OR121588 (PM) – Trade Union Relationship Manager – Management

Job Details

Work Pattern: 2 to 3 days a week in the office

PAYE Pay Rate: £248.64 per day

Main Purpose of the Role

The Trade Union Relationship Manager will lead and manage relationships between Tower Hamlets Council and its recognised Trade Unions, ensuring positive industrial relations, effective employee engagement and constructive partnership working.

The role will oversee collective consultation, negotiations and workforce engagement, particularly during organisational restructures, service changes and workforce improvement programmes.

You will provide specialist advice to senior managers on employment relations, manage Trade Union Officials and help resolve workplace concerns, disputes and industrial relations risks.

Typical Day Overview

  • Managing relationships and holding meetings with recognised Trade Union representatives.

  • Leading consultation processes relating to organisational restructures, service redesign and workforce changes.

  • Advising senior managers and HR teams on employment legislation, industrial relations and collective consultation.

  • Supporting negotiations around employment policies, terms and conditions and collective agreements.

  • Managing and overseeing Trade Union Officials, including performance and resource allocation.

  • Identifying potential workplace disputes and developing plans to resolve issues early.

  • Preparing reports, briefings and updates for senior leadership teams.

  • Coordinating employee engagement activities and consultation forums.

  • Monitoring Trade Union facility time and ensuring appropriate governance arrangements are followed.

Key Skills & Responsibilities

  • Strong experience managing relationships with recognised Trade Unions.

  • Excellent knowledge of employment legislation and industrial relations practices.

  • Experience leading collective consultation and negotiation processes.

  • Ability to manage complex organisational change and workforce restructuring programmes.

  • Strong stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.

  • Experience advising senior managers on sensitive employee relations matters.

  • Ability to manage and develop staff, including performance management.

  • Experience handling industrial disputes, workplace concerns and conflict resolution.

  • Strong report writing, analytical and presentation skills.

  • Ability to build positive relationships with Trade Union representatives, employees and senior leadership.

  • Understanding of local authority employment practices and workforce challenges.

  • Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively under pressure.

Essential Requirements & Qualifications

  • Significant experience working with multiple recognised Trade Unions within a large, complex organisation.

  • Proven experience managing industrial relations, employee engagement and collective consultation.

  • Experience supporting organisational restructures, workforce reviews and service transformation.

  • Experience managing staff and supporting their professional development.

  • Strong understanding of employment legislation, Trade Union representation and collective bargaining.

  • Knowledge of equality legislation and employment policies.

  • Experience preparing management reports, briefings and recommendations.

  • Excellent negotiation, influencing and relationship management skills.

  • Ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters with professionalism and discretion.

  • Experience working within local government or a similarly complex public-sector organisation would be beneficial.