Industrial Relations Manager in Reading

Job title Industrial Relations Manager Ref 45281 Division People Location Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Salary Circa £70,000 plus Car Allowance, Private Health, Pension & Bonus Job grade C Closing date 08/07/2026

This new, rewarding opportunity sits within the Workforce Relations Centre of Expertise and supports the delivery of the industrial relations agenda across Thames Water. Working closely with business leaders, People colleagues and Trade Union representatives, the role provides expert advice, challenge and coordination to support workforce relations activities and deliver business priorities.

It acts as an important link between the business, the Trade Union Partnership and People teams, helping to maintain constructive relationships and practical ways of working.

You will play a key role in shaping and maturing the organisation’s Industrial Relations strategy and approach, ensuring a consistent, fair and commercially focused approach to Trade Union engagement, consultation and change activity.

Whilst industrial relations negotiations and decisions are led by the business, the role provides expert input, risk assessment and support to ensure a well‑managed, legally compliant and effective approach.

The role contributes to business and People change activity, requiring industrial relations support, bringing insight and analysis to support decision‑making, identifying issues early and translating business priorities into clear industrial relations activity.

This includes managing complex casework, advising and upskilling managers and People teams on industrial relations considerations, ensuring compliance with relevant employment law and internal policy, and helping to mature industrial relations practices. The role also builds effective working relationships with stakeholders to support practical and positive outcomes.

What you will be doing as Industrial Relations Manager

• Support the development and delivery of Workforce Relations Centre of Expertise activity, including industrial relations priorities that align with business needs, support operational effectiveness and manage risk.
• Shape and evolve the industrial relations strategy, supporting organisational transformation and the continued maturity of IR practices.
• Build and manage effective working relationships with leaders, Trade Union representatives and internal stakeholders to support constructive dialogue and progress on workforce issues, and overall maturity of industrial relations practices.
• You will act as the main industrial relations contact, providing advice and support to business leaders and People teams on workforce matters.
• Work with business and People teams to ensure industrial relations activities are effective, progress is maintained and support delivery of agreed priorities where required.

Working Pattern - Hybrid, Reading

What you should bring to the role?

• Experience of supporting the development and delivery of industrial relations activity that helps meet business priorities and maintain positive employee relations.
• Good experience of managing employment relations matters, Trade Union issues and disputes, using judgement and problem‑solving to support appropriate outcomes.
• Experience of applying HR policy and industrial relations approaches in a way that supports business needs while managing legal and operational risk.
• Experience of working with Trade Union representatives through consultation, negotiation and day‑to‑day stakeholder.
• Good knowledge of industrial relations policy, practice and relevant legislative requirements/change, with the ability to apply this in day‑to‑day and complex situations.
• Expertise of using employee insight and organisational data to support recommendations, monitor trends and inform industrial relations activity.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to work with managers, colleagues and Trade Union representatives on sensitive matters.
• Excellent organisational and delivery skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, coordinate activity and follow through on actions.
• The ability to demonstrate commitment to continuous professional development and keeps knowledge up to date in industrial relations and employment law.
• Resilient and solutions focused, with the ability to work through ambiguity and manage sensitive issues in a calm and practical way.
• Level 5 of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) or equivalent professional qualification.
• Good analytical capability, with the ability to use data and insight to identify issues, support recommendations and monitor progress.
• Able to support the design and implementation of people interventions that improve employee relations and support operational outcomes.
• Good understanding of business context and the ability to translate operational priorities into practical industrial relations activity.
• Experience of supporting change activity, with an understanding of the importance of employee engagement and stakeholder management.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary of circa £70,000 per annum.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays).
• Annual Bonus.
• Private Medical Health Care.
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution.
• Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.
• Performance‑related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else, just let us know. We’re here to help and support.