At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead industrial relations strategies and foster positive relationships with trade unions.
- Company: Cavendish Nuclear, part of Babcock International Group, focused on critical infrastructure.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, pension scheme, and health support.
- Other info: Flexible working options and excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape workforce relations on a significant infrastructure programme and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Extensive industrial relations experience and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
Location: Bridgwater, Somerset
Compensation: Competitive + accommodation and travel expenses
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
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.
The role:
As a Head of Industrial Relations, you will 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. This is an exciting opportunity to work with senior leaders, operational teams, and external stakeholders to drive positive outcomes that support both people and programme performance.
Day-to-day, you’ll be required to:
- 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 of the Head of Industrial Relations:
- 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 for the Head of Industrial Relations:
- 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 is a benefit that 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:
We’re Cavendish Nuclear — 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: Cavendish Nuclear
Cavendish Nuclear is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation in the nuclear sector. With opportunities for professional growth and a generous benefits package, employees can thrive while contributing to critical national projects from flexible locations like Bristol, Warrington, or Leicester. Join us to be part of a team that values your expertise and empowers you to make a significant impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Industrial Relations in Taunton
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Industrial Relations in Taunton
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 Cavendish Nuclear. 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 Cavendish Nuclear 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.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Cavendish Nuclear
✨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 Cavendish Nuclear.
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