HR Employee Partner

Date Posted:

2026-11-10



Country:

United Kingdom



Location:

Plymouth, Plymouth



Position Role Type:

Hybrid

At RTX, the world's largest aerospace and defence company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world’s most complex problems. With our three market-leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world.

At Collins Aerospace, we’re redefining aerospace and defence solutions through innovation, collaboration, and excellence. As part of a global network of industry experts, our teams work on cutting-edge technologies that shape the future of aviation and space.

We are currently seeking an experienced and strategic HR Partner to join us as HR Employee Partner, supporting one of our key regions – the South of England in the UK&I, principally aligned to our Mission Systems site in Plymouth. As such, the role will require travel to other locations approximately 30–40% of the time.

We’re on an exciting journey of HR transformation, creating a more connected, business-focused HR function. In this role, you will act as a trusted and visible HR partner to employees, managers and key stakeholders to deliver high-quality, commercially focused HR service. You’ll build strong relationships, coach and challenge managers, support organisational change and help embed new ways of working as the HR model evolves.

A strong background in industrial relations is essential, including experience working with trade unions and employee representatives, collective bargaining and complex employee relations matters within an operational environment.

What you will do:

• Employee & labour relations: Build positive employee and labour relations, monitor engagement trends, manage grievances and collective bargaining agreements, and support union negotiations and works council obligations. Act as a key HR contact for trade unions and employee representatives, providing practical advice and support on collective bargaining, union negotiations, consultation and the resolution of industrial relations issues.
• HR compliance & risk: Ensure compliance with employment laws and HR policies, provide policy guidance, support workforce changes, and ensure fair and consistent application of HR practices, particularly in relation to collective agreements and unionised workforces.
• Leadership coaching & people processes: Coach and advise leaders on building high-performing teams, managing performance and conflict, navigating change, and completing key HR processes such as compensation, development and performance management.
• Complex problem solving & employee relations: Proactively identify and resolve workplace and performance issues, conduct objective HR investigations, administer corrective/disciplinary action, educate on HR processes, and support the business in managing workforce risks. Manage complex employee relations cases, including grievances and disciplinary matters with potential industrial relations implications, working with managers and union representatives to achieve fair and effective outcomes.

Skills and Capabilities Definition:

• Leadership, coaching & influence: Coach and mentor leaders and teams to build high performance, navigate change, and make effective decisions. Influence stakeholders and guide decision-making.
• Communication & data storytelling: Clearly communicate complex information and insights, using data, business context and storytelling to influence leaders. Adapt communication style to different audiences and objectives.
• Culture, engagement & employee experience: Shape and strengthen organisational culture and employee experience to support business strategy. Help leaders create engaging, productive and positive working environments.
• Project & change management: Plan and deliver projects effectively, managing scope, timelines, budgets and stakeholders. Support change adoption and organisational transformation.
• Problem solving & organisational effectiveness: Identify and implement practical people and process solutions that improve performance. Apply best practices in team effectiveness, organisational design and operational improvements.
• Employee relations & investigations: Provide guidance and support on employee relations matters, including workplace concerns and misconduct investigations. Gather evidence objectively and provide appropriate solutions and advice.
• Labour relations: Build constructive relationships with trade unions and employee representatives. Demonstrate practical experience of industrial relations, including collective bargaining, union negotiations, collective agreements, grievances, dispute resolution and consultation on workforce change. Advise leaders on managing union relationships and resolving complex industrial relations matters.
• HR compliance & regulation: Understand and apply employment laws, HR policies and regulations, ensuring fair and compliant practices while staying current with legislative changes.
• Business acumen & strategic alignment: Understand business priorities and ensure people initiatives, programmes and projects directly support organisational objectives and the broader people strategy.

Qualifications / Experience You Must Have:

• Essential demonstrable experience supporting or leading union negotiations, general Industrial Relations experience, collective bargaining, grievance resolution and consultation on organisational or workforce change.
• Preferably degree-educated with a relevant HR qualification, such as CIPD.
• Substantial experience with employee relations processes.
• Significant practical experience in industrial relations, including working directly with trade unions and employee representatives in a unionised or complex operational environment.
• The ability to advise and coach managers through complex industrial relations issues, balancing business needs, employee relations and compliance with relevant employment legislation and collective agreements.

Why Choose Us:

This role enables you to enhance your career through the opportunity to work across a broad range of employee and organisational matters, providing pragmatic HR advice and supporting managers to create an environment where people can perform, develop and thrive to achieve their best.

Work Location Requirements:

Please ensure the role type defined below is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role. This position is classified as:

Hybrid: Employees who are working in Hybrid roles will work regularly both onsite and offsite.  The rRatio of time working onsite will be determined in partnership with your leader.  

You will provide regular on-site support at the Collins Plymouth site whilst also supporting other sites and varied HR Employee Partner requirements across England primarily within the south. As a result, there will be a requirement to travel to our sites within the UK. 

Candidates will learn more about role type and current site status throughout the recruiting process. For onsite and hybrid roles, commuting to and from the assigned site is the employee’s personal responsibility.

What We Can Offer You:

• Competitive Compensation Package 
• 25 days Annual Leave + Public Holidays + option to buy / sell up to 5 days per year 
• Generous Employer Contribution Pension Scheme with 2:1 matched contributions up to 10% 
• Private Medical Insurance 
• Health & Wellbeing Cash Plan - (dental/optical/therapy/chiropody/health screening) 
• Life Assurance & Group Income protection scheme participation 
• Professional Development & Growth 
• Support with professional fees 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
• Employee Discounts & Flexible Benefits Platform
• Employee Recognition & Referral Bonuses 
• and much more! 

Be a part of HR Transformation and help shape what comes next!

RTX adheres to the principles of equal employment. All qualified applications will be given careful consideration without regard to ethnicity, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.  

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