At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead industrial relations strategy and build partnerships with trade unions for a major infrastructure programme.
- Company: Cavendish Nuclear, part of Babcock International Group, focused on energy security.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, matched pension scheme, and health benefits.
- Other info: Flexible working options and excellent career development opportunities available.
- Why this job: Shape workforce relations and make a lasting impact on the UK's energy future.
- Qualifications: Significant industrial relations experience and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
Location: Bridgwater, Somerset
Compensation: Competitive + accommodation and travel expenses
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Role ID: SF75557
Shape the future of workforce relations on one of the United Kingdom's most significant infrastructure programmes. At Cavendish Nuclear, we're working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Head of Industrial Relations at Hinkley Point C, near Bridgwater, Somerset. This is a unique opportunity to take a strategic leadership role at the heart of a nationally important programme. Working across a complex alliance of organisations, you will lead industrial relations strategy, build strong partnerships with trade unions and workforce representatives, and help create the conditions for successful programme delivery. You'll have the chance to influence workforce strategy at scale while making a lasting impact on a project that will support the United Kingdom's energy security for generations to come.
The role:
- Provide strategic leadership across industrial relations activities for the MEH Alliance, ensuring productive relationships with trade unions, effective workforce engagement, and the successful management of complex employee and organisational matters.
- Develop and implement industrial relations strategies that support programme objectives and workforce stability.
- Lead relationships with trade unions and workforce representatives to foster positive, collaborative partnerships.
- Manage negotiations, consultations, and the resolution of complex workforce issues.
- Partner with HR, legal, and operational teams to identify and mitigate industrial relations risks.
- Influence senior stakeholders across multiple organisations to support a high-performing and engaged workforce culture.
This is a full-time role based at Hinkley Point C. 37 hours per week.
Essential experience:
- Significant industrial relations experience within a unionised environment.
- Demonstrable experience building and maintaining effective relationships with trade unions and workforce representatives.
- Strong track record of leading negotiations, consultations, and resolving complex industrial relations matters.
- Experience influencing senior stakeholders across multiple organisations within complex delivery environments.
- Comprehensive understanding of industrial relations frameworks, employment legislation, and collective agreements.
Qualifications:
- No specific qualification required. Candidates should be able to demonstrate substantial industrial relations expertise and leadership experience.
Security Clearance:
The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain BPSS security clearance for this role.
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 share scheme
- Employee shopping savings portal
- Payment of Professional Fees
- Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
- Holiday Trading allows UK Cavendish employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement.
- '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.
- Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
Cavendish Nuclear is a team of c5,000 specialists and a core part of Babcock International Group. Here, you'll be part of something bigger. Across clean energy, defence, and civil decommissioning, your work will contribute to projects that are critical to energy security and national protection. Together, we're shaping a future that lasts - not only through the impact we make, but through meaningful careers that respect your work-life balance. Join us and discover how far we can go, together.
We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email careers@babcockinternational.com with the subject header Reasonable adjustments requirement. We're committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone's free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working - please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.
Closing date: 28/08/2026
Head of Industrial Relations in Taunton employer: Babcock International
Babcock International is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment at the Rosyth site in Scotland, where you can contribute to impactful construction and infrastructure projects. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, we provide ongoing training and development opportunities, alongside a collaborative culture that prioritises safety and compliance. Join us to be part of a team that values your contributions and supports your career advancement in the engineering field.
