Head of Employee Relations

Job Description

Sysco GB (whose UK operating companies include Brakes, Fresh Direct, KFF & Medina), are now recruiting for a Head of Employee Relations (ER) on a full time, permanent basis.

Reporting to the Sysco GB HR Director, the Head of Employee Relations will lead the development and execution of Sysco GB’s ER strategy, focusing on fostering positive employee relations, enhancing colleague engagement, mitigating risks, and ensuring compliance with legal standards. As a key business partner, you will shape the ER function to meet both current and future business needs while driving a culture of fairness, transparency, and best practices. This leadership role will oversee ER for approximately 8,800 employees across five business units and drive initiatives across compliance, union relations, and broader ER objectives. You will also be responsible for managing the important relationship with our employment law provider that serves as a key partner to the company, assisting line managers with employee relations queries. A critical role that will collaborate with senior stakeholders to align ER strategies with Sysco GB’s business goals.

The role is pivotal in driving simplification, alignment, and strategic focus across Sysco GB’s ER function whilst improving colleague retention, enhancing colleague engagement, and ensuring consistent, high-quality practices across the organisation maintaining a positive and compliant workplace culture.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategy Development: Design and implement ER strategies that align with Sysco GB's growth objectives
• Team Capability Building: Enhance the HR team's ER capabilities, continuously improving processes for better colleague experiences. 
• Policy Development:  Lead the development of HR Policies that align with the company’s Employee Value Proposition (EVP).  Ensuring policies reflect our commitment to attracting and retaining talent while promoting an inclusive and engaging workplace. 
• Proactive Risk Management: Analyse employee relations trends, proposing proactive solutions to mitigate risks and improve engagement. 
• Industry Insight & Guidance: Use market insights and benchmarking to guide ER initiatives. 
• External Relationships: Manage third-party legal and supplier relationships, ensuring Sysco GB stays current on trends and remains competitive. 
• Executive Advisory: Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on ER issues, workplace culture, and best practices. 
• Collaborative Initiatives: Partner with HRSLT and leadership to drive cross-functional projects, including the Diversity & Inclusion strategies. 
• Union Relations & Negotiations: Develop, agree, and maintain a group wide strategy and approach to industrial relations including recognition of trade unions.  Ensure compliance with collective agreements and address any concerns, promoting a culture of mutual respect and partnership. 
• Mergers and Acquisitions:  Lead the due diligence process from an HR perspective during any potential mergers or acquisitions. 
• Manager Training & Development: Provide training to HR/Management on ER topics such as conflict resolution, compliance, and best practices. 
• Colleague Forum:  Take ownership of the Employee Communication Forum and continue to develop the forum and improve colleague engagement within the workforce. 
• Compliance & Auditing: Regularly audit industrial practices for global compliance and fairness, ensuring the business meets all legal requirements. 
• Governance & Representation: Represent ER on steering and functional committees, ensuring the ER strategy is aligned with organisational priorities. 

About You:

You will bring demonstrated experience in a senior Employee & Industrial Relations role, ideally with Trade Union experience within a large, fast-paced environment. Additionally, you should have a solid track record in overseeing HR due diligence during mergers and acquisitions. An ER professional who can align ER policies with business objectives, supporting commercial success and organisational growth. A deep understanding of workforce/labour laws and regulations, ensuring compliance across policies and practices, is critical. This position also emphasises improving the employee experience by continuously refining processes and practices. Strong analytical skills are required, along with experience managing complex projects and leveraging data for decision-making. While not essential, familiarity with Mergers & Acquisitions would be advantageous.

The role is home based, with frequent weekly travel to different sites across GB and comes with a competitive base salary, attractive car allowance, annual bonus incentive plan and private healthcare for you and your family, an additional holiday purchase scheme, award-winning food products at virtually cost price and a range of perks and discounts through our online benefits platform.