Interim Head of Employee Relations

EEAST is a great place to work, with great people and career opportunities. No two days are the same; if you are looking for a varied and supportive environment, EEAST can offer you that and more!

Job overview: EEAST is seeking an experienced and credible senior Employee Relations People Professional to join us as Interim Head of Employee Relations on a 12-month fixed term contract. This is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for leading and stabilising the Trust’s ER function during a period of service improvement and transformation. This post operates on an agile working basis, with a blend of remote working and onsite presence. The role will require attendance at Trust sites as necessary, including for key meetings, hearings and appeals, and stakeholder engagement. Some activities may also be delivered virtually, including hearings and meetings held via Microsoft Teams, in line with service needs.

• Provide senior leadership of the Employee Relations function across the Trust
• Lead the turnaround of high-volume and complex ER casework, improving timeliness and quality
• Drive transformation of ER processes, governance and ways of working
• Act as the Trust’s senior expert on employee relations and employment law
• Work closely with HR Business Partners to maximise early intervention and informal resolution, ensuring only proportionate cases progress to formal ER processes
• Build effective partnerships with trade unions and senior leaders
• Provide assurance through robust performance reporting and risk management
• Lead, support and develop a high-performing ER team

Working for our organisation: You'll have the opportunity to work in one of the most diverse regions in the country, with the vibrant capital city just a stone's throw away and the invigorating North Sea coast to the east. The East of England offers a unique blend of innovation and opportunity, surrounded by picturesque countryside, historic towns, and quick access to both the bustling capital and serene coastlines.

At EEAST we bring together all our skills to provide 24 hour, 365 days a year urgent care to those in need of emergency and non-emergency medical treatment and transport in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. We are always looking to innovate our approaches and work together to offer the best possible patient care across our counties.

We aim to represent and value the diversity of our local communities through our workforce and service provision. We therefore positively encourage applications from under-represented groups, such as Black, Asian, or other ethnic groups, individuals with a Disability, or LGBTQ+ individuals who meet the specific criteria. We at EEAST want to support our employees achieve a balance between work and other priorities, such as caring responsibilities, family commitments, further learning, and other interests. We therefore welcome flexible working requests.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities: For a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the role, including all its specific requirements and responsibilities, please consult the attached Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides an in-depth overview that will give you a clear and detailed picture of what the position entails.

Please note, should you be successful in your application, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks, prior to receiving an unconditional offer. If full employment checks cannot be achieved (this will include existing and unserved disciplinary sanctions), then your offer may be withdrawn.

How to apply:

• Step 1 - Read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification (attached)
• Step 2 - Complete the Supporting Statement - Your statement needs to indicate how you meet each of the criteria contained within the Person Specification.
• Step 3 - Complete the online application and upload your statement. Please note, CVs are not accepted.

References and Employment History: All references from current and previous employers will be sought via their Human Resources Department and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and email address of the Human Resources Department and indicate your current/previous line manager and their departmental details. All appointments will be subject to currently having a clean disciplinary record.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Under the Trust's commitment 'Positive about Disabled People', if you consider yourself as having a disability and you meet the minimum selection criteria for any post, you will get an automatic interview.

The Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date if a large number of applications are received. If you would like to apply for this position then please keep this information in mind when preparing your submission. Please note that if you have not had a response from us after one month of submitting your application, you have not been shortlisted for interview.