Industrial Relations Partner

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We're on a mission to give our colleagues an amazing work/life balance!

Job title:       Industrial Relations Partner

Location:            Home based with travel to our Head Office in Bolton approximately twice a month. 

Salary:                Up to £50,000 per annum

Hours:                9-5 Monday-Friday      

Contract:      Permanent         

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.             

 About the role          

The Industrial Relations Partner at OFG will be pivotal in maintaining positive and constructive relationships between the organisation, its employees, and trade unions. This role ensures compliance with UK employment law and sector-specific regulations, while managing the resolution of workplace disputes and leading negotiations on collective bargaining agreements. As a key advisor to senior leaders, the Industrial Relations Manager will ensure that policies and employment practices align with the needs of staff and our organisation. Additionally, the role will work closely with internal teams to promote effective communication, support staff engagement, and ensure that health, safety, and employment standards meet statutory requirements.  

Key Accountabilities

• Managing Industrial Relations: Develop and maintain positive relationships with trade unions, leading negotiations to secure collective agreements that align with OFG’s goals.
• Compliance with Employment Legislation: Ensure full compliance with UK employment laws and education sector-specific regulations, keeping policies up to date and legally sound.
• Supporting Senior Leadership: Provide expert industrial relations advice to senior leaders, delivering reports on risks, trends, and strategic opportunities in employee relations.
• Policy Development and Implementation: Design and implement industrial relations policies, ensuring consistent application and effective communication across the organisation.
• Employee Engagement and Communication: Promote open communication channels between staff, management, and union representatives to foster engagement and transparency.
• Conflict Resolution and Dispute Management: Mediate and resolve workplace disputes promptly, minimising disruption and ensuring fair outcomes for all parties involved.

Requirements

Technical Skills

• In-depth understanding of UK labour laws, including the Employment Rights Act, Trade Union and Labour Relations Act.
• Expertise in conducting and leading collective bargaining negotiations with trade unions, including drafting and reviewing agreements.
• Strong skills in conflict management, including experience with dispute resolution techniques, mediation, and handling grievance procedures.
• Ability to design, implement, and update industrial relations policies, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and alignment with organisational goals.
• Familiarity with the processes involved in UK employment tribunals and the ability to represent or prepare the organisation’s case if necessary.
• Solid knowledge of health and safety legislation as it relates to industrial relations and working conditions, especially in the education sector.
• Proficiency in analysing industrial relations data (e.g., workforce trends, grievances) and preparing detailed reports for senior management.
• Ability to manage industrial relations projects, from collective bargaining to implementing new policies or initiatives, ensuring timelines and objectives are met

Experience 

• 5-7 years’ experience in the industrial relations field.
• Experience negotiating with and managing relationships with trade unions.
• Experience practical experience in applying UK employment Law in a professional setting, including dealing with legal disputes and tribunals. 
• Experience in developing and implementing IR policies and procedures. 
• Strong communication and analytical skills.
• Capability to provide strategic advice and build IR strategies from the ground up. 

Why join Outcomes First Group? 

About the Group

Outcomes First Group is the leading provider of specialist education in the UK. We exist to give neurodivergent children and young people access to a great education that caters to their specific needs, abilities and aspirations.

There are three brands in our Outcomes First family: Acorn Education, Options Autism and Momenta Connect. Together, we educate, care for and support children, young people, and adults across the UK, empowering them to be happy and make their way in the world.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We're on a mission to give our colleagues an amazing work/life balance!

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.