Employee Relations & HR Compliance Director

Job description
Job Description:

Dentsu is at the cutting edge of the industry, producing new ways of working and generating growth through the power of technology and creativity. For over 120 years, innovation has been a core tenet of dentsu’s offering – exploring new ways to reach, engage and nurture relationships with audiences. Innovation is a key priority for brands, but few have the tools and systems in place to make it happen. They need a partner like dentsu.

Through innovation, we ensure the impact our clients need to drive growth in their business, while also generating a positive effect on the industry, society, and the world. Innovation at dentsu is always in pursuit of an outcome, meaning we are always focused on the end impact that we’ll have a for a client and their communities. For some businesses this might be hard return on marketing investment or increasing revenues, but for others it may be driving behavioural change, building positive culture or connecting disparate communities.

Purpose of the Role

The Employee Relations and HR Compliance Director will collaborate with senior business leaders, senior HR Business Partners and the dentsu Legal & Compliance team to set the ER strategy and provide expertise, advice and guidance to senior HR Business Partners and senior business leaders (where required), review and revise our HR policies, ensure consistent application of such policies, facilitate compliance with employment laws, and oversee the successful investigation and resolution of complex or sensitive employee relations issues in dentsu’s businesses and operations located in the UK(approximately 4,000 employees) - this population includes employees within dentsu’s Global and Regional management structures as well as its UK market business (“UK Located Population”).

The time split will be approximately 70% spent supporting the UK Located Population and 30% spent supporting EMEA regional and market best practice by leading a “Centre of Excellence”. . In addition, this role will utilise data and analytics to identify employee relations trends, diagnose employee relations challenges and collaborate cross-functionally to identify and implement proactive business solutions to address these issues.

Key Responsibilities
• Provide succinct yet thorough guidance to senior HRBPs and senior managers within the UK Located Population to ensure the fair and consistent application of policies and defined processes.
• Partner with senior HR Business Partners and the dentsu Legal & Compliance team to provide expertise on the investigation and successful resolution of employee relations issues, grievances, and complaints, including:
• Analyse employee relations issues and trends within the organisation to identify root causes and recommend proactive interventions and share best practice to result in longer term improvements in case incidents and an improved culture.
• Collaborate with the dentsu Legal & Compliance team and external counsel to ensure compliance with applicable employment laws and regulations.
• Lead the design and delivery of employee relations related trainings and processes for HR Business Partners and managers, in partnership with other HR Centers of Excellence and the dentsu Legal & Compliance team.
• Collaborate with the business, other parts of the HR function and other functions as a trusted advisor, partner and subject matter expert on employee relations best practices and complex employee relations matters, including performance management, terminations, restructurings, leave management and accommodation requests, workplace drug/alcohol/violence matters, anti-discrimination, conflict resolution, etc.
• Leverage metrics and data to help identify employee relations and organisational effectiveness trends and collaborate with other HR functional teams to assist in the development of action plans, training, processes and tools to address problems, increase employee engagement and reduce employee relations risk and develop proactive business solutions to address these issues; and
• Lead on identifying gaps and owning updates in UK & HR Group policy to ensure legal compliance and procedures and employment contracts together with Global, EMEA and UK stakeholders.
• Manages the Policy Sub Committee to review, amend and approve UK&I policies. Ensuring that committee and appropriate stakeholders are consulted about new or existing policy amendments in advance of committee meetings.
• Lead a small ER team ensuring that they are continually upskilled in their capabilities and team service.
• Responsible for triaging EMEA HR related speak ups across EMEA markets, provide guidance, review outcomes and ensure alignment with Company policies, procedures and standards, as well as ensuring timely closure on the Convercent platform
• Establish best practice process in managing contingent employees across region, ensuring that employment is compliant with relevant local employment legislation and contingent workforce is tracked appropriately in Workday.

Qualifications + Skills
• Extensive experience in Employment Law (ideally 10+ years) and with Employee Relations in the UK, including experience managing complex/sensitive workplace related issues and drafting and administering employment-related policies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing (utilising a range of influencing styles) and stakeholder management skills
• Strong policy drafting skills
• Proven success in establishing collaborative relationships with individuals at all levels and in all parts of the organisation.
• Strong knowledge of key UK employment laws and regulations and the ability to advise and identify employment law issues including regarding dismissal, TUPE, redundancy, anti-discrimination and dealing with people with complex needs.
• Experience supporting numerous work locations.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills to deliver results.
• Exceptional judgment and decision-making skills, especially in situations that are sensitive, complex and/or ambiguous. Demonstrating pragmatic ability to balance the needs of ER with needs of the business.
• Demonstration of strong social and emotional skills – ability to establish and maintain positive relationships; make responsible decisions and solve challenging situations; and set and achieve positive goals.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. Ability to analyse data, understand trends and develop recommendations for action based on the analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to handle highly confidential information in a mature and professional manner.
• Strong time management, project management and prioritization skills, with the ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects/matters to closure.
• Proficient in MS Office programs (including Excel).
• Ability to work independently.
• Prior leadership of a small ER related team

Preferred
• Legal Practice Course (LPC) qualified and at least 2 years’ Legal Training experience is preferred but not essential, if ER experience is extensive.
• Experience of M&A integration, TUPE, divestments and outsourcing
• Strong business orientation coupled with a genuine desire to promote a fair and positive work environment.
• Ideally, knowledge of Irish employment law would be desirable.

What we offer
• This is a permanent role.
• The team is based in our London office but operates under flexible working arrangements.
• As well as a competitive salary, you’ll enjoy a benefits package that you can tailor to your needs.

Inclusion and Diversity

Our diverse and inclusive culture enables our employees to bring their whole selves to work and be proud of doing so. For us, this is the foundation for great innovation which, in turn, generates better outcomes for our people, partners and communities. This is why we encourage applications from people with disabilities, and of all ages, nationalities, backgrounds and cultures.

We are happy to discuss flexible and agile approaches to working for all our roles – we can’t promise we will be able to offer you everything you want or need but we do promise to discuss it with you openly and honestly. If you have any reasonable adjustment needs arising from a disability or medical condition to fully participate in the recruitment process, please discuss this with our recruitment teams.

About dentsu

Taking a people-centred approach to business transformation, we use insights to connect brand, content, commerce and experience, underpinned by modern creativity. As part of Dentsu Group Inc. we are headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and our 65,000 employee-base of dedicated professionals work across four regions (Japan, Americas, EMEA and APAC). Dentsu combines Japanese innovation with a diverse, global perspective to drive client growth and to shape society.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion sits at the heart of our Social Impact strategy – our fully integrated sustainability strategy which includes our ambition to build a fair and more equal society, where everyone is equipped to thrive.

Location:

London

Brand:

Dentsu

Time Type:

Full time

Contract Type:

Permanent