Industrial Relations Manager

Anne Corder Recruitment are partnering with a major UK operational business to appoint an experienced Industrial Relations Specialist to support a significant change and transformation programme across a multi-site manufacturing environment.

This is a highly specialised role focused on industrial relations, union engagement and organisational change, not a traditional strategic HR Business Partner position.

We are seeking an individual with deep expertise in union negotiations, restructuring and complex workforce change within blue-collar or manufacturing-led environments.

The Role

Working closely with operational leadership, legal, finance and site teams, you will lead the industrial relations and employee consultation agenda through a complex business change programme.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading industrial relations strategy and maintaining effective relationships with Unite
• Managing collective and individual consultation activity across multiple sites
• Supporting restructuring activity, including TUPE and organisational change programmes
• Advising leaders on negotiations, dispute resolution and employment risk
• Supporting workforce transition, retention and communication plans
• Partnering with operational and H&S teams to maintain workforce stability throughout change
• Providing clear governance reporting, risk management and stakeholder updates

What We’re Looking For

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• 10+ years’ industrial relations experience within manufacturing, logistics, engineering or other unionised operational environments
• Significant experience negotiating with Unite or similar major trade unions
• Strong background managing complex restructuring, consultation and TUPE processes
• Experience operating across multi-site businesses
• Excellent working knowledge of UK employment law and collective consultation obligations
• The credibility and resilience to operate effectively within high-pressure operational environments

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity to play a key role within a major transformation programme where industrial relations expertise will be central to business success.

The organisation is looking for someone calm, commercially pragmatic and highly credible — someone able to build trust, manage complexity and lead confidently through periods of change.

For interim candidates, please provide an all-inclusive day rate when applying.

Industrial Relations Specialist

UK Wide / Multi-Site Travel Required

12-Month Fixed-Term Contract

£68,000 - £75,000 + £7,000 Car Allowance

Anne Corder Recruitment Ltd acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and as an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying you will be registered as a candidate with Anne Corder Recruitment Ltd, your personal data may be added to our database as part of the application process. Our privacy policy is available on our website and explains how we will use your data. Your details will be reviewed by one of our Recruitment Partners and we will contact you again within 5 working days if your application is to be progressed further.

Please note that we are not able to provide support with visa sponsorships and all applicants must be based in the UK and hold the valid right to work in the UK