Head of HR / Employee Relations, Europe & Middle East

We’re reimagining work/life balance – and you could be part of it.At OFG, we\'re proud to be part of the 4-Day Working Week trial – a bold step toward giving our teams more time to recharge, refresh, and enjoy life outside of work.That means you could be working 80% of your usual hours, while still earning 100% of your pay.If the trial proves successful, we’ll roll out the 4DWW across the Group – making now the perfect time to join #TeamOFG and help shape the future of work.Job Title: Head of HR / Employee Relations, Europe & Middle East Salary: TBCLocation: Hybrid Manchester- (2 days in office per week)Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday.About Us:At Outcomes First Group, we believe every child can thrive when given the right environment for success. As one of the world’s leading providers in our sector, we deliver exceptional, research-led education tailored to each individual, with smaller class sizes and personalised learning plans.Our vision is to empower every child with a world-class education that nurtures potential and inspires lifelong learning, our mission is to unlock that potential through personalised learning and opportunity, and our promise is simple: we listen, we work together, and we are accountable to one another to make the remarkable happen.Job Purpose:As Outcomes First Group (OFG) enters an exciting period of growth and international expansion, this role will play a critical part in shaping the Group’s organisational resilience by leading and delivering the employee relations strategy and operations across Europe and the Middle East. Combining strategic influence with deep technical expertise, the postholder will ensure legal compliance, effective case management, and proactive risk mitigation, while directly managing complex ER issues in a regulated, multi-site environment. They will bring both knowledge and delivery capability to support leaders with practical solutions, alongside playing a key role in M&A due diligence and post-acquisition people risk management. Against the backdrop of OFG’s strong reputation as a leading provider of specialist and inclusive education, supporting over 6,500 children and young people across more than 90 schools, the role will embed consistent ER practices, strengthen organisational capability, and enable the Group to deliver on its vision of building incredible futures for children and young people worldwide.What you\'ll do: Employee Relations Leadership – Develop and deliver the ER strategy for the region, ensuring consistent application of policies and alignment with local labour laws. M&A Due Diligence – Lead the people-related workstream during due diligence, assessing employment liabilities, contractual obligations, and workforce risks. Post-Acquisition Compliance – Oversee ER aspects of integration, including TUPE/transfer processes, works council engagement, and collective agreements. Case Management – Advise and coach business leaders on complex disciplinary, grievance, and performance matters, ensuring fairness and compliance. Policy Governance – Maintain and update regional HR policies and procedures, ensuring they meet local legal requirements and best practice standards. Regulatory Compliance – Partner with legal and compliance teams to mitigate people-related risks in regulated settings. Stakeholder Partnership – Build strong working relationships with business leaders, legal teams, and employee representatives to enable effective resolution of people matters. What we\'re looking for: Extensive employee relations experience across multiple European and Middle Eastern jurisdictions. Demonstrated expertise in M&A due diligence and post-acquisition ER integration. Deep understanding of employment law, TUPE, and collective bargaining.Strong coaching and advisory skills for senior leaders. Experience in regulated, multi-site environments, ideally in education, healthcare, or similarsectors. Ability to manage high-risk, complex ER cases in a sensitive and commercially pragmatic way.Why join Outcomes First Group? About the GroupOutcomes First Group is the largest independent provider of high quality special needs education and care. We are a vital part of local communities in England, Scotland and Wales with a renowned reputation for quality and positive outcomes for the people we educate and care for.We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.Our divisional brands include Acorn Education, Options Autism, Blenheim Schools and Momenta Connect.Our VisionEmpower every child, whatever their ability, with a world-class education that nurtures potential, inspires lifelong learning, and equips them to thrive in a diverse and evolving world.Our MissionWe commit to unlocking our pupils’ potential through personalised learning, innovation, and opportunity, supporting growth and aspirations.Our PromiseWe Listen.We never assume.We work together.To make the remarkable happen.We are accountable.To each other and for one another.BenefitsYour health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:Life AssurancePension scheme with options to increase your contributions“Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checksFamily Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroadCycle to Work SchemesElectric Car Purchase SchemeCritical illness coverWe are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment and undertake appropriate checks. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.We are an Equal Opportunities Employer. Please note: 4DWW is subject to successful completion of your probation period and is not a contractual benefit.We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.