Lead Employee Relations Business Partner

Location: Derby/ London | Full-time

Are you ready to shape the future of HR and employee experience across the UK? We’re looking for a dynamic and strategic Employee Relations Lead to join our passionate HR team and drive impactful change across our business.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Influence: Partner with senior leaders and HR Business Partners to design and deliver transformational change programmes that align with our ER calendar and business goals.
• Expert Impact: Be the go-to expert for employee relations, guiding managers through complex challenges and ensuring we minimise risk while maximising employee engagement.
• Innovation & Improvement: Lead continuous improvement initiatives, optimise ER processes, and help shape policies that make a real difference.
• Collaboration at its Core: Work hand-in-hand with Centres of Excellence and cross-functional teams to deliver a seamless, ‘One HR Team’ experience.
• People First: Champion a culture of respect, empathy, and professional growth—because our people are our greatest asset.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead and consult on business change projects including restructures, TUPE, and performance management.
• Coach and empower line managers to handle ER issues confidently and effectively.
• Monitor ER trends and develop action plans that drive positive change.
• Represent ER in working groups and collaborate with trade unions, legal advisors, and government bodies.
• Own complex case management, tribunal applications, and whistleblowing investigations with integrity and professionalism.

Who we’re looking for

• A passion for people and a drive for excellence.
• Proven experience in employee relations and change management.
• Strong coaching and influencing skills.
• A relentless focus on continuous improvement and Zero Harm.

Ready to lead, inspire, and make a lasting impact? Apply now and be part of a team that’s building a better future—one employee experience at a time.

Why join us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Benefits

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata).
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave.
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About Us

Balfour Beatty Group Enabling Functions are Legal, Finance, IT and Procurement, Communications, Health Safety and Environment, HR and Sustainability. Together, they support delivery of our Build to Last strategy whilst improving efficiencies and standardising our approach, systems and processes.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: candidaterecruitmentqueries@balfourbeatty.com

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Human Resources
• Industries
• Construction