Industrial Relations Business Partner - Europe

Join Lloyd’s Register as an Industrial Relations Business Partner - Europe

What we’re looking for

Contribute to the formulation and implementation of the Global IR strategy in Europe. Identify and manage risk relating to Industrial Relations in Europe. Work as a business partner and trusted advisor to HR colleagues and LR Leaders by drawing on deep technical knowledge of IR. Lead on local collective consultations, negotiations, and collective bargaining (where required). Responsible for the legal process for agreements with Works Councils in relation to organisational change, technology and software and compliance with in-country Works Council legislation. Identify opportunities to modernise and improve agreements and frameworks to reflect organisational needs and objectives.

What we offer you

• The opportunity to work for an organization that has a strong sense of purpose, is value driven and helps colleagues to develop professionally and personally through our range of people development programmes 
• A Full-time permanent role 

Works Councils

• Develop and maintain good, productive working relationships with Works Councils and Employee Representative Groups in Germany, Netherlands, Spain, France, UK and lead on discussions where appropriate. Raise issues and risks with Global IR Director at the earliest moment.
• Responsibility for compliance with LR’s obligations to relevant Works Council legislation and requirements for BAU and business transformation activities, including IT and technology, making sure the required, necessary agreements are in place.
• Work as a business partner and trusted advisor to local HR and Line Management Colleagues when it comes to Works Councils and Employee Representative Groups, including training and education as necessary.

Trade Unions/Collective Bargaining

• Work within the Global IR Strategy in relation to Trade Unions and collective bargaining. Identify and raise risks with the Global IR Director at the earliest moment.
• Lead on collective bargaining negotiations wherever appropriate, within the remit set by the Global IR Director or CPO and be responsible for complaint with legislation and obligations to relevant agreements.
• Build productive, collaborative relationships with union representatives wherever possible to enable the best chance of a satisfactory outcome to consultations and negotiations, always protecting LR interests as a priority.

Introducing new technology and software

• Take the lead on behalf of HR and Business, with their involvement and support, in the introduction of new tech and software by taking responsibility for consultation in good time with the Works Councils, where relevant, and responsibility for the right permissions and agreements being in place for compliance with legislative requirements.
• Enable the organisation’s digital objectives through engagement and agreement with the Works councils wherever necessary.

Training and Development:

• Develop a programme of education to upskill HR colleagues and LR Leaders in Europe through knowledge transfer and education to improve their understanding, confidence and competence in dealing with Works Councils and/or Unions.
• Keep abreast of best practices in industrial relations and recommend improvements to existing processes.

What you bring

• Experience of leading and delivering negotiations with Works Councils and Collective Bargaining with T Unions.
• Extensive, in-depth knowledge of Works Council legislation in both NL and Germany, and in at least one other European LR location where a works council or Trade Union is present.
• Excellent skills at relationship building and influencing at all levels within an organisation.
• Credibility to act as Deputy for Global IR Director as and when needed.
• Ability to anticipate and avoid Industrial Relations issues that may present themselves from time to time, using creative thinking within the organisational values.
• Strong skills in Excel, Power point, Word and familiarity with HR systems and MI.

You are someone who:

• Is keen to take accountability and ownership for delivering customer needs
• Is able to self-manage and prioritize tasks towards achieving goals
• Is effective at solving problems, trouble-shooting and making timely decisions
• Is flexible and eager to take initiatives
• Displays a team spirit, particularly in a multicultural environment

If you share our vision for safety and sustainability, we want to hear from you.