UK / IE Head of Employees and Labor Relations, EXR

The Employee Experience and Relations (EXR) Head of Country (HOC) is a key leadership role within the EU EXR Field organization. This role is primarily responsible for developing and leading an in-country field EXR team, activities, and initiatives across multiple under the roof (UTR) and on the road (OTR) operational business lines (CF/ATS/AMZL/AMXL/AmFlex), within a specific country geography. The primary focus is on aligning country EXR strategies with EU and country business goals, driving EXR operational excellence, and addressing the EXR needs of the country. With more than 75K employees and close to 170 locations, making it the largest Amazon country within Europe, this role is reporting directly to the EU EXR Director and will be part of the EU EXR Leadership Team. In addition to HoC responsibilities, in their capacity of EU EXR LT member, they will play a role in designing the Employee Relations (ER) strategy and enhancing ER Operational Excellence in the region. The EXR HOC acts as the primary strategic business partner and escalation point for Country PXT/Ops Directors and other key senior country stakeholders. By aligning EXR strategies and practices with regional and country business goals, the EXR HOC overseas and supports the overall labour relations needs of the country. In this position, the EXR HOC develops and executes a country-specific EXR strategy that aligns with business needs while considering the labour relations landscape. The role involves implementing strategies to address country labour relations challenges for UTR and OTR business lines and providing labour relations support by collaborating with operational teams and national stakeholders to advance company objectives. Building and maintaining effective relationships with employees' representatives, and key external/internal stakeholders and third parties is crucial. The EXR HOC represents the company in negotiations and discussions with employee representatives (where applicable), ensuring productive outcomes. Ensuring that all ER practices comply with local labour laws and company policies, the EXR HOC identifies, predicts, and mitigates potential labour risks by developing proactive strategies. Leading through complex labour issues and crisis situations with sound judgment and effective communication is key to this role. The EXR HOC partners closely with operations leadership, national stakeholders, PXT, and legal teams to address vulnerabilities and implement solutions. By effectively communicating EXR matters to company leaders, the EXR HOC provides insights and recommendations that translate into efficient action plans for the country and beyond. Fostering cross-business collaboration enhances practices and drives organisational goals, contributing to the EU EXR Value Proposition and Strategy. Promoting standardised best practices across the wider team and the broader organisation, the EXR HOC implements tools and processes to optimize overall team efficiency. As the leader of a team, the EXR HOC is responsible for defining priorities in line with strategic goals and operational needs providing mentorship, guidance, and professional development opportunities fostering a high-performing and motivated team. The EXR HOC will role model and drive high levels of collaboration across a range of country-based business line operational and corporate support partners. This role will also drive high levels of collaboration and engagement with EU EXR Business Line Principals ensure the maintenance of two-way communication that will serve to inform and enrich both EU and country EXR value proposition and ability to deliver for our customers. This role is dynamic and challenging, carrying a high level of responsibility. It is pivotal in driving the EU EXR operating model and strategy and serves as an inspiration to leaders within the wider global EXR/PXT organization. Key job responsibilities LABOUR RELATIONS STRATEGY

