Industrial Relations Manager

BGEN Ltd; Bridgwater; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure services provider in Bridgwater is seeking an experienced professional for employee relations. You'll be responsible for nurturing strong union relationships and handling employee concerns with empathy, while championing a respectful workplace environment. Key qualifications include significant experience in industrial relations and a solid understanding of UK employment law. The role offers a competitive pension scheme, private health care, and a hybrid working option after the probation period.

Benefits

Company Pension Scheme

Death in Service Benefit

Opportunity to purchase additional holidays

Employee assistance programme

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Private health care

Recommend a friend – get rewarded

Qualifications

• Experience in engineering construction industry preferred.
• Understanding of collective bargaining is essential.

Responsibilities

• Nurturing strong union relationships through open dialogue.
• Handling employee concerns with empathy.
• Supporting mediation and resolving sensitive industrial relations issues.
• Interpreting employee feedback to shape better practices.

Skills

Solid experience in industrial or employee relations

Strong grasp of HR policies

Deep understanding of UK employment law

Confidence in building trust and negotiating

Solutions-focused problem solving

Analytical skills for interpreting feedback

Job description

Right across infrastructure, there’s a requirement to not only maintain, but also renew and reimagine. Whatever stage you’re at in your career, with us you’ll have an opportunity to grow and develop. Delivering essential infrastructure services for life, while being safety first, and client and customer centric in a friendly, fun and respectful environment where you are encouraged to thrive.

Where will you be working?

At M Group Water we help our clients safeguard the water supply, improve environmental performance and manage demand for future generations. We enhance and extend asset life, ensuring compliance with water quality and environmental standards. We’re problem solvers with over 140 years of combined experience in engineering and infrastructure.

What will you be doing?

We're passionate about building positive, respectful workplaces. You will focus on nurturing strong union relationships through open dialogue, ensuring fair treatment in line with our values. You'll handle employee concerns—from grievances to disciplinary matters with empathy and professionalism. Supporting mediation and resolving sensitive industrial relations issues are key, as is interpreting employee feedback to shape better practices. You'll play an active role in projects that foster engagement and continuously improve employee relations, all while working closely with teams across the business.

What you’ll bring:

• Solid experience in industrial or employee relations, preferably in engineering construction
• A strong grasp of HR policies and best practices
• Deep understanding of UK employment law and collective bargaining
• Confidence in building trust and negotiating with staff and union reps
• A pragmatic, solutions-focused approach to problem solving
• Analytical skills for interpreting feedback and workforce trends

What’s in it for you?

• Company Pension Scheme
• Death in Service Benefit
• Hybrid working is available following initial probationary period
• Opportunity to purchase additional holidays per year (up to 5 days for full time employees)
• My Rewards - offering discounts on high street and online shopping
• Employee assistance programme
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Private health care for you
• Recommend a friend – get rewarded for introducing people to us!
• Overtime

About Us

We want to be an employer of choice and a great place to work, attracting diverse and talented people, who join us and make a difference. We’re one of the Top 100 UK companies actively supporting and recruiting army veterans. Our ENABLE inclusion networks bring together people who have a shared passion, to help create an environment where everyone belongs. Our values help to shape our culture and how we work with one another. We recruit with these values in mind, to ensure your aspirations, and ways of working, align with ours.

• We’re responsible and go further for our people, clients, communities and the planet
• We’re open and seek new and better ways of exceeding expectations
• We’re together and as one team; the whole is greater than the sum of the parts
• We’re ambitious and embrace opportunity, to lead essential infrastructure services for life

Whether you’re a trainee, apprentice or graduate, or progressing through your career, our people benefit from industry recognised programmes, training and development.

It’s an exceptional time to be a part of M Group.

Please note: Occasionally, job adverts might be closed before the stated closing date. Do apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.

For certain roles, successful candidates will be subject to 3rd party background checks as part of the hiring process. Some roles require drug and alcohol testing as part of induction and onboarding.