Senior Employee Relations Manager

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP); Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Part time

Job summary

Join a leading government department as a Senior Employee Relations Manager, where you'll shape the approach to Trade Unions and provide expert advice in a fast-paced environment. This role involves leading on Employee Relations issues, managing stakeholder relationships, and supporting senior leaders in their engagement with trade unions. If you possess strong interpersonal skills and resilience, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Health and wellbeing support

Family friendly policies

Funded learning and development

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal, communication and influencing skills.
• Knowledge of Employee Relations good practices.
• Ability to handle conflict and manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Leading on all Employee Relations issues in Corporate Functions.
• Meeting Trade Union Side and managing relationships.
• Acting as an Employee Relations policy expert.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Communication

Influencing Skills

Resilience

Education

CIPD Associate/Chartered Membership

Job description

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Glasgow, Leeds, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sheffield

Job Summary

As a member of the DWP Employee Relations DWP team you will play a key role and be involved in shaping the department’s approach to Departmental Trade Unions, working within the team to help deliver critical interventions. This is a high profile, demanding corporate role within a fast-paced environment.

The work will include development and maintenance of an Employee Relations Strategy & Framework, providing expert advice and supporting the careful handling of our Trade Union relationship. This will be within the context of DWP’s responsibilities as a major government employer, and wider workings across the Civil Service.

Decision making, leadership, excellent ER knowledge and experience, resilience, and excellent engagement building abilities with key stakeholders are critical skills required to be successful in the role. An understanding of the key challenges in the Employee Relations space is important as is detailed knowledge as you will be an ER specialist advising and supporting senior leaders.

The role is within the Employee Relations Team in HR People Services. The team supports senior leaders, change programme and HR Business Partners in their engagement with the recognised trade unions in DWP. The team also works closely with and supports senior stakeholders across the department, including Directors General and Ministers, providing strategic advice and supporting leaders to engage effectively with DWP’s recognised Trade Unions.

The team acts as the main conduit between DWP, the Departmental Trade Union Sides and the three recognised trade unions: Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), the Association of First Division Civil Servants (FDA), and Prospect.

Job Description

The successful candidate will have responsibility for the following:

• Leading on all Employee Relations issues, primarily in the Corporate Functions, and taking the lead for some Corporate Transformation projects.
• Meeting Trade Union Side and the three recognised trade unions, both formally as part of consultation, and informally to help maintain the overall relationship.
• Supporting high level consultation at departmental level.
• Acting as an Employee Relations policy expert, dealing with complex queries and providing advice and guidance to senior managers and HR Business Partners who need to engage with the trade unions.
• Supporting the Business through delivery of joint up-skilling sessions to increase local confidence and competence when dealing with trade union reps and queries.
• Supporting the management of trade union facility time within the guidelines set out in the Cabinet Office Facility Time Framework and DWP Employee Relations Framework. Helping to ensure that facility time returns are made to the Cabinet Office accurately and on time.
• Ensuring the DWP Employee Relations Framework, industrial action guidance and associated products are fully accurate and up to date.
• In the event of industrial action, taking action for the ER team, including liaison with Business Continuity, and drafting Ministerial Submissions.
• Progressing Ministerial Submissions and drafting responses to PQs and FOIs relating to employee relations.
• Representing DWP in cross-government employee relations forums.
• Liaising with the trade unions over disciplinary cases involving trade union officials.
• Providing insight and intelligence to senior stakeholders on wider industrial relations developments which may impact DWP, such as industrial action or other union-related activities.
• Line management of 1 HEO and the DTUS chair.
  
