Senior People Partner

Serco; Metropolitan Borough of Solihull; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 80,000

Job description

Hybrid (Remote with travel to Hook, London & other Serco sites)

Permanent, Full Time

Competitive Salary plus benefits

At Serco, we deliver essential services across defence, justice & immigration, healthcare, and transport, working in partnership with governments and other organisations to improve outcomes for people and communities. Our people are at the heart of what we do, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive, high-performing, and purpose-driven culture. Whether supporting the UK’s critical public services or helping organisations operate more efficiently, our work makes a real difference.

We are looking for a Senior People Partner (Industrial Relations), you will provide expert insights, challenge thinking, and drive the alignment of IR strategies.

Key Accountabilities

Industrial Relations Strategy and Leadership

• Leads the development of Serco’s industrial relations strategy and associated plans, working in partnership with the wider HR team and business leaders to execute agreed plans and build alignment to that strategy.
• Works in partnership with the business unit Senior People Partners, to embed a proactive approach to industrial relations, ensuring consistency, and best practice across all areas of the business.

Coaching and Advisory

• Provides coaching and guidance to the business on managing industrial relations matters, helping them build confidence and capability in handling workforce challenges effectively.
• Acts as a trusted advisor on complex industrial relations issues, supporting them in fostering constructive relationships with employee representatives.

Trade Union and Stakeholder Engagement

• Builds and maintains strong engagement externally with Trade Unions and other stakeholders, developing and maintaining good relationships and setting a tone for how we work with them to foster a positive IR environment.

Collective Bargaining & Agreements

• Works in partnership with Serco’s Policy Lead to shape Serco’s policies, processes and approaches to IR and works with internal ‘owners’ of regional and local TU relationships, developing toolkits, guidance and information and ensuring IR is delivered in a way that transforms behaviours and attitudes.
• Ensures the framework of agreements with trade unions is robust, well-managed and aligned with Serco’s overall workforce strategy.
• Develops plans for our approach to collective bargaining, working with Reward to shape our annual budget and set clear guidelines for leaders and contract managers, maximising coherence in our approach and minimising risk.

Change & Compliance

• Works in partnership with Employee Relations to support the business in managing change effectively, ensuring leaders are equipped to implement workforce changes while maintaining strong employee engagement.
• Supports Employee Relations to monitor legislative changes, political developments, and market trends to assess their impact on Serco, proactively developing solutions and recommendations for change.

Industrial Relations & Workforce Strategy for Europe

• Engages with the European Works Council (EWC) where applicable, ensuring that Serco’s approach to employee representation across Europe is aligned with business strategy and regulatory requirements.
• Supports engagement with European employee representative bodies, including the EWC, to ensure effective consultation, compliance, and alignment with Serco’s industrial relations strategy.
• Works closely with the European People Director to support risk management, trade union engagement, and workforce dispute resolution, including liaising with European Works Council (EWC) representatives where applicable.
• Monitors European industrial relations trends, policy developments, and EWC activities to ensure Serco remains responsive to potential impacts on business operations.

IR Expertise for Bids & Business Growth

• Provides IR and collective change leadership expertise for bids, developing collateral that can be used by People Partners and People Specialists.

Engagement & Advocacy

• Works with our trade unions to understand the campaigns and activities they are running and the implications and consequences of these for Serco and ensure our strategy and plans are kept responsive.
• Represents and supports Serco at external industry, trade union or political events to ensure Serco’s position and interests are well-represented.
• Advocates and champions the HR service delivery model.

What you’ll need to do the role

• CIPD Level 7 or equivalent experience
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills
• Strong team player, who is comfortable with a hands-on approach.
• Experience in a specialist industrial relations role and of working in a highly unionised environment; is politically savvy and able to work collaboratively whilst ensuring the best interests of Serco are maintained.
• Has an understanding of all aspects of industrial relations and latest legislation, including collective consultation and TUPE.
• A strong communicator with a logical, structured, clear, and credible style. Capable of quickly engaging audiences at all levels. Not afraid to challenge senior business stakeholders, including senior leaders where necessary.
• Has excellent negotiating skills and a thorough understanding of the behavioural context of negotiations and collective bargaining.
• Has a good understanding of the machinery of industrial relations and associated processes, is adept at developing user-friendly tools and guidance that can be deployed by line managers.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and its practical application in complex organisations
• Has a keen eye for detail and a passion for data and analytics, can understand and model the impact of pay deals on budgets.
• Is collaborative, a problem solver and understands what is best for the business depending on the case in hand.
• Has an inclusive and collaborative approach, works with honesty, respect, and compassion, and is aligned to our values.

Why Serco

Become part of a global community dedicated to delivering high-quality services that make a tangible impact on society. We provide career development opportunities, flexible working arrangements, and an inclusive, supportive environment where you’ll work with industry leaders on meaningful projects. With a focus on continuous improvement, we value your expertise in driving programme excellence and invite you to join a team that’s committed to making a real difference.

What we offer

• Bonus potential – up to 20%.
• Private medical insurance – individual.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Annual leave purchase scheme.
• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Flexible working options.
• A Serco benefits portal offering a wide range of discounts for major high street brands in Retail, Leisure & Hospitality.
• A range of benefits to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family such as Employee Assistance Programme, Health Cash Plans, free flu jabs and more.
• A wealth of career development training to suit your future aspirations. These range from role specific training, leadership coaching, formal study and much more to support you to build your career with Serco.
• A safe and supportive culture.
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion.

About Serco

At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Apply
Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.