At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape relationships and stability in a complex engineering environment as an HR Business Partner.
- Company: Join Babcock, a global leader in defence and engineering.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, pension scheme, health support, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-stakes role with autonomy and collaboration.
- Qualifications: Experience in Industrial Relations and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 58000 £ per year.
Location: Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute + Hybrid Working Arrangements
Compensation: £45,000 - £58,000 + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
At Babcock we're working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a HR Business Partner Industrial Relations at our HMNB Clyde Faslane site.
The role:
As a HR Business Partner - Industrial Relations, you'll have a role that's out of the ordinary. You'll step into a specialist, high impact position within a unionised, complex engineering environment. This is not a generalist HR position – it’s a standalone Industrial Relations specialist role where your insight, judgement and influence will shape relationships, stability and long term success across the site. While the role carries clear ownership and autonomy, you won’t be working in isolation. You’ll collaborate closely with a highly capable and supportive HR team on site and across Babcock, giving you the opportunity to share expertise, build strong professional connections, and contribute to our wider people strategy.
Day-to-day you’ll be required to:
- Build and maintain trusted, credible relationships with Trade Union colleagues
- Review and improve Industrial Relations frameworks, policies and agreements
- Support complex negotiations, consultations and dispute resolution activity
- Act as a trusted advisor to Line Managers, Leaders and HR colleagues on Industrial Relations matters
- Identify risks and opportunities, providing proactive, data driven solutions
This role is full time, 36 hours per week, Monday to Thursday 07:15 - 16:45 and is based at HMNB Clyde Faslane. Due to the nature of the role, regular on site presence is required, with hybrid working arrangements available where business needs allow.
Essential experience:
- Significant experience in Industrial Relations within unionised environments
- Proven capability in Trade Union engagement, negotiation and collective bargaining
- Experience resolving disputes and managing conflict effectively
- Background in heavy industrial, engineering, manufacturing, defence or similar sectors
- Experience operating autonomously as a specialist advisor in complex organisations
Qualifications:
- CIPD qualification or equivalent professional experience
- Strong working knowledge of employment law
- Demonstrable expertise in Industrial Relations strategy, best practice and Trade Union engagement models
Security Clearance:
The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role. Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK.
What we offer:
- Generous holiday allowance
- Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
- Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
- Employee shopping savings portal
- Payment of Professional Fees
- Reservists in the armed forces receive 10 days special paid leave
- Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This window opens February through to March annually.
- Be Kind Day enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
Babcock We’re Babcock – a global FTSE 100 organisation with over 26,000 people working together to make a difference. Here, you’ll be part of something bigger. From initial design to final decommissioning, your work will contribute to products and services that are essential to national security and public infrastructure. Together, we’re building a future that lasts – not just through the impact we make, but through meaningful careers that respect your work‑life balance. We are a disability confident committed employer.
Closing date: 22/05/2026
HR Business Partner Industrial Relations in Helensburgh employer: Babcock International
Contact Detail:
Babcock International Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land HR Business Partner Industrial Relations in Helensburgh
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Babcock on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info about the company culture and what they really value in a candidate.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your Industrial Relations knowledge. We want to see how you can apply your expertise in real-world scenarios, so think of examples that showcase your negotiation skills and conflict resolution experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your personality! During interviews, let your passion for HR and Industrial Relations shine through. We’re looking for someone who can build relationships, so don’t be afraid to be yourself and connect with the interviewers.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining Babcock and being part of our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace HR Business Partner Industrial Relations in Helensburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the HR Business Partner Industrial Relations role. Highlight your experience in industrial relations, union engagement, and any relevant qualifications. We want to see how your background aligns with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your skills can contribute to our team. Be sure to mention specific experiences that demonstrate your expertise in negotiations and conflict resolution.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on your achievements rather than just responsibilities. Use metrics or examples to illustrate how you've successfully managed industrial relations or improved frameworks in previous roles. We love seeing results!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Let’s get started on this journey together!
How to prepare for a job interview at Babcock International
✨Know Your Industrial Relations Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of industrial relations, especially within unionised environments. Be ready to discuss specific frameworks, policies, and your experience with trade unions, as this role is all about building those credible relationships.
✨Prepare for Complex Negotiations
Since you'll be supporting complex negotiations and dispute resolutions, think of examples from your past experiences where you've successfully navigated similar situations. Highlight your negotiation skills and how you’ve managed conflicts effectively.
✨Showcase Your Autonomy
This role requires a lot of independence, so be prepared to talk about times when you've operated autonomously as a specialist advisor. Share how you identified risks and opportunities and provided data-driven solutions in previous roles.
✨Engage with the HR Team
Collaboration is key in this position, so express your enthusiasm for working closely with the HR team. Discuss how you’ve built strong professional connections in the past and how you plan to contribute to the wider people strategy at Babcock.