An iconic public sector organisation is currently recruiting for an Assistant Director – HR Policy, Industrial Relations and Reward & Benefits on an interim basis for 3 - 6 months.

This is a senior, high‑profile role based in Central London and will offer hybrid working with 3 days on site per week. The role will be offered inside IR35 ranging between £700 - £800 per day umbrella.

The role aim is to provide strategic leadership across pay, reward, HR policy and industrial relations within a large, complex and unionised environment. The ideal candidate will be offering significant influence over organisation‑wide people strategy, reward frameworks and employee relations, while leading and developing high‑performing specialist teams.

About the Role

This is a pivotal, high‑impact leadership role responsible for shaping and delivering strategic initiatives across Reward & Benefits, HR Policy and Industrial Relations.

Reporting to the People Director, Specialist Services, you will provide expert oversight and direction across pay, reward, policy and workforce engagement, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities, equality objectives and the People Strategy. You will lead senior heads of service and their wider teams, delivering transformation, strengthening governance and modernising how the organisation operates as an employer.

The role works closely with senior leaders, committees, Trade Unions and stakeholders across the organisation to deliver innovative, legally compliant and inclusive solutions that enhance the employer brand and support long‑term sustainability.

This role will be responsible for:

• Providing strategic leadership across Reward & Benefits, HR Policy and Industrial Relations, ensuring coherence and alignment with corporate and people strategies
• Setting direction for reward, recognition and benefits strategies, including annual pay reviews, senior remuneration and market benchmarking
• Overseeing trade union negotiations relating to pay, terms and conditions, and workforce change
• Leading the continued modernisation of HR policies, ensuring legal compliance, organisational alignment and a strong employee value proposition
• Leading all formal engagement and consultation with recognised Trade Unions and senior employee representatives across pay, policy and organisational change
• Driving improvements in industrial relations, building strong, collaborative and trust‑based relationships
• Providing expert advice to the HR Senior Team, senior leaders and committees on reward, policy and industrial relations matters
• Leading communications on pay, reward and policy, working closely with Communications and Engagement teams
• Ensuring Equality Impact Assessments are undertaken and embedded across all pay, reward and policy activity
• Line managing senior leaders and specialist teams across Reward & Benefits and Policy & Industrial Relations, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and inclusive leadership
• Supporting transformation and process improvement across pay, reward and policy, making effective use of digital and AI‑enabled tools
• Producing high‑quality reports, proposals and recommendations that influence senior decision‑making

They are seeking an experienced senior HR leader with:

• Significant experience operating at a senior level within a large, complex and unionised organisation, ideally within the public sector or a similarly regulated environment
• Strong expertise across reward and benefits, HR policy and industrial relations
• Proven experience leading trade union engagement, negotiation and consultation on pay and workforce change
• A strong understanding of employment legislation, governance and equality requirements
• Demonstrable ability to influence, challenge and advise senior leaders and committees
• Experience leading, developing and coaching senior leaders and multi‑disciplinary specialist teams
• A strategic, solutions‑focused mindset with the ability to operate effectively at pace
• Strong communication skills, with experience presenting to senior forums and governance bodies

If you are an experienced HR leader looking to shape reward, policy and industrial relations at scale and play a key role in strengthening the organisation’s employer proposition, apply now and we’ll be in touch.