Employment Type: Full Time
Employment Period:
Salary: 70-75
Location:
Leiston, GB, IP16 4TP
Career Area: HR
Industrial relations Lead
Sizewell C’s business is to design, finance, construct, commission, operate, maintain, and eventually decommission the nuclear power plant and related infrastructure at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Overall, whilst the Company is in the construction phase, the Boards’ principal focus is on the development and construction of Sizewell C on time, on budget and to the highest quality and safety standards. The Company is maturing to meet all these requirements.
Sizewell C is economically regulated by OFGEM under the RAB model similar to other UK electricity distribution networks and Thames Tideway.
Sizewell C construction strategy is to replicate the design of Hinkley Point C, using the majority of the same supply chain, but innovating in the way it is delivered to achieve savings in time and cost of around 20%. The CCO will need to be guided by and incorporate lessons learned from the Hinkley Point C commercial delivery to achieve Sizewell C’s ambition.
Following Financial Completion and Revenue Commencement, Sizewell C is fully funded and is owned by; The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero representing HM Government, La Caisse, Centrica, EDF and Amber Infrastructure.
Industrial Relations Lead
Location: Sizewell C, Leiston, Suffolk (office based 4 days per week)
Salary: £75,000 + bonus +excellent benefits including;
Annual Leave: 28 days per annum, increasing to 30 days after 5 years of service, plus bank holidays.
Bonus: Up to 5% annual bonus.
Pension Contributions: Defined Contribution Pension Scheme with up to 7.5% employee contribution 15% employer contribution.
Flexible Benefits: Additional allowance for a variety of benefits.
Contract type: Full time, permanent
Closing date: Wednesday the 24th of June 2026
The Opportunity
We are looking for an experienced Industrial Relations Lead to join the Sizewell C project and play a key role in shaping and delivering our industrial relations strategy across one of the UK’s largest and most complex infrastructure programmes.
Working closely with the Industrial Relations Manager, you will act as a senior specialist and trusted deputy, providing expert guidance on industrial relations across a large, unionised workforce.
This is a senior, operationally focused role. While you will contribute at a strategic level, you will also play an active part in delivery, supporting day to day industrial relations activity. This includes developing and reviewing policies, building strong working relationships across the construction site, and helping to manage and resolve issues as they arise.
This is a high impact role where you will influence project delivery, build strong partnerships with trade unions and contractors, and help maintain a stable and productive industrial relations environment.
Why Join as an Industrial Relations Lead?
This is a unique opportunity to take on a senior, visible role at the heart of one of the UK’s most important infrastructure projects. As Industrial Relations Lead, you will:
Act as a key advisor on industrial relations strategy at project level
Influence outcomes across a large, complex and unionised workforce
Work directly with senior leaders, trade unions and major contractors
Play a critical role in maintaining stability and enabling successful project delivery
Develop your experience in a highly regulated, nationally significant environment
What You’ll Be Doing
Lead and deliver industrial relations activity across Sizewell C, supporting the wider IR strategy
Build strong, effective relationships with trade unions, contractors and key stakeholders
Provide expert advice on collective agreements, employment law and complex IR matters
Support the implementation and ongoing application of SZC agreements and standards
Design and deliver industrial relations training to drive consistency across the project
Monitor workforce activity and provide reporting to support decision making and compliance
Partner with site leadership to manage workforce sentiment, risks and dispute resolution
Take a hands-on role in developing, reviewing and implementing IR policies, procedures and agreements
Engage regularly across the construction site, maintaining visibility and understanding of workforce issues
Work directly on live issues, helping to manage workforce sentiment, risks and dispute resolution in real time
Why Join Sizewell C?
Sizewell C is a once in a generation project that will play a vital role in the UK’s low carbon future. You will be joining a collaborative and purpose driven organisation focused on delivering safely, efficiently and to the highest standards.
We offer the opportunity to make a real impact, work with industry leading experts and be part of a project that will power millions of homes for decades to come.
What We’re Looking For
Essential:
Significant experience in industrial relations, employee relations or a similar specialist role
Strong experience working with trade unions and collective agreements
Solid knowledge of employment law and industrial relations best practice
Experience operating in large, complex or highly regulated organisations
Ability to work at a senior level and influence a wide range of stakeholders
Strong communication, negotiation and problem solving skills
A pragmatic, hands-on approach with a willingness to be directly involved in day-to-day delivery, not just strategy
Desirable:
Experience within construction or engineering environments
CIPD qualification or equivalent experience
Apply Now
If you are an experienced Industrial Relations professional ready for your next senior challenge, we would love to hear from you. Join us and help power the future of Britain.
When joining Sizewell C, you may wonder why you are contacted by colleagues with an EDF email or see the EDF logo on portals that you access and/or documentation you receive; this is because we have partnered with EDF for the provision of a number of support services whilst we complete a successful transition out of the EDF group.
At Sizewell C we encourage and embrace diversity and how it can improve our experience and performance at work. It is a requirement that those who join us have the right to work in the UK. Whilst sponsorship may be a possibility that we can explore, we are fully committed to local recruitment where possible, and those already holding the right to work in the UK.
To be appointed to this role, you will need to meet the criteria for Security Vetting, which will, ordinarily, require you to have been a resident of the UK for at least three of the past five years.
Job Segment: Employee Relations, Power Plant, Supply Chain, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear, Human Resources, Energy, Operations, Engineering
