Head of Employee Relations

Head of Employee Relations  
Hybrid – Solihull, B91 3QJ
Full Time, Permanent   
Band 2 / £70,000-£85,000 (dependent on experience)

Here at Serco, we're looking for an exceptional Head of Employee Relations to lead and evolve our Employee Relations function.

This is a pivotal management role, combining strategic influence, operational excellence and transformation. You'll lead a high-performing ER team, providing expert guidance on complex people matters, driving continuous improvement and ensuring the delivery of a pragmatic, commercially focused and legally compliant service across the organisation.

Joining us at a time of significant change, you'll lead Serco's response to major employment law reform while helping to shape the future of Employee Relations through technology, innovation and service transformation. Working closely with senior business leaders, People teams, Legal and external partners, you'll drive continuous improvement, build future capability and ensure the function evolves to meet the changing needs of the business.

We're looking for a credible and resilient leader with deep ER expertise, strong judgement, exceptional stakeholder management skills and a proven ability to lead teams through change in large, complex and fast-paced environments.

As part of this you’ll:

• Lead Serco’s ER response to significant employment law reform, translating developing legislation into clear, practical and timely organisational action.
• Shape and deliver the longer-term ER strategy, service model and transformation roadmap.
• Lead, engage and develop a large ER team, building the capability and skills required for the future.
• Ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality, legally compliant ER services against agreed service levels, performance measures and budgets.
• Provide strategic oversight of complex, sensitive and high-risk employee relations matters.
• Act as a trusted partner and escalation point for senior operational and People leaders.

• Lead Serco’s approach to industrial relations, putting strategy into practice through effective trade union relationships, recognition and consultation arrangements, dispute prevention and management of significant risks.
• Maintain oversight of employment tribunal activity and advocacy, working with internal teams and external legal counsel where appropriate ensuring early risk assessment, sound litigation decisions and learning that improves the ER service

• Use case data, trends and lessons learned to identify risks, improve policy and strengthen manager capability.
• Drive continuous improvement across ER processes, systems and ways of working.
• Monitor emerging employment legislation and external developments, ensuring policies, training and operational guidance remain current.

What you’ll need to do the role:

• Significant senior-level Employee Relations experience gained within a large, complex and fast-paced organisation.
• Strong knowledge of UK & Ireland employment law and its practical application.
• Proven experience of leading and developing sizeable ER teams, with a strong focus on performance, capability and engagement.
• Experience of leading complex change or transformation, ideally involving new technology, case management platforms or service redesign.
• The ability to interpret developing legislation and translate it into pragmatic, commercially sound organisational action.
• Broad partnering experience, with the credibility to influence and challenge senior operational and People leaders.
• Strong knowledge of complex ER case management, including restructures, redundancies, disciplinary and grievance matters.
• A sound understanding of employment tribunal processes and organisational advocacy. Direct, hands-on tribunal advocacy experience is not essential.
• A pragmatic and solutions-focused leadership style, with the resilience to operate at pace and manage competing priorities.
• CIPD Level 7 or equivalent senior-level experience.

Why Serco:

Meaningful and vital work: As Head of Employee Relations, your work will help protect the organisation, strengthen the employee experience and shape how ER services are delivered across Serco. You’ll have the opportunity to lead high-profile legislative and technology change while influencing the future direction of a critical business function. You’ll join a globally operating organisation delivering essential services across five vital sectors. This is an opportunity to work with experienced colleagues, lead meaningful transformation and make a visible impact across a large and diverse workforce.

What we offer:

• Company car / cash alternative
• Private healthcare
• 10% on target bonus scheme
• Flexible working considered
• Pension – 6%
• Chance to contribute to innovation in the public services
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion
• Serco discounts which include cinema, merlin entertainment and online shopping discounts, and discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
• A range of benefits to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family such as Employee Assistance Programme, Simply Health Cash Plans, 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.

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A little bit about us:
At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.

Our inclusive recruitment commitment:
We prioritise your skills and potential. As a Disability Confident Leader, the Top Great British Employer of Veterans 2026, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all. We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

• Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities, veterans and people with convictions, who meet the minimum job criteria, are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.
• Ban The Box: We also support fair access for those with unspent criminal convictions through our ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some roles may have security exemptions).

For support with your application, please contact recruitmentuk@serco.com.

Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.