Head of Employment Policy and Practice (Full Time)

New Start; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 84,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Tower Hamlets London Borough Council is seeking a senior HR leader to head Employment Policy and Practice in Tower Hamlets, London. The role will shape the council's employment framework, oversee policy development and employee relations, and build strong trade union partnerships to support a modern, inclusive workplace.

Reporting to the Director of HR & OD, you will drive workforce governance, use data to inform decisions and lead transformation across HR practices, with a focus on delivering

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in senior HR leadership roles.
• Expert knowledge of employment law, employee relations and workforce governance.
• Experience operating within a complex, unionised organisation.
• A strong track record of leading organisational change and policy development.
• Outstanding stakeholder management, negotiation and influencing skills.
• The ability to use workforce insight and data to drive evidence-based decisions.
• Membership of the CIPD at Chartered level or equivalent professional standing.

Responsibilities

• Employment Policy Leadership: Designing and implementing progressive, legally compliant and inclusive employment policies.
• Employee Relations Excellence: Leading the Council's approach to complex and high-risk employee relations matters.
• Trade Union Engagement: Building effective partnership relationships that support positive employment outcomes.
• HR Transformation and Continuous Improvement: Driving simplification, modernisation and service improvement across HR processes and practice.
• Workforce Insight and Governance: Using workforce data, analytics and evidence to inform strategic decision-making and organisational improvement.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Employment law

Employee relations

Workforce governance

Policy development

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decision making

CIPD Chartered Level

Education

CIPD Chartered Level

Job description

Jobs

Head of Employment Policy and Practice

Salary

£84,459-£92,332

Expires

13/11/2026

Location

Tower Hamlets, London (Greater)

Job Type

Full Time

People are at the heart of delivering excellent public services. At Tower Hamlets, we are transforming how we support, develop and engage our workforce to build a high-performing organisation that delivers exceptional outcomes for residents.

We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Head of Employment Policy and Practice to lead our approach to employment relations, policy development, workforce governance and trade union engagement.

Reporting to the Director of HR & OD, you will provide strategic leadership and professional expertise across employment policy, employee relations, trade union partnerships and HR operations, helping us create a modern, inclusive and high-performing workplace.

About the Role

This is a senior HR leadership opportunity with responsibility for shaping the Council's employment framework and ensuring policies, processes and practices support organisational success.

You will lead the development of employment policy, oversee employee relations practice, build strong trade union relationships and drive a proactive, data-led approach to workforce management. Working across the HR & OD leadership team, you will help ensure our people strategy supports organisational priorities, financial sustainability and workforce excellence.

This role includes:

Employment Policy Leadership
Designing and implementing progressive, legally compliant and inclusive employment policies.

Employee Relations Excellence
Leading the Council's approach to complex and high-risk employee relations matters.

Trade Union Engagement
Building effective partnership relationships that support positive employment outcomes.

HR Transformation and Continuous Improvement
Driving simplification, modernisation and service improvement across HR processes and practice.

Workforce Insight and Governance
Using workforce data, analytics and evidence to inform strategic decision-making and organisational improvement.

About You

We are seeking a highly credible senior HR professional who can combine strategic leadership with deep employment expertise.

You will bring:

• Extensive experience in senior HR leadership roles.
• Expert knowledge of employment law, employee relations and workforce governance.
• Experience operating within a complex, unionised organisation.
• A strong track record of leading organisational change and policy development.
• Outstanding stakeholder management, negotiation and influencing skills.
• The ability to use workforce insight and data to drive evidence-based decisions.
• Membership of the CIPD at Chartered level or equivalent professional standing.

Why Tower Hamlets?

This is an opportunity to influence the future of employment practice across one of London's most diverse and ambitious organisations, helping to create an environment where colleagues can thrive and deliver their very best for residents.

Our Values

Our council is a beacon for diversity and inclusion. We want a borough where everyone feels valued, supported and able to thrive, and a council that works collaboratively to deliver the very best outcomes for residents.

That's why we look for leaders who embody our TOWER values of Together, Open, Willing, Excellent and Respectful

Closing Date: 13 th November 2026

Company: Tower Hamlets London Borough Council

Salary: £84,459-£92,332

Location: Tower Hamlets, London (Greater)

Sector: Corporate Services

Sector: Corporate Management Team

Sector: Human Resources & Recruitment

Job Role: Head of Service