At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead negotiations and influence change for school and college leaders.
- Company: Join a respected professional body and trade union for education leaders.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and a strong pension contribution.
- Other info: Home-based role with travel across England and Wales; inclusive culture welcoming all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a lasting impact on the professional lives of education leaders across the UK.
- Qualifications: Experienced in industrial relations, trade unions, or HR with strong negotiation skills.
£68,602 per annum + excellent benefits. Home-based with travel to meetings/training across the country as required. Full time, permanent.
Lead negotiations. Influence change. Protect and strengthen the voice of school and college leaders.
This is a rare opportunity to lead a highly influential function, shape national industrial relations activity and make a lasting difference to the professional lives of school and college leaders.
Why This Role Matters
As our Head of Industrial Relations, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that school and college leaders have a strong and influential voice in shaping their pay, conditions and working environment. Leading our industrial relations and collective bargaining function, you will help safeguard members' rights, secure positive outcomes through negotiation, and strengthen our position as the leading professional body and trade union for education leaders. Your expertise will directly contribute to improving the working lives of members across the UK while ensuring the organisation remains legally compliant, strategically focused and highly respected within the sector.
Who We’re Looking For
We’re seeking an experienced industrial relations, trade union or HR professional with a proven track record of leading successful negotiations at a senior level. You will bring substantial experience of collective bargaining, strong leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of employment relations within complex organisations. You’ll be a strategic thinker, an influential communicator and a confident relationship-builder who can work effectively with employers, trade unions, members and external stakeholders. A commitment to trade union principles, combined with the credibility to work alongside experienced school and college leaders, will be essential to your success in this role.
What You’ll Be Doing
You will lead and develop the Industrial Relations team, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, consistent service to members nationwide. Working closely with employer groups, trade unions and local representatives, you will oversee negotiations, represent members at key joint negotiating committees, resolve disputes, and help secure the best possible terms, conditions and benefits for members. You will also provide strategic advice across the organisation, ensure compliance with relevant legislation and trade union requirements, support the development of local representatives, and contribute to the organisation's broader industrial relations strategy.
What We Offer
- Flexible working: A combination of working from home, attending external meetings and events and being in-person at our Leicester HQ as necessary.
- Generous leave: 33 days annual leave + bank holidays.
- Pension: 9% employer contribution.
- Professional development: Ongoing training and peer support.
- Expenses covered: Travel, home-working allowance, and equipment provided.
- Inclusive culture: We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities. We encourage applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
This is a home-based role with travel across England and Wales to meetings and events as required. Reasonable travel expenses, IT and telephone equipment will be provided.
If you’re ready to lead a team that makes a real difference to education leaders and organisations across the UK, we would love to hear from you.
INTERESTED?
The closing date for application is 4pm on Wednesday 5 August 2026. Interviews will be held in-person, at ASCL HQ in Leicester on Wednesday 19 August 2026. Start date: Tuesday 1 December 2026 but dependent on individual circumstances.
TO APPLY
To download the job description and person specification, follow the link on the 'Apply here' button above. From there, please complete your email address in the top right-hand box and click on the green 'Apply Now' button and follow the online application process. If you have any queries, please contact Angela Stewart, Workplace and Facilities Manager.
Head of Industrial Relations in Leicester employer: ASCL
ASCL is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead the Industrial Relations function while making a significant impact on the professional lives of school and college leaders across the UK. With a flexible working environment, generous leave, and a strong commitment to professional development, employees are supported in their growth and well-being. The inclusive culture fosters collaboration and respect, ensuring that every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute meaningfully.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Industrial Relations in Leicester
✨Join HR Networks
Get involved in HR-specific communities, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and local HR meetups. This is a fantastic way to connect with industry professionals and learn about job openings before they even hit job boards!
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Industrial Relations in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at ASCL. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to ASCL and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at ASCL. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to ASCL's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at ASCL
✨Brush Up on HR Best Practices
As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with ASCL.
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Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!
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A full-time HR role at ASCL will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.
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Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact ASCL and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
