Are you an Employee Relations professional who is looking to develop your career within a business that prides itself on being an employer of choice within hospitality across the UK? Here at Mitchells & Butlers, we have a rare and exciting opportunity for a motivated, proactive and insightful individual to join our Team as our Head of Employee Relations.
As Head of Employee Relations, you will be a senior member of our HR Team, reporting into our Director of Compensation, Benefits & ER. In this challenging and varied role, you will be the lead in ensuring Legal Compliance.
From an ER perspective, you will provide employee relations support across our M&B estate, which can range from the interpretation of complex UK legislation and implementing it into our policies, alongside providing appropriate advice on ER issues related to individual employees across our Corporate and Retail functions. In this role you will also lead our team of established Employee Relations Managers that are field based across the UK.
This role will involve a mixture of office and home/site working (ideally 2-3 days per week in our office) with our Head Office based in Birmingham City Centre.
About us…
Serving with pride since 1898, Mitchells & Butlers are the heart of UK hospitality. In fact, you already know us, even if you don’t realise it! We own and run more than 1,650 pubs, bars and restaurants including the stylish All Bar One brand, legendary Miller & Carter steakhouses, Mediterranean influenced Ego restaurants and the iconic Toby Carvery. We are M&B, and we and proud to set the industry standard.
You’ll be well rewarded…
- Working 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with flexibility with working hours to fit around your personal commitments.
- Company Car or Car Allowance.
- 33% off at all our brands, including our hotels. Whether it’s date night at Miller & Carter or a family roast at Toby Carvery, we’ve got you covered!
- Annual Bonus Scheme – we are all about rewarding effort from our teams.
- A pension that pays, where we’ll more than match your contributions (x1.5 of your contributions, up to a maximum of 5% of your salary)
- Private healthcare for you and your family, dental plan, cycle to work, and keep fit schemes
- 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with an option to purchase up to an additional two weeks – life is for living after all!
What makes Mitchells & Butlers a great place to work?
To us, a career isn’t just about ‘clocking in’. We really care about our colleagues, and we’re an employer that keeps a promise. In fact, as one of the largest employers in the country, with over 45,000 people working for us, we have the responsibility of valuing every contribution from a diverse workforce that are representative of our guests, and who make us stronger. We continue to build a culture that values our differences and embraces them as strengths, and we recognise that there is always work to be done.
What will I be doing? In this challenging and varied role, you will be responsible for the following;
- To ensure that Mitchells & Butlers is not exposed to potential risk by ensuring that actions taken in relation to employees, are in line with our internal Retail & Corporate ER policies.
- Investigate and take timely action where potential risks are exposed.
- Actively improve policies, procedures and contracts of employment where necessary, ensuring that the company complies with all relevant employment laws and regulations to avoid legal issues and promote fair treatment.
- Supporting any organisational changes/acquisitions/sales to ensure legal obligations are followed for smooth transitions and minimal disruption to our business.
- To act as a first port of call for the M&B Leadership Team, Heads of Department and Head Office line managers on any ER matters. You will also manage any ER matters escalated from your team of Employee Relations Manager’s, or from the Heads of People for our Retail Divisions.
- Lead a team of mobile Employee Relations Managers to ensure that a culture of treating our people with respect is adopted and driven through the operations and corporate teams.
- To ensure that the Business Forum is organised and run each year and that the appropriate communications and any necessary elections of new representatives takes place and that any actions are followed up.
What skills do I need?
- Communication: Strong oral and written communication skills to effectively convey policies and procedures, resolve conflicts, and maintain positive relationships.
- Analytical Skills: Ability to assess ER workplace situations, evaluate information, and draw accurate conclusions.
- Negotiation: Proficiency in negotiating agreements between employees/line managers/legal advisors.
- Conflict Resolution: Expertise in mediating disputes and resolving conflicts amicably.
- Legal Knowledge: An up to date knowledge of current and future employment legislation
- Interpersonal Skills: Exemplary interpersonal skills, with a natural ability to interact with employees at all levels.
- Discretion and Integrity: Maintaining the highest levels of confidentiality and demonstrating integrity throughout in handling sensitive information and situations.
- Leadership: A proven track record of leading teams and managing projects to improve employee engagement and satisfaction.
Qualifications;
- Ideally CIPD level 5 or higher or equivalent qualification/degree in HR management.
- Strong track record of dealing with complex ER matters in an in house ER role or experience in providing pragmatic and commercially focused employee relations advice in a law firm.
- Experience of dealings with Trade Unions would be desirable.
Sounds like an opportunity where you could make a difference? Apply for this role today and we’ll be in touch to explore how you could be part of our exciting journey.
Closing Date: 11:59pm Monday 31st March 2025
