Industrial Relations Manager
| Posting date: | 16 July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 15 August 2025 |
| Location: | IP16 4JX |
| Company: | Sizewell C Ltd |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 842677583 |
Summary
Job Description
Industrial Relations Manager – Sizewell CSuffolk (Full time Site-based)c.£80,000 DOEPermanent, Full-TimeSenior Manager contract, reporting to Head of Employment Affairs UnitBenefits: 10% bonusContributory pension of up to 7.5% employee/15% employer£1500 benefits allowance8 times salary life assurance28 days holiday, plus bank holidays with the option to purchase up to an additional 5 days of holiday after a qualifying period.Play a key role in the delivery of one of the UK’s most important infrastructure projects.Sizewell C (SZC) is not just a nuclear power station. It’s a once-in-a-generation project that will power homes, boost the economy, and drive progress in clean energy and local regeneration. As we enter a critical phase of our journey, we’re looking for an Industrial Relations Manager to help create and maintain a stable, collaborative, and productive IR environment across a site workforce expected to peak at over 7,000.This is a hands-on, high-impact role where you’ll help steer how the UK delivers major infrastructure projects—with IR practices at the heart of successful delivery.What you’ll be doing:Acting as a key interface between SZC, Tier 1 contractors, subcontractors, and Trade Unions, promoting a collaborative, joined-up approach to workforce relationsProviding expert advice and oversight on all aspects of the SZC IR Agreements, including the Transitional Arrangements and Minimum Standards (TAMS)Leading the governance of core IR processes, including the “Silver Book” implementation, joint committee management, and stakeholder engagementAdvising on and helping resolve complex IR issues across the contractor workforceEstablishing reporting and audit structures to ensure compliance with agreements across siteSupporting a culture of early resolution, mutual respect, and aligned interest between the project, the unions, and our contractor workforceHelping deliver training and guidance across the site to embed best practice IR knowledge and behavioursWorking closely with convenors, shop stewards and trade union officials at local, regional, and national levelWhat we’re looking for:Deep experience in Industrial Relations within a complex, unionised construction or infrastructure environmentA confident, pragmatic negotiator with the credibility to influence at senior levels across multiple stakeholder groupsIn-depth understanding of Working Rule Agreements, trade union protocols, and UK employment lawComfortable operating at pace in a pressurised and highly visible environmentExceptional relationship-building skills, you’ll need to connect with everyone from site supervisors to national union leadersAble to anticipate issues before they escalate and keep everyone focused on shared delivery goalsYour background:Significant experience in IR roles within large-scale engineering or construction programmesExperience of managing collective agreements, large workforce transitions, and resolving complex disputesA strong grasp of employment law, HR practices, and stakeholder governanceIdeally CIPD qualified or equivalent by experienceWhy join us?Sizewell C is at the forefront of the UK’s clean energy future, and you’ll be central to helping it succeed. This isn’t just another IR role. It’s an opportunity to shape how industrial relations are done on a nationally significant project, working with a diverse workforce, world-class engineering teams, and a wide network of partners and government stakeholders.If you thrive in fast-moving, high-profile settings and know how to bring people together around a common goal, we want to hear from you.Sizewell C is a great place to work, where everyone is welcome.To fulfil our commitment of doing the power of good for Britain, our ambition is to have a workforce which reflects and benefits the society we are part of and serve. Every worker on SZC, wherever they are, should help to create and experience the right environment where everyone on the team understands, respects and embraces diversity with a culture where everyone is treated with equal respect and are all given equal access to opportunities. By valuing the different points of view and experiences that having a diverse team brings, and by fostering an inclusive climate, we will create a great place to work and a more successful project. We create the right environment where people feel able to bring their whole selves to work. Whilst working together there is mutual trust and appreciation created through the building of meaningful relationships with one another, aligned with our key values:Respect: Value the rules and environment in which we operatePositivity: Positively challenge poor quality and performanceHumility: Be open to other’s points of view and ideas, be willing to debate and to compromiseSolidarity: One team, working closely together and helping each otherClarity: Communicate clearly and consistentlyEveryone is able to get the most from their work and the workplace, and in return, give their best.We’re dedicated to offering flexible benefits that support our people across all aspects of their lives and we’re delighted to offer a range of benefits to support our employees’ physical, emotional and financial wellbeing. Sizewell C Limited is a nuclear site licensed company whose business is to design, finance, construct, commission, operate, maintain, and eventually decommission the nuclear power plant and related infrastructure at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Sizewell C was formerly under the majority ownership of the EDF Group but is currently majority owned by HM Government and operates as an independent company. EDF remains a key shareholder in Sizewell C and the business therefore maintains close links to EDF as a part of its ‘nuclear family’.As a Sizewell C employee, you may wonder why you are contacted by colleagues with an EDF email, or see the EDF logo on portals that you access and/or documentation you receive; this is because we have partnered with EDF for the provision of a number of support services whilst we complete a successful transition out of the EDF group.Ready to make a real impact?Apply now to join the team powering Britain’s energy future.
