Head of Employee Relations for Europe

Bracknell, Berkshire
Michael Page HR

A key People role within Honda Motor Europe. As Head of Employee Relations for Europe, your role will incorporate a mix of leading on Employee Relations/Associate Relations across Europe – including Works Councils – as well as providing a mixture of operational and strategic focus across all areas of the business. Exposure to key HR projects. European travel up to 20% of the time.

Client Details

The company is a renowned global player in the automotive industry, with operations spread across various continents. Honda Motor Europe is headquartered in Bracknell and is widely recognised for its commitment to innovation and sustainability.

Description

Reporting to the HR General Manager, the Head of Employee Relations for Europe works together with senior management and members of the HR team to plan, deliver and enhance Human Resources Associate Relations/Employee Relations. This role also provides a mixture of operational and strategic focus across all areas of the business and the Continental European organisation, in line with business objectives and the Honda Philosophy.

The successful candidate will have strong knowledge in employee relations and contribute to the HR strategy to enhance associates climate in the Region. Provide strategic leadership and expert professional HR advice to the business on delivery and development of HR activity to meet business needs.

Labour relations management:

• Ensure full compliance with employee relations in the UK and across continental Europe including managing complex cases.
• Lead Pan European Labour relations issues, including Coordinator of Honda’s European Works Council (called HECCG)
• Monitor labour relation situation in Europe (environment & internal), assessing potential risks and devising appropriate responses.
• Support Continental Branches with Works Council activity.
• Key contributor for developing overall European approach to support positive culture and achieve business objectives.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, coaching and enabling them to consistently demonstrate and embody Honda Philosophy and values.
• Assure the governance of Labour relations across Europe including key policy / compliance implementation.

Organisational climate analysis:

• Responsible for monitoring internal climate and supporting the analysis of the situation to identify focus areas and drive / support implementation of Countermeasures.

Key Project Delivery

• As required lead and drive the successful implementation of key HR projects (e.g. organisational change initiatives, significant policy enhancement etc).

HR Strategic Direction

• Support the HR General Manager in devising and developing the HR strategic roadmap. Identifying opportunities for HR to be an enabler of business success.

Regional HR network:

• Contribute to the regional HR manager meetings.
• Assure a regular communication process with the HR managers across the Region.

This role requires regular European travel – up to 20% of the time

Profile

A successful Head of Employee Relations for Europe should have:

• Proven track record in senior ER/HR roles, with strong knowledge of ER/HR practices across Europe.
• Knowledge of / experience working closely with European Works Councils would be highly advantageous.
• Professional HR qualification / accreditation preferred or equivalent experience.
• Ability to manage and build on HR delivery in a complex business environment.
• Strong alignment with Honda Philosophy and values, someone who quickly establishes credibility and respect and builds strong working relationships.
• Experience in driving change and transformation.
• Is comfortable providing advice across multiple areas of expertise with the necessary credibility to influence at all levels, problem solving through a pragmatic and commercially sound approach.
• A compelling communicator able to assess, interpret and present findings and insights to recommend HR actions and interventions.
• Ability to undertake regular European travel (at least once per month – up to 20% of the time).

Job Offer

This role offers the following:

• A strongly competitive salary, depending on experience.
• 3 company pension schemes to choose from, including one matching contributions up to 11.25%.
• Company car scheme.
• Vehicle Employee Loan Ownership Plan.
• Single cover private healthcare.
• Group Income Protection.
• Life Assurance.
• Generous holiday leave – 25 days plus Bank Holidays – to promote a healthy work-life balance.
• The opportunity to work at a leading company in the automotive industry with a strong commitment to innovation and sustainability.

Honda embrace inclusion in their various policies, so whilst their contracts state that the hours are as required to fulfil the role with a minimum of 35 hours per week, they offer flexibility for when you work.

The regular office hours are 08:00 – 16:00 Monday to Thursday with a half hour lunch break & 08:00 – 13:00 on a Friday.

However, they offer flexibility of when you work with the daily flex-time start of between 07:00 and 11:00 providing that there is no business requirement.

Whilst there is no contractual right to work from home, the flexibility they offer is that you can request to work from home for a maximum of 50% of the working days in any one month, again providing there is no business requirement to attend the office.