing people systems, ensuring data integrity, producing analytical insights, and overseeing transactional and administrative processes that meet legal and regulatory standards.

What you will be doing.

Strategic Leadership

• Act as a senior leader within the People & Culture Directorate, driving forward the people and change agenda.
• Align employee relations and shared services strategy with WMCA’s wider organisational goals and public purpose.
• Lead the development of fair, legally compliant, and values-led people policies, accessible through both traditional and digital channels.
• Shape and deliver the operating model for the People Service Centre, ensuring efficient, customer-focused services.
• Provide strategic oversight of employee relations activity, including restructures, TUPE, and case management.
• Represent People & Culture in corporate forums, ensuring people priorities are embedded in decision-making.
• Lead the development of people-related data insights to support informed decision-making and risk management.
• Ensure employment legislation is understood and applied across the directorate, embedding changes into practice.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop teams within Employee Relations, Policy, and the People Service Centre.
• Build capability and confidence across teams to advise and support managers and senior leaders.
• Foster collaborative working across Talent Acquisition, Workforce Planning, Reward, and Business Partnering teams.
• Develop training for managers to apply policies consistently and confidently, aligned with WMCA values.
• Build strong, trust-based relationships with trade unions, leading strategic engagement and negotiations.
• Oversee changes to Collective Agreements, ensuring effective planning and consultation.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure seamless integration between the People Service Centre and other People & Culture functions.
• Monitor and manage employee relations cases to ensure timely, fair, and compliant outcomes.
• Drive continuous improvement across systems and processes, embedding changes effectively.
• Maintain data integrity and ensure audit compliance across people systems and processes.
• Provide governance and assurance for policy development and reviews.
• Support organisational transformation and change initiatives through effective people practices.

Financial Stewardship

• Advise on the cost, risk, and value of system and process proposals, ensuring alignment with public value.
• Oversee contracts related to People Service Centre processes (e.g. Occupational Health, DBS).
• Ensure value for money and adherence to governance processes in all financial activities.

What you need.

• Extensive experience in a strategic people leadership role within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing employee relations specialists and embedding value-driven and fair cost-effective resolutions.
• Experience of leading a shared service centre for people systems, advice and transactional and administrative processes.
• Proven track record of managing union relationships and employee industrial relations.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional people input across the employee lifecycle.
• Experience working in a politically aware and unionised public service environment.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, people policy and public sector governance.
• Deep understanding of best practice employee relations and evidence-based value for money solutions.
• Skilled in using data, evidence, and systems thinking to drive system and process continuous improvement.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, coaching, and influencing skills.
• Strong awareness of strategic workforce drivers and organisational performance.
• Understanding of the public sector context or regional devolution.
• Strategic thinker with excellent judgment, analysis and systems perspective.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to synthesise and articulate complex information.
• CIPD Level 7 (or equivalent senior-level HR experience); Fellow or Corporate CIPD Member.
• Evidence of continued professional development.

Location.

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane. We currently operate a hybrid working model, where the expectation is 2 days a week minimum, subject to business requirements. Due to the importance of this role and the new structure, it may be that you spend more time in the office for the start of your role.

How to apply.

We've partnered with Michael Page for this piece of recruitment, so please click the 'apply now' button to be taken through to their portal.

Anonymised Applications.

Your uploaded CV won’t be visible after submission. Our process is anonymised, and only the information in your profile is used for shortlisting. Be thorough in each section. it’s your chance to showcase your skills and experience.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We cannot stop anyone from using AI help write application content. Used right, it can be a great tool. If you choose to use AI, then use it as a helper rather than relying on it wholly to write your application.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting. For help on how to write a supporting statement, please visit the FAQs section of our careers site.

Reasonable adjustments.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team ([e-mail]).

Salary and benefits.

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more)
• EV car benefit scheme
• Ethical saving options and healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will writingandmortgage advice.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more.

For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.

Why join WMCA?

WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.

We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.

Creating an inclusive workplace.

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We’re a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.

We gladly consider part‑time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying

Right to Work in the UK

Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Attached documents

Head of Employee Relations and Shared Services JD.docx