Additional Information
Join the team at Sizewell C. The power of good for Britain.It’s not every day you get the opportunity to shape the working culture of what will be one of Europe’s largest construction projects, while also helping Britain to reach its target of Net Zero emissions by 2050. That’s one of the reasons Sizewell C will be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before, and you’ll need to be an exceptional professional to reach the high standards this critical infrastructure project demands. The UK is experiencing a nuclear renaissance and Sizewell C – along with its sister project at Hinkley Point C in Somerset – is powering the change. We’re ramping up at pace as we look ahead to the Financial Investment Decision in early 2025, and the start of construction soon after. With government fully on board and public opinion shifting significantly in favour of nuclear, there’s never been a better time to join our project.By submitting an application to this role, you acknowledge that you have read and understood Sizewell C’s employee privacy policy and EDF's employee privacy policy. Just to let you know, EDF will be processing and sharing information about your application on behalf of Sizewell C.
Industrial Relations Manager – Sizewell CSuffolk (Full time Site-based)c.£80,000 DOEPermanent, Full-TimeSenior Manager contract, reporting to Head of Employment Affairs UnitBenefits: 10% bonusContributory pension of up to 7.5% employee/15% employer£1500 benefits allowance8 times salary life assurance28 days holiday, plus bank holidays with the option to purchase up to an additional 5 days of holiday after a qualifying period.Play a key role in the delivery of one of the UK’s most important infrastructure projects.Sizewell C (SZC) is not just a nuclear power station. It’s a once-in-a-generation project that will power homes, boost the economy, and drive progress in clean energy and local regeneration. As we enter a critical phase of our journey, we’re looking for an Industrial Relations Manager to help create and maintain a stable, collaborative, and productive IR environment across a site workforce expected to peak at over 7,000.This is a hands-on, high-impact role where you’ll help steer how the UK delivers major infrastructure projects—with IR practices at the heart of successful delivery.What you’ll be doing:Acting as a key interface between SZC, Tier 1 contractors, subcontractors, and Trade Unions, promoting a collaborative, joined-up approach to workforce relationsProviding expert advice and oversight on all aspects of the SZC IR Agreements, including the Transitional Arrangements and Minimum Standards (TAMS)Leading the governance of core IR processes, including the “Silver Book” implementation, joint committee management, and stakeholder engagementAdvising on and helping resolve complex IR issues across the contractor workforceEstablishing reporting and audit structures to ensure compliance with agreements across siteSupporting a culture of early resolution, mutual respect, and aligned interest between the project, the unions, and our contractor workforceHelping deliver training and guidance across the site to embed best practice IR knowledge and behavioursWorking closely with convenors, shop stewards and trade union officials at local, regional, and national levelWhat we’re looking for:Deep experience in Industrial Relations within a complex, unionised construction or infrastructure environmentA confident, pragmatic negotiator with the credibility to influence at senior levels across multiple stakeholder groupsIn-depth understanding of Working Rule Agreements, trade union protocols, and UK employment lawComfortable operating at pace in a pressurised and highly visible environmentExceptional relationship-building skills, you’ll need to connect with everyone from site supervisors to national union leadersAble to anticipate issues before they escalate and keep everyone focused on shared delivery goalsYour background:Significant experience in IR roles within large-scale engineering or construction programmesExperience of managing collective agreements, large workforce transitions, and resolving complex disputesA strong grasp of employment law, HR practices, and stakeholder governanceIdeally CIPD qualified or equivalent by experienceWhy join