Secretariat Manager in Birmingham

We are seeking an experienced and highly organised Secretariat Manager to lead the Secretariat function for Corporate Industrial Relations and HR Policy Team. This is a pivotal role supporting effective relationships with Trade Unions, senior leaders, and key stakeholders across the organisation. The successful candidate will play a central role in managing corporate consultation processes, supporting governance and compliance, and strengthening organisational capability in Industrial Relations and HR policy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead on administrative submissions and manage the Secretariat function for the Corporate Consultation Committee, Corporate Trade Union meetings, Employee Relations Application group and Section 188 consultation meetings.
• Lead and coordinate all Trade Union consultation forums, ensuring statutory and organisational compliance.
• Manage the Industrial Relations Secretariat function, overseeing agendas, forward programmes, and meeting administration, and providing leadership to secretariat support staff.
• Provide expert advice on collective consultation and IR compliance, including HR1 submissions, Section 188 correspondence, FOI responses, and review of Directorate business cases.
• Oversee Trade Union facilities and representative release arrangements, ensuring compliance with the Facilities Agreement across all Directorates.
• Act as the Industrial Relations expert, upskilling management colleagues who regularly consult with our Trades Unions.
• Produce statutory returns and management information, and maintain core IR documentation, intranet content, and employee guidance materials.

About You

As a Secretariat Manager, you will be an experienced professional with strong knowledge of consultation frameworks, Trade Union engagement, employment legislation, ideally within a large public sector or complex organisation. You will be confident working with senior stakeholders and elected Members, with excellent organisational, communication, and influencing skills and capable of managing complex governance and compliance processes and associated meetings.

You will also demonstrate:

• Knowledge of Industrial Relations practices and collective consultation requirements.
• Ability to coordinate all Trade Union consultation forums and meetings ensuring statutory and organisational compliance.
• Experience managing corporate meetings, governance, and secretariat functions.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.
• Ability to interpret legislation and organisational policy effectively.
• Experience overseeing agendas, forward programmes, and meeting administration, and providing leadership to secretariat support staff, developing guidance, training, and policy documentation.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience working collaboratively across HR, operational, and leadership teams.

Why Join Birmingham City Council?

As one of the largest local authorities in Europe, Birmingham City Council offers the opportunity to play a key role in shaping positive Industrial Relations and HR policy across a complex organisation. You will work closely with senior leaders, Trade Union representatives, and HR professionals to support effective consultation, governance, and organisational development.

What We Offer:

• A supportive, diverse and inclusive working environment.
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• Flexible working arrangements including some hybrid working.
• Access to Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Generous annual leave entitlement and employee wellbeing initiatives.

Please upload your up-to-date CV via the attachments part of your application, this is required for shortlisting. Unfortunately, we cannot consider any applications without a CV attached.

Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people. We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.

For any informal enquiries please contact the Resourcing Team at Resourcing@birmingham.gov.uk. Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed. Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Birmingham City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our citizens and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.