Head of HR Business Partnering and Employee Relations - ESO

at  National Grid

ABOUT US

The ESO has a key role to play in tackling climate change by transitioning GB’s electricity system to net zero. We already operate the fastest decarbonising electricity system in the world, with an ambition for zero carbon

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Supporting the development of a future-ready People strategy that delivers the people and capability necessary to drive the FSO’s transformation.
• Providing day-to-day leadership for the HR Business Partnering and Employee Relations team, ensuring the business receives a high-quality, risk-based People advice.
• Proactively partner with FSO Functions to support them in achieving their objectives by forging strong relationships with key partners across the business area, and providing high quality, consistent, risk-based advice, acting as a trusted advisor to build a reputation as a credible, professional and flexible HR professional.
• Collaborating with specialist colleagues within the People function to provide tailored, specialized solutions to business problems.
• Responding to the unique business needs of the client base, understanding their future goals and the overall business to provide accurate and timely support that is strategically appropriate and enables them to achieve their goals.
• Proactively seek information about internal and external trends to build understanding of how these might impact on the business, and work to effectively steer the business towards its goals, ensuring that the HR practices of the organisation are highly customer-focussed, fit for purpose, modern and effective.
• Implementing initiatives and a clear, compelling strategy for developing and nurturing a performance culture across the FSO.
• Overseeing the development of the organisational design methodology, process, and toolkit for the FSO, ensuring organisational effectiveness activities are delivered through sound principles that drive intended business outcomes.
• Leading the development of a fit-for-purpose Employee Relations strategy and the development of Employee Relations policies and procedures that are aligned to the FSO’s risk appetite.
• Lead on collective bargaining agreements and pay negotiations with trade unions on behalf of the FSO.
• Driving initiatives that foster an inclusive workplace and ensure DEI principles are integrated into all HR practices, in line with the DEI Team’s strategy.
• Utilize HR analytics to inform decision-making and improve people strategies.
• Ensuring adherence to all legal and regulatory requirements and maintain high standards of governance in HR practices.

ABOUT YOU

What we do isn’t just important – it’s essential. That’s why we look to recruit experts in their field. In this case, we’re looking for someone who:

• Relevant professional qualification (e.g., CIPD) or equivalent experience.
• Significant experience and track record of implementing strategic people plans with passion for talent management.
• Strong strategic thinking skills and the ability to translate those into actionable recommendations.
• Experience as a value-adding HR Business Partner.
• Credible and trusted People focussed business leader and advisor able to challenge leaders at all levels.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to assemble complex ideas, issues and observations into clear and simple explanations.
• Experience of Organisational Effectiveness / Organisational Design process and methodology.
• Detailed knowledge of employee relations and experience of working with and managing Trade Union negotiations.
• Appetite for leading through change and innovative mindset.

Great Britain’s electricity system is undergoing an ambitious, exciting and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, greener system, one that protects the planet and serves generations to come.
Reporting to the Chief People Officer, the Head of Business Partnering and Employee Relations drives the alignment of FSO’s business and people strategies, playing a central role in the FSO business transformation. This role ensures that FSO functions and business areas benefit from expert, value-adding, and risk-based people advice, placing people at the core of achieving their objectives. The role oversees a team of HR Business Partners whose primary purpose is to support business leaders in anticipating their short-, medium- and long-term talent, leadership, and organisational effectiveness requirements to deliver their objectives.
The Head of Business Partnering and Employee Relations also serves as the senior lead in developing and implementing an Employee Relations service for the FSO. This includes ensuring that risk-based advice is provided to Managers and HR colleagues, provides leadership to collective bargaining agreements, and pay negotiations, and ensures that the FSO has Employee Relations policies and procedures that meet business and legislative requirements. You will oversee the People function’s Centre of Excellence (COE) for Organizational Design and Effectiveness, ensuring a structured, business-focused approach to design that meets the FSO’s transformation requirements.
This role can be based from Wokingham, Warwick or London, and occasional travel to other sites will be required. We continue to offer hybrid working from office and home.