Global Head of Social Relations F/M

AXA; Redhill; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000

Job description

We are looking for a Global Head of Social Relations F/M to join our AXA Partners HR teams.

Your role will be to:

• Monitor the social climate of the AP countries in connection with Regional or local HRDs, EXCOM members and Group Social Relations.
• Anticipate and consolidate the necessary adaptations of the workforce to transformation initiatives, reorganisations, gain or loss of significant contracts, etc.
• Effectively manage social relations mitigating social relations issues, educating stakeholders on plans to deliver optimal outcomes for our business, our people and our customers and ensuring an overall positive social dialogue.
• Ensure regular exchanges with Social Partners to ensure understanding of strategic change initiatives and optimise the long-term relationship with these partners.

This includes managing the annual AP EWC seminar and bi-annual Group EWC interventions.

Your main responsibilities will be to:

Monitor the social climate via:

• Ensuring overall global coherence of policy, activities and social initiatives.
• Ensuring that AP entities are socially and legally compliant with local mandatory regulations.
• Keeping main stakeholders informed of any issues or specific matters that may require executive management attention.
• Highlighting risks and managing messaging with Group Social Partners to mitigate and manage productive outcomes.

Anticipate and consolidate the necessary adaptations of the workforce to transformation initiatives, reorganisations, gain or loss of significant contracts via:

• Liaising with relevant stakeholders to develop a comprehensive understanding of the main evolutions of the workforce to anticipate (Global HRBPs, Regional and local HRDs, Transformation leads, M&A lead, etc.).
• Consolidating this vision in a Strategic and Operational workforce plan, detailing the impacts on the workforce at the necessary level to allow an effective management of social issues in the countries.
• On this basis, build the optimized social strategy to manage workforce adaptations, per country and globally.

Effectively manage social relations:

• Providing strategic outlook and education to manage Social Relations Partners and ensure informed, data-supported advice on adaptations impacting the workforce.
• Providing qualitative and quantitative insight on social relations matters on reorganisation or transformation projects for all functions, including on all HR projects, and ensuring that social partners are informed and involved as required.
• Strategically supporting local HRDs to manage relationships and partner with Unions and Worker Councils in all countries.
• Supporting local HRDs to implement the business changes required by new/updated conventions (for example working time directives, GPEC, Equal Opportunities, wage policy, etc.).
• Supporting management in both collective and individual employment matters as it pertains to social relations.

Manage regular exchanges with social partners and the AXA Group:

• Creating a regular and collaborative social dialogue to minimise risks of conflict and misunderstanding with social partners.
• Managing the annual AP EWC seminar and bi-annual Group EWC interventions, preparation of information packages to EWC and organising co-presentations.
• Representing AP entities at AXA Group social relations committees.
• Working closely with internal communications to ensure that we are communicating effectively regarding change and its impact on our workforce.

Qualifications:

• Strong social knowledge and significant experience of dealing with social relations in Europe (including France and Germany).
• Excellent interpersonal skills, high emotional intelligence, strong ability to handle difficult conversations effectively, to influence and create trust.
• Ability to negotiate; identify or develop solutions acceptable to all, decision-making capability.
• Ability to understand the environment, context and the issues at stake. In this position, it is essential to understand and analyze the context of the company, its history, culture and strategy.
• Cultural understanding – taking into account the global environment and different approaches and cultural diversity is essential.
• Multi-lingual. Should be fluent in French, English; German is a plus.
• Degree qualification in Social Relations, Employee Relations or similar preferred.
• Manage the balance between legal requirements and management preferences to ensure the company meets its legal and social obligations.

AXA Partners is committed to diversity and inclusion, on an equal basis.

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