• Strategy Development: Collaborate with in-country PXT and Ops leaders, as well as EXR Business Line Principals, to create and implement your EXR strategy, ensuring alignment with overall Operations business objectives and the wider EU EXR strategy.
• Country Execution: Work with EXR Business Partners and national leaders to deliver business line-specific goals and key initiatives, adhering to the approved EXR priorities and standards.
• Constructive Relationship with Employee Representatives (Continental EU only): Lead and embody the EXR philosophy to build positive, long-term relationships with constructive employee representatives in-country, while ensuring compliance with country regulations.
• Risk Mitigation: Utilise expertise in employee and labour relations to identify potential issues, predict risks, and develop effective strategies to mitigate them for the entire country, including DSP and driver-related risks.
• Crisis Management: Balance proactive projects with crisis-response efforts, using sound judgment to assess and respond to critical employee relations issues under tight timelines.
• Own Your ER Environment: Monitor your internal EXR environment through standard tools and mechanisms, as well as your external operating context (including new regulations, peer practices, and tax-optimized opportunities). Educate stakeholders and peers to strengthen the voice of EXR in every decision-making process affecting AAs and DSP/DAs.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Build and maintain influential relationships with Operations and PXT leaders, as well as other critical stakeholders, to gather information, feedback, support, and necessary resources for EXR strategy execution.
• Project Management: Independently manage projects and initiatives aimed at improving the associate and driver experience and achieving country-level results.
• Innovation and Scalability: Challenge local and current practices to develop innovative and standardized ER solutions, exceeding customer expectations while reducing EXR resource consumption.
• Efficiency and Effectiveness: Implement tools and processes to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the ER team in managing employee relations activities, and promote adoption throughout the wider EXR network.
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
• Analytical Skills: Use data and anecdotes to develop persuasive narratives and recommendations, demonstrating the ability to define and measure the success of your strategy across the country.
• Compliance: Leverage personal knowledge and Amazon's resources to ensure full compliance of EXR decisions and activities across the whole country. Flag risks and recommend alternative solutions to maximize compliance.
• Deliver Innovation: Develop and deliver solutions that challenge current practices and industry status quo, generating creative mechanisms that can be applied across all country/LoBs.
• Fostering the Culture: Develop and assess engagement mechanisms and signals that maintain positive workplace environments for associates and third-party service providers. Inform leadership on key areas of improvement at local and country levels.
• Writing Skills: Generate and contribute to EXR strategies and rhythm of business reporting activities, writing to a high operational standard and working in partnership with EXR Operational Excellence and EXR Business Line Principals.
LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES
• Strategic Vision and Hands-on Execution: Develop and implement comprehensive country strategies that align with global and European priorities while effectively managing day-to-day EXR operations.
• Business Acumen: Translate business needs into EXR plans, participate in strategic planning meetings, and drive EXR talent planning for the country team.
• Collaboration and Partnership: Build collaborative relationships with Operations and PXT leaders, as well as Legal, Finance, Public Relations, and Public Policy departments, to advance the company's mission and objectives.
• Problem-Solving and Innovation: Partner with stakeholder teams to diagnose problems, influence solutions, and drive innovative EXR programs that meet organizational goals.
• Effective Communication: Communicate EXR-related matters clearly and effectively to business leaders and country stakeholders, ensuring alignment and understanding across all levels of the organization.
• Crisis Management: Balance proactive projects with crisis-response, demonstrating sound judgment and the ability to handle critical employee relations issues under time constraints.
• Team Leadership and Development: Lead and mentor a team of ER professionals, fostering a positive and solution-oriented employee culture, and contribute to team expansion by hiring and developing future leaders.
SELF DEVELOPMENT
• Professional Development: Continue to develop and challenge oneself professional by seeking out challenging programs and opportunities and keeping up to date externally with Thought, Leadership and Labour related matters.
• Self-Awareness: Routinely seek feedback from others; reflecting on strengths and areas of growth and apply such learnings to adjust leadership style and behaviour.
• Leadership: Lead thoughtfully and authentically role modelling openness and transparency in a diverse and inclusive manner. Inspire your team and partners by setting clear, challenging objectives and opportunities that attracts and optimizes talent.
• Professional Network: Proactively build a diverse network of leaders across the organization and beyond. Partner with PP/PR when engaging with local authorities and in publicly visible activities (including employer associations) - where approved and applicable.
  
  University degree and relevant professional experience in employee relations, labor relations, or labor/employment law with an emphasis on labor.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken. Excellent writing skills and communication skills with all levels of stakeholders.
• Experience in managing complex projects and / or programs within matrix environment.
• Labor and employment law knowledge.
• First experience in managing a team of experienced ERMs
• Possess strong change management, leadership, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Relevant experience working on labor and employee relations matters in a unionized environment.
• Experience working with third-party contractor workforces.
• Experience analyzing metrics and assessing sentiment data to find root causes and develop short-, medium-, and long-term plans.
• Capable of working independently in fast paced, ambiguous environments.
Preferred Qualifications
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Master's Degree in Human Resources, Employment Law, Labour Relations or MBA.
• Steady progression in leadership over the last years.
• Experience of leading, developing and engaging large teams, including seasoned professionals in the EXR field.
• Flexibility and very good organizational skills.
• Fast comprehension and high judgment.
• Strong team player.
• Ability to travel 50% or more of the time (mostly within [country name] or across EU).
  
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