Head of Employee Relations

6 days ago

Southampton, United Kingdom University of Southampton Full time

Job Details
- Section
- Employee Relations
- Location:

- Highfield Campus
- Salary
- £59,139 to £73,818 per annum
- Full Time Permanent
- Closing Date:

- Monday 07 July 2025
- Interview Date
- Friday 18 July 2025
- Reference
- 3144825DD

The University of Southampton is a leading research-intensive University, a founding member of the prestigious Russell Group, and sits within the top 1% of universities worldwide.

Our people are our University: they are at the heart of everything we do and the impact we make on a local to global scale. The University of Southampton is seeking an exceptional leader to join our Human Resources Department as **Head of Employee Relations**. This is a pivotal role, setting the strategic direction for a vital function that ensures a positive and progressive working environment for our diverse university community.

**About the Role**

As Head of Employee Relations, you’ll lead the delivery of customer-focused ER services. You'll guide and modernise our industrial relations strategy and ensure our practices align with employment law and best practice.

In this influential role, you’ll:

- Shape and deliver a University-wide Employee Relations strategy.
- Build and sustain constructive relationships with recognised Trade Unions.
- Act as Joint Secretary to our Joint Negotiation Committees.
- Lead a high-performing ER team and first-line HR support service.
- Provide expert guidance on complex, high-risk ER matters to senior leaders.
- Drive digital transformation in service delivery, including our move to ServiceNow.

**About You**

You are a confident leader with a proven track record in strategic employee relations and experience of managing complex ER cases in large, matrixed organisations. You bring:

- The ability to lead and manage large teams in a dynamic environment.
- A passion for continuous improvement and delivering high-quality, people-focused services.
- Level 7 or above professional qualification or equivalent experience.

Previous experience of building and managing relationships with Trades Union representatives in a public sector or HEI setting is desirable but not essential

**Why Join Us?**

Based at our lively Highfield campus, you will have access to our sports complex, and lots of social and green spaces. Committed to supporting our staff, we are open to a flexible working approach with a mix of home and office working. We consider applicants that wish to work flexibly and those who have taken a career break.

As well as additional benefits, such as a generous holiday allowance (44 days including bank holidays and closure days), we will support your long-term future too, with access to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS)*, subsidised health and fitness facilities and a range of discounts. All our benefits can be viewed here

Please note that interviews for this role will take place on Friday 18th July 2025. Interviews will consist of a formal interview and an opportunity to engage with key stakeholders.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applicants who support our mission of inclusivity.

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