Sector IR Lead – Construction

The Sector IR Lead drives ER/IR strategy across all sites, applies HR policies and legislation, manages grievances and discipline, leads negotiations and dispute resolution, supports external IR engagements, delivers IR training, and promotes stable workforce relations.

Job Summary

The Sector IR Lead – Construction provides sector-wide leadership for employee and industrial relations, ensuring consistent application of Group HR policies, legislative requirements and collective agreements. The role maintains close awareness of the ER/IR climate across all sites, advises management on complex IR matters, manages grievances and disciplinary proceedings and leads negotiations, conciliations, and dispute-resolution processes. The incumbent supports Ministry of Labour and Industrial Court engagements, coordinates sector IR initiatives, and delivers training to strengthen IR capability. The position ensures timely execution of the Sector IR Management Plan, promotes stable workforce relations, and safeguards the operational continuity of the Construction Sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain an on-the-ground awareness of the sector’s employment and industrial relations climate.
• Responsible for providing advice on and administering the sector’s employee and industrial relations matters.
• Oversee employee communications; ensures that employees are aware of their job role and functions and group HRpolicies & procedures.
• Prepare and finalize Collective Agreements and Memoranda in accordance with Group HR standards.
• Organize staff town hall sessions/events as required to present sector ER/IR initiatives or to relay information stemming from ER/IR implementation.
• Provide the first point of contact after the line manager for staff with grievances or line managers pursuing progressive disciplinary action.
• Provide advice and progresses actions in accordance with policy stages/procedures; refers upwards to sector hr manager/group IR as required.
• Keep abreast of legislation, case law and practice (including health & safety legislation)
• Lead and manage IR negotiations within the sector, ensuring timely execution and escalation of breakdowns.
• Monitor IR workplan deadlines and mitigate risks of industrial action in collaboration with site HR teams.
• Advise on grievances, Ministry of Labour matters, and Industrial Court cases.
• Support implementation of sector-specific IR initiatives and projects.
• Deliver IR training aligned with the Sector IR Management Plan.
• Meet IR workplan deadlines inclusive of ensuring that company proposals are developed and delivered to the union by the marked deadline dates, negotiations are concluded as per mandates and the progressing of negotiations to breakdowns/conciliations/arbitrations as necessary and expeditiously.
• Conduct disciplinary hearings expeditiously and ensure that grievance handling is in accordance with the hr bluebooks and respective collective agreements.
• Deliver various reports on a scheduled basis to group hr inclusive: ER/IR indicator reports, negotiation update reports, weekly IR reports et. al.
• Recommend policy amendments if necessary
• Stay current with legislation, case law, and health & safety regulations.
• Recommend policy amendments based on sector trends.
• Provide additional HR advisory support as required.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Relations, Human Resource Management, Law, or a related field.
• A Master’s Degree in a relevant discipline is beneficial, particularly with focus on labour law, conflict resolution, or organizational development.

Technical Competencies

• Demonstrated, practical experience in industrial relations negotiations, including drafting proposals, conducting conciliation sessions, and managing breakdowns leading to arbitration.
• Strong working knowledge of employment legislation, case law, Ministry of Labour procedures, Industrial Court processes, and health and safety regulations applicable to the construction environment.
• Proven ability to manage grievances, disciplinary hearings, redundancy processes, and complex dispute resolution with minimal escalation.
• Competence in IