Industrial Relations Lead

About The Company:

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.

Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values - Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.

About The Role:

Role Overview:

The Industrial Relations Lead is responsible for developing and maintaining effective relationships between OCS and its colleagues, trade unions, and other key stakeholders.

This role ensures compliance with employment legislation, supports a positive industrial relations climate and leads on complex industrial relations matters.

The Industrial Relations Lead will support the People Director UK&I and Chief People Officer to develop, deliver and embed an Industrial Relations Strategy across the UK workforce.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities:

Functional

• Joint owner of the Industrial Relations Strategy with the People Director UK&I and Chief People Officer.
• Responsible for the delivery of the Industrial Relations Strategy and collaborates with key business and functional stakeholders across the company, ensuring that agreed deliverables are met.
• Supports the building of strong relationships with both internal and external trade union officials.
• Act as a primary liaison between the OCS and recognised trade unions.
• Provides strategic and tactical support to key stakeholders within OCS on the management of industrial relations matters.
• Provides support and subject matter expertise to key stakeholders, including helping with the designing of industrial action contingency planning, providing advice and guidance to MDs and key stakeholders as required.
• Provides a regular cadence of reporting to the People Director UK&I and Chief People Officer on trade union activity across the business.
• Supports the upskilling and training of key stakeholders in relation to industrial relations.
• Monitors changes to industrial relations and employment law to advise the business accordingly and maintain compliance at all times.

General

• Avoids conflict of interests between personal interests and views and the interests of the UK & Ireland group.
• Exercises independent judgment, reasonable care, skill and diligence when carrying out their duties.
• Adheres to and promotes the UK & Ireland group’s policies on equality & diversity, information security, health and safety and data protection in the performance of their duties.

Qualifications & Skills:

Essential

• CIPD Level 5 (minimum) or equivalent experience in Employee/Industrial Relations.
• Proven track record in a unionised environment (public or private sector).
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and collective consultation processes.
• Experience leading negotiations or supporting industrial action planning.
• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to business partner across multiple business units and actively manage competing stakeholder priorities.
• Ability to present information credibly, confidently and succinctly at various levels both internally and externally.

Desirable

• CIPD Level 7 or a relevant legal qualification.
• Experience within sectors with strong union presence (e.g., NHS, transport, local government).

Core Expectations:

• Self-motivated and able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Show flexibility in working arrangements to ensure that a high level of service is delivered.
• Have a positive and focused attitude when dealing with all colleagues.
• Be able to take personal responsibility.
• Be keen to continuously improve own learning and development.
• Support and embed the UK & Ireland group’s corporate values.
• Successfully build effective internal and external working relationships.

Working Arrangements:

• This role is part-time based on 4 days – candidate would ideally work 4 days over 5 (Mon-Fri).
• Must be able to travel nationally when required.
• Full clean driving license is required.
• Work may be required out of core hours as necessary to fulfil the requirements of this role.

How to Apply:

If you are interested in joining a business that encourages professional development, career progression and the chance to work with inspirational people then please click apply and register your interest! You can also sign up to our job alerts when registering which will notify you when other suitable vacancies are available
We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.