Senior Employee Relations Manager

Senior Employee Relations Manager – Works Council Focus Labcorp – Huntingdon, England, United Kingdom (Europe, fully remote) Job Title: Senior Manager, Employee Relations Position Type: Permanent / Direct Hire Locations: Belgium, Germany, UK, Spain, Bulgaria, Poland / fully remote Desired Languages: German/English/Flemish – written and spoken About Labcorp Labcorp is a global leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services that helps doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers and patients make clear and confident decisions. Through our unparalleled diagnostics and drug development laboratory capabilities, our 60,000+ employees combine cutting‑edge innovation, science and technology to solve some of today’s biggest health challenges, accelerate life‑changing healthcare breakthroughs and impact lives around the world. Job Overview Labcorp is recruiting an experienced employee relations professional to lead on work council strategy for its non‑US locations. The role is based in Europe and serves as a strategic link between the business and works councils in Germany, Belgium and France. As part of a global ER team, you will collaborate across regions to ensure compliance, foster trust, and drive proactive collective employee relations initiatives and programmes. This role is key in supporting works council negotiations and fostering positive relationships with non‑US unions. Key Responsibilities Develop and implement a comprehensive work council and collective employee relations strategy for non-US Labcorp locations to support organisational goals and ensure compliance with regulations. Act as the primary liaison between the business and works councils, ensuring accurate and timely communication. Provide expert counsel to senior leadership on work council and trade union matters to deliver business goals. Equip internal stakeholders to engage effectively with works councils, providing guidance and best‑practice information. Prepare documentation and coordinate with internal stakeholders for works council consultations. Lead or contribute to global ER projects where collective engagement is necessary. Provide insights and recommendations to enhance ER strategies across jurisdictions. Advise on high risk and complex employee relations situations when necessary. Partner with HR and other centres of excellence to deliver integrated solutions as OneHR. Education and Experience Required Degree educated with relevant professional qualification desirable. Minimum 5 years’ works council and union experience. Experience in multiple European jurisdictions (Germany, Belgium and France preferred). Accreditation in Human Resources or similar is desirable. Specialist legal or employment law qualifications. Skills and Competencies Strong knowledge of employment laws, works council practices and regulations. Excellent negotiation, mediation, communication and interpersonal skills. Experience of working in a global, matrix organisation. Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills. Proven ability to manage and resolve conflicts and disputes effectively. Ability to disseminate technical and complex information and provide updates to key stakeholders. Experience of balancing competing priorities from various internal stakeholders. Strategic thinking, with excellent analytical and problem‑solving experience. Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders. Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders, including works council members, union representatives, employees and leadership. Excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrated patience, tact and respect. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Excellent knowledge of MS Office suite, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Additional Requirements German and Flemish – written and spoken. Excellent written and spoken business English. Working Conditions Flexible work pattern to support multiple time zones (whilst complying with working time provisions for the country where the successful candidate resides). Hybrid or office based depending on location. Minimal travel (5‑10%) may be required locally or internationally. Benefits Work‑life balance: At Labcorp, you can manage your work‑life balance with our employee‑friendly leave policy and enjoy dedicated time with your friends and family. Workdays are from Monday to Friday with flexible work timings. Training & development: Labcorp offers developmental training in self‑paced, virtual and live‑in‑person formats to help grow your career. The company aims to help improve your cultural awareness, offer valuable global insights and help you develop a strong global mindset. Labcorp increases employee engagement, encouraging cross‑team connections and creating a culture of mentorship throughout the organization. Equal Opportunity Employer Labcorp strives for inclusion and belonging in the workforce and does not tolerate harassment or discrimination of any kind. We make employment decisions based on the needs of our business and the qualifications and merit of the individual. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), family or parental status, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, personal appearance, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic. Additionally, all qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law. We encourage all to apply. 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