  

The Successful Candidate Will Have Responsibility For The Following

• Leading on all Employee Relations issues, primarily in the Corporate Functions, and taking the lead for some Corporate Transformation projects.
• Meeting Trade Union Side and the three recognised trade unions, both formally as part of consultation, and informally to help maintain the overall relationship.
• Supporting high level consultation at departmental level.
• Acting as an Employee Relations policy expert, dealing with complex queries and providing advice and guidance to senior managers and HR Business Partners who need to engage with the trade unions.
• Supporting the Business through delivery of joint up-skilling sessions to increase local confidence and competence when dealing with trade union reps and queries.
• Supporting the management of trade union facility time within the guidelines set out in the Cabinet Office Facility Time Framework and DWP Employee Relations Framework. Helping to ensure that facility time returns are made to the Cabinet Office accurately and on time.
• Ensuring the DWP Employee Relations Framework, industrial action guidance and associated products are fully accurate and up to date.
• In the event of industrial action, taking action for the ER team, including liaison with Business Continuity, and drafting Ministerial Submissions.
• Progressing Ministerial Submissions and drafting responses to PQs and FOIs relating to employee relations.
• Representing DWP in cross-government employee relations forums.
• Liaising with the trade unions over disciplinary cases involving trade union officials.
• Providing insight and intelligence to senior stakeholders on wider industrial relations developments which may impact DWP, such as industrial action or other union-related activities.
• Line management of 1 HEO and the DTUS chair.
  
  

Person specification

Essential Criteria

The successful candidate will:

• Possess strong interpersonal, communication and influencing skills; able to build effective and trusting relationships at SCS level internally, and with senior trade union officials and diverse stakeholders. (Lead Criteria)
• Have the resilience to handle conflict; engaging trade unions daily on topics where considerable opposition is likely to be commonplace. The ability to clearly stand up for the department on a broad variety of topics.
• Be comfortable dealing with multiple issues at once, managing competing priorities; agile under pressure.
• Have knowledge of Employee Relations good practices, the Industrial Relations climate and some experience of working with Trade Unions.
• Have the ability to work with ambiguity; drive solutions and outcomes, brokering priorities between unions and management at SCS level.
• Understand the political context within which industrial relations takes place in the public sector and constantly strive to understand the broader political landscape and how this impacts at departmental level.
  
  

Desirable criteria

• You must have achieved CIPD Associate/Chartered/Chartered Fellow membership or be willing to work towards this upon commencement of your role.
  
  

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
  
  

Alongside your salary of £42,614, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £12,345 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
  
  

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Selection will be by written sift, followed by an interview (face-to-face or video).

The Civil Service uses a Behaviour Framework to assess candidates’ knowledge and skills.

You Will Be Assessed Against The Following Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating & Influencing
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture
  
  

It may help to use the WHO or STAR model to explain:

What the task/ work was, How you approached the task/work/situation and what the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? Or What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?

The CV is an on-line tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobsite and there is no requirement to upload your personal CV. Our CV element is short, and allows an initial check of eligibility, so please put the main content of your evidence and skills in your Personal Statement.

Personal statement

When completing your personal statement, please read and understand the Key Criteria thoroughly as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address each criteria separately, however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several key criteria.

You may not be able to meet all the key criteria, but please ensure you evidence: the key personal requirements and what have you done that relates to the requirements.

You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why, what you can do and the skills you have that are transferable to the key requirements, and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role.

Written Sift

The written sift will be conducted using evidence from your Personal Statement and will be assessed against the Key Criteria within the advert. In the event of a large number of applications we will use the Lead Criteria to initially assess your application during the Sift stage. Candidates who pass the initial Sift may be progressed to a full Sift or direct to interview.

Your CV will not be scored

Applicants will be required to submit a 1000 word personal statement to show how they match against the essential criteria.

Applications will be sifted against the personal statement.

The interview stage will comprise of a behaviour and strength-based interview and candidates will be required to give a short 5-minute presentation on a chosen topic.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Further Information

Find Out More About Working For DWP

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to DWP from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [e-mail] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email [e-mail]

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.

Reasonable Adjustment

At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via [e-mail] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : Diane Howell
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: [e-mail].

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Part-time

Job function

• Job function

  Human Resources

• Industries

  Government Administration

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