us?Sizewell C is at the forefront of the UK’s clean energy future, and you’ll be central to helping it succeed. This isn’t just another IR role. It’s an opportunity to shape how industrial relations are done on a nationally significant project, working with a diverse workforce, world-class engineering teams, and a wide network of partners and government stakeholders.If you thrive in fast-moving, high-profile settings and know how to bring people together around a common goal, we want to hear from you.Sizewell C is a great place to work, where everyone is welcome.To fulfil our commitment of doing the power of good for Britain, our ambition is to have a workforce which reflects and benefits the society we are part of and serve. Every worker on SZC, wherever they are, should help to create and experience the right environment where everyone on the team understands, respects and embraces diversity with a culture where everyone is treated with equal respect and are all given equal access to opportunities. By valuing the different points of view and experiences that having a diverse team brings, and by fostering an inclusive climate, we will create a great place to work and a more successful project. We create the right environment where people feel able to bring their whole selves to work. Whilst working together there is mutual trust and appreciation created through the building of meaningful relationships with one another, aligned with our key values:Respect: Value the rules and environment in which we operatePositivity: Positively challenge poor quality and performanceHumility: Be open to other’s points of view and ideas, be willing to debate and to compromiseSolidarity: One team, working closely together and helping each otherClarity: Communicate clearly and consistentlyEveryone is able to get the most from their work and the workplace, and in return, give their best.We’re dedicated to offering flexible benefits that support our people across all aspects of their lives and we’re delighted to offer a range of benefits to support our employees’ physical, emotional and financial wellbeing. Sizewell C Limited is a nuclear site licensed company whose business is to design, finance, construct, commission, operate, maintain, and eventually decommission the nuclear power plant and related infrastructure at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Sizewell C was formerly under the majority ownership of the EDF Group but is currently majority owned by HM Government and operates as an independent company. EDF remains a key shareholder in Sizewell C and the business therefore maintains close links to EDF as a part of its ‘nuclear family’.As a Sizewell C employee, you may wonder why you are contacted by colleagues with an EDF email, or see the EDF logo on portals that you access and/or documentation you receive; this is because we have partnered with EDF for the provision of a number of support services whilst we complete a successful transition out of the EDF group.Ready to make a real impact?Apply now to join the team powering Britain’s energy future.
Additional Information
Join the team at Sizewell C. The power of good for Britain.It’s not every day you get the opportunity to shape the working culture of what will be one of Europe’s largest construction projects, while also helping Britain to reach its target of Net Zero emissions by 2050. That’s one of the reasons Sizewell C will be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before, and you’ll need to be an exceptional professional to reach the high standards this critical infrastructure project demands. The UK is experiencing a nuclear renaissance and Sizewell C – along with its sister project at Hinkley Point C in Somerset – is powering the change. We’re ramping up at pace as we look ahead to the Financial Investment Decision in early 2025, and the start of construction soon after. With government fully on board and public opinion shifting significantly in favour of nuclear, there’s never been a better time to join our project.By submitting an application to this role, you acknowledge that you have read and understood Sizewell C’s employee privacy policy and EDF's employee privacy policy. Just to let you know, EDF will be processing and sharing information about your application on behalf of Sizewell C.