Ready to modernise employee relations and make a real difference for people and services?
At Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), we're looking for an experienced Employee Relations (ER) Manager to lead a specialist team within our HR & Cultural Change service and play a key role in how we support our people through change.
Our HR & Cultural Change team is on an exciting transformation journey as we bring our People and Culture Strategy to life and rethink how we work. This is a great opportunity to join us at a pivotal moment, challenging the status quo, embedding best practice ER and organisational change, and helping shape a positive, inclusive workplace for the future.
This is a high impact, wide ranging role with real scope to influence, improve and shape the future direction of employee relations at OCC. Well suited to a confident and ambitious ER professional, it offers the opportunity to lead at scale, challenge established ways of working and embed best practice approaches that make a tangible difference for our people, services and communities.
What You’ll Do
In this role, you'll champion a contemporary, values led approach to employee relations and organisational change, coaching and supporting colleagues across the organisation, building constructive and trusted relationships with our recognised Trade Unions, and driving continuous improvement that strengthens both our culture and the services we deliver to residents.
You'll lead on all industrial and employee relations matters across the Council, from developing HR policies to negotiating and consulting with Trade Unions, including Schools and the Fire Service. The role involves providing high level advice on complex employment issues and working closely with our Strategic People Partners to deliver effective and efficient organisational transformation across Council services.
Acting as a strategic HR and organisational development expert, you'll partner with leaders to implement future focused people strategies that improve services and deliver excellence for the residents of Oxfordshire. You'll also play a key role in driving Delivering the Future Together (DTFT), OCC's ambitious transformation programme, role modelling our values as an organisational leader and championing our commitment daring to do it differently as we continue to improve outcomes for our people, partners and communities.
You'll lead large scale employee relations initiatives, developing impactful strategies that promote excellent employment relations and support the effective management of grievances, conduct, capability and absence.
Could this be you?
To be successful in this role, you'll be dynamic, customer focused and motivated by the opportunity to influence how ER is delivered, with real scope to improve, innovate and help shape the future direction of the service, working collaboratively and bringing the right people together.
What You’ll Bring
* A strong understanding of relevant employment legislation, regulation and best practice, alongside awareness of national and local government policy, developments and emerging trends.
* Experience of working in a complex, diverse organisation, supporting leaders and teams through ongoing change and transformation, and positively influencing improvement.
* Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop others through direct and matrix management, creating an environment where people perform at their best and grow in confidence. This role includes leadership of a team of up to 15 colleagues.
* Experience of turning service plans and business strategies into clear, practical workplans and roadmaps that people can confidently work to.
* Experience of working constructively with Trade Unions in a political or publicsector environment.
* Confidence to communicate clearly and professionally, with the ability to challenge constructively, negotiate effectively and influence a wide range of stakeholders and senior leaders.
* Excellent, up to date knowledge of UK employment law, with experience of working in the public sector or a similarly regulated environment desirable.
For full details of the role, including responsibilities and application criteria, please refer to the attached job description. The information pack is designed to give you a real sense of what it's like to work at OCC, outline the role in more detail, and help you prepare a strong application. We encourage you to read this alongside the job description and our People and Culture Strategy, as these documents will support you in addressing the essential criteria in your covering statement.
If you'd like a confidential conversation about the role, please contact the Talent team at talent@oxfordshire.gov.uk and one of the team will be happy to connect you with the right person.
If you're an experienced HR professional looking for a varied and meaningful role where you can really make a difference, we'd welcome your application.
Join OCC and make an impact.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.
Our commitment to Guaranteed Interview Schemes
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.
Our commitment to Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.
Our commitment to Flexible Working
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexitime, full time and part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.
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