Head of Employee Relations

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 389874

**Salary**:

- £54,857
- A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

**Job grade**:

- Grade 7

**Contract type**:

- Permanent

**Business area**:

- MCA - Corporate Services

**Type of role**:

- Administration / Corporate Support
Human Resources
Operational Delivery

**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Compressed hours

**Number of jobs available**:

- 1

Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Southampton

About the job

**Job summary**:
Are you experienced in leading a HR team, setting and delivering strategy and managing teams?

Do you have comprehensive knowledge of HR legislation and best practice?

Would you like to support change and transformation programmes, lead on Trade Union relationships and provide specialist knowledge and expertise?

If so, we are looking for a Head of Employee Relations to join us at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and we'd love to hear from you

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the government’s maritime safety policy in the United Kingdom and works to prevent the loss of life and occurrence of pollution on the coast and at sea.
- Safer lives. Safer Ships. Cleaner Seas._

Our vision is to be a world-leading organisation, accelerating the transition to sustainable shipping with non-negotiable safety standards. We put our people, our customers and our planet at the heart of everything we do.

We are committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams.

We want everyone to feel valued and supported to achieve their potential at MCA.

This culture of inclusion is underpinned by our staff networks groups covering, Women’s, LGBTQI+, Race, Carers, Mental Wellbeing and volunteer Respect Ambassadors.

**Job description**:
**What is Corporate Services?**

The Directorate of Corporate Services is responsible for the effective delivery of Corporate Services to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). Corporate Services includes Communications, Procurement, Finance, Health & Safety, Human Resources, Internal Audit and Assurance, Programme Management Office, and Property & Facilities.

Human Resources is a key enabling function responsible for the planning and delivery of the MCA's People Strategy and a full range of HR services including Organisational Design and Development, Talent Management and HR Operations. The Head of Employee Relations delivers effective HR services to the MCA. In addition, this role is part of the MCA HR Leadership Team (HRLT) and works collaboratively with MCA and Department for Transport (DfT) leaders to enable the DfT Group HR Model.

**Who is the Head of Employee Relations?**

The role holder will be accountable for the effective, efficient and business focused delivery of specialist HR services for the MCA and will lead the development and implementation of employee relations strategies. They will also support change and transformation programmes across the organisation, leading on Trade Unions relationships and providing specialist knowledge and expertise.

**Your responsibilities include but are not limited to**:

- Setting strategic direction for the delivery of Employee Relations to ensure quality HR services to managers and leaders, staff and volunteers ensuring alignment to Civil Service, Departmental and Organisational strategy
- Leading the HR team to deliver against the People Strategy providing quality services to the business. Guiding and coaching the team on service and programme delivery, tactical planning and forecasting ensuring that mechanisms are in place to measure impact and feedback from end users.
- Proactively working with the Executive Team, HRLT and Senior Leaders to fully understand current and future business performance issues, objectives and drivers to ensure Employee Relations strategies align to business need.
- Leading complex casework and employee relations issues for the MCA ensuring a fair and consistent approach, aligning with Civil Policy and employment law. Leading relationships with external legal advisors where appropriate. Advising and guiding the Executive Team and senior leaders on financial and reputational risk

**For further information about the role and responsibilities, please see the attached role profile.**

**Person specification**:
**About You**

To be successful as the Head of Employee Relations, you will have:

- Comprehensive knowledge of HR legislation and best practice relating to employees and volunteers, with the ability to lead on complex casework.
- Experience of leading a HR team, setting and delivering strategy and managing teams to deliver effective solutions.
- Strong interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills, with the ability to establish relationships quickly with a wide range of internal and external senior stakeholders.

**Addit