HR Employee Relations Manager

Can you lead and inspire a team while ensuring fair, supportive employee relations practices across the organisation? Do you enjoy collaborating with HR partners to drive performance management and create a safe, empowering workplace culture? If so, we would love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the government’s maritime safety policy in the United Kingdom and works to prevent the loss of life and occurrence of pollution on the coast and at sea. Our vision is to be a world-leading organisation, accelerating the transition to sustainable shipping with non-negotiable safety standards. We put our people, our customers and our planet at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams. We want everyone to feel valued and supported to achieve their potential at MCA. This culture of inclusion is underpinned by our staff networks groups covering Women’s, LGBTQI+, Race, Carers, Mental Wellbeing and volunteer Respect Ambassadors.

The role holder is responsible for managing an effective and efficient service on employee relation related matters for both staff and volunteers.

Your Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To:

• Manage the Employee Relations team to provide quality advice, guidance and support on employee relation related matters, including via digital solutions, ensuring adherence to MCA and Civil Service policies and procedures.
• Work in collaboration with the HR Business Partnering team to ensure effective use of the MCA’s performance management process, driving high performance and ensuring poor performance is addressed appropriately.
• Subject matter expert for attendance management, performance and probation policies and procedures, delivering education and proactive interventions to ensure informal resolution where appropriate.
• Provide support and guidance in relation to the Coastguard Rescue Service and managing volunteers, acting as an escalation point.
• Support the Designated Safeguarding Officers to implement the Agency’s safeguarding policy, providing training and referring any concerns to authorities as appropriate.
• Manage the MCA’s ‘Speak Up’ process, creating a safe environment where individuals feel comfortable and empowered to raise concerns and ensure appropriate action is taken to resolve issues.
• Act as a Counter Signatory for Disclosure Scotland and Disclosure Barring Service to ensure appropriate levels of criminal record checks are in place for staff and volunteers.
• Work in partnership with Learning & Development colleagues to upskill managers on people processes including delivery of training interventions such as Managers Toolkit sessions, MCA Induction, delivery of bespoke management training.

To be successful as the HR Employee Relations Manager, you will have:

• Demonstrable experience of working in an Employee Relations based role with up to date knowledge of employment law.
• Experience of effectively managing a multifaceted team.
• Ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders including senior managers and external service providers.

Potential for some travel to other MCA sites, and to other DfT sites, may include overnight stays. This role will be based in our Southampton HQ. MCA supports flexible working and operates a hybrid working model between home and office for this role, giving you greater flexibility over where and when you work. The expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your working time based at your principal workplace or out on official business. Details of the arrangement will be discussed further with your line manager.

Whilst we can accommodate part time via a job share, the role is 37 hours.

Behaviours: We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Managing a Quality Service, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together.

Alongside your salary of £34,233, Maritime and Coastguard Agency contributes £9,917 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Selection process details: This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. As part of your application, you will be required to complete a CV and a (750 word) Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Reasonable Adjustments: As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Contact point for applicants: Job Contact: Becca Currie, Email: Becca.currie@mcga.gov.uk