Head of Industrial Relations

Babcock International; Taunton; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday allowance

Pension with life assurance

Digital GP & health checks

Employee share scheme

Discount shopping portal

Payment of professional fees

Leave for Reservists

Job summary

Cavendish Nuclear is seeking a Head of Industrial Relations for the MEH Alliance at Hinkley Point C, near Bridgwater, Somerset. You will lead strategic IR initiatives, manage union relationships and workforce engagement, and drive negotiations across multiple organisations.

The role focuses on shaping workforce strategy, ensuring timely negotiations, and mitigating risks to enable safe, on-time project delivery. A senior leadership position with significant stakeholder interaction.

Qualifications

• Significant industrial relations experience in a unionised environment.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with trade unions and workforce representatives.
• Strong track record in leading negotiations, consultations and resolving complex IR matters.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders across multiple organisations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement industrial relations strategies aligned with programme objectives and workforce stability.
• Lead relationships with trade unions and workforce representatives to foster collaboration.
• Manage negotiations, consultations and the resolution of complex workforce issues.
• Partner with HR, legal and operations to identify and mitigate IR risks.
• Influence senior stakeholders to support a high-performing, engaged workforce culture.

Skills

Industrial relations

Trade unions management

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiations

Legislation & collective agreements

Job description

Job Title: Head of Industrial Relations

Location: Bridgwater, Somerset

Compensation: Competitive + accommodation and travel expenses

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF75557

Shape the future of workforce relations on one of the United Kingdom's most significant infrastructure programmes

At Cavendish Nuclear, we're working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Head of Industrial Relations at Hinkley Point C, near Bridgwater, Somerset.

This is a unique opportunity to take a strategic leadership role at the heart of a nationally important programme. Working across a complex alliance of organisations, you will lead industrial relations strategy, build strong partnerships with trade unions and workforce representatives, and help create the conditions for successful programme delivery. You'll have the chance to influence workforce strategy at scale while making a lasting impact on a project that will support the United Kingdom's energy security for generations to come.

The role

As a Head of Industrial Relations, you will provide strategic leadership across industrial relations activities for the MEH Alliance, ensuring productive relationships with trade unions, effective workforce engagement, and the successful management of complex employee and organisational matters. This is an exciting opportunity to work with senior leaders, operational teams, and external stakeholders to drive positive outcomes that support both people and programme performance.

Day-to-day, you'll be required to:

• Developing and implementing industrial relations strategies that support programme objectives and workforce stability.
• Leading relationships with trade unions and workforce representatives to foster positive, collaborative partnerships.
• Managing negotiations, consultations, and the resolution of complex workforce issues.
• Partnering with HR, legal, and operational teams to identify and mitigate industrial relations risks.
• Influencing senior stakeholders across multiple organisations to support a high-performing and engaged workforce culture.

This is a full-time role based at Hinkley Point C. 37 hours per week.

Essential experience of the Head of Industrial Relations:

• Significant industrial relations experience within a unionised environment.
• Demonstrable experience building and maintaining effective relationships with trade unions and workforce representatives.
• Strong track record of leading negotiations, consultations, and resolving complex industrial relations matters.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders across multiple organisations within complex delivery environments.
• Comprehensive understanding of industrial relations frameworks, employment legislation, and collective agreements.

Qualifications for the Head of Industrial Relations:

• No specific qualification required. Candidates should be able to demonstrate substantial industrial relations expertise and leadership experience.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Standard (BPSS) security clearance for this role. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (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 Cavendish 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.

Cavendish

We're Cavendish Nuclear - a team of c5,000 specialists and a core part of Babcock International Group.

Here, you'll be part of something bigger. Across clean energy, defence, and civil decommissioning, your work will contribute to projects that are critical to energy security and national protection. Together, we're shaping a future that lasts - not only through the impact we make, but through meaningful careers that respect your work-life balance.

Join us and discover how far we can go, together.

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: 16/10/2026

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