HR Director & London Regional Employers' Secretary

Role Responsibility

In addition to the above key elements of the job:

• Promote innovation and transformation in employment models and practices which improve workforce delivery in London public service.
• Support national and regional employers on the response to central government proposed employment related legislation and trade union claims.
• Share information, advice and guidance with London authorities on best practice HR/OD workforce strategies, arrangements and systems. 
• Management of the HR Metrics service providing HR information, analytics and research into workforce data for the benefit of all London boroughs and other local authorities across the country.   
• Provide strategic HR leadership to London Councils on workforce matters and develop organisational and employee strategies that support a culture of continuous improvement and enable staff to deliver London Councils shared ambitions.
• Management of the Greater London Provincial Council job evaluation scheme.
• Support and facilitate the London borough Heads of HR network and other HR/OD related networks. 
• Provide administration and management of the Smart Pension scheme for the benefit of Adjudicators in the London Tribunals Service, plus pension auto enrolment administration for all London Councils staff.
• Manage and develop the Regional employers officers and London Councils HR/OD related staff so they deliver their best to London Councils. 
• Ensuring London Councils is a workplace where equity, diversity and inclusion are embedded in our culture and practice.

This is a politically restricted post, under Section 2 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Read about the job activities in more detail in the Job Description and Person Specification document attached below.

The Ideal Candidate

• Expert knowledge on HR management, employment law and regulations governing and impacting on people management in the public sector 
• Significant experience of developing and maintaining effective relationships and influencing people operating at a political and/or senior level in complex organisations.
• Experience of working with unions and managing negotiations/ consultations and disputes,  including mediation and conciliation.
• Experience of successfully negotiating HR strategies and policies and implementing them in a complex employee relations arena.
• Detailed knowledge of job evaluation systems and processes.
• Able to analyse and review HR and workforce metrics data to identify trends and produce reports as necessary. 
• Experience of managing, developing and motivating people.
• Experience of managing projects and associated budgets and resources.
• Proficient in the use of relevant business related information communications technology to enable effective delivery in the role. 

Personal Characteristics

• Personal and professional credibility which commands the confidence of councillors, colleagues, partners and stakeholders.
• Highly developed political management skills, demonstrating political judgement and sensitivity.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent prioritisation and time management skills
• Committed to maintaining confidentiality of personal data.
• Flexible and adaptable and willing to take a hands on approach as necessary to ensure the team delivers
• Resilient in pressured and complex work environments
• Personal commitment to the value of diversity, inclusion and promotion of equity.

All applications will be processed using a blind sifting method. This means that personal identifying details will be removed to ensure fair and unbiased shortlisting of applications.

Package Description

Responsible to: Chief Operating Officer

Responsible for: Four HR and employment services related staff and any temporary staff and external contractors or consultants assigned.

Starting salary: circa £90k

Working Hours: 35 per week

Job Category: Corporate Governance - Human Resources

Contract details: Permanent. Full time. Hybrid working, some mandatory office days required.

London Councils has over 160 employees working in local government policy roles or providing services to London residents. We operate in a hybrid working environment as an agile employer, working across our Strategic Directorates. We work flexibly in the organisation, depending on work and meetings, so you don’t need to attend the office five days a week.

If you have any queries or would like to informally discuss the role, please contact Steve Davies, HR Director at steve.davies@londoncouncils.gov.uk  or 020 7934 9963.

Please be advised that the application deadline for this role will close at 11:59pm on Monday 3, February 2025. Interviews will be during the week commencing 10th February.

About the Company

London Councils is the collective of London local government, the 32 boroughs and the City of London Corporation. They come together through London Councils to work in collaboration to deliver their shared ambitions for London and Londoners. Through lobbying, collaboration and partnership, we ensure the voice of the London boroughs are united, and heard at a local, regional and national level. We also run a number of services on behalf of the boroughs including the Freedom Pass, Taxicard and Health Emergency Badge.

Read more about London Councils - London Councils

The London Regional Employers' Organisation is part of London Councils and is one of eleven regional employers’ groups which represents the interests of local authorities across the United Kingdom.  We manage the London Agreement which determines pay and terms and conditions for London borough staff and provide secretary services to the Greater London Provincial Council and the Greater London Employment Forum committees, as well as supporting the resolution of London borough employment related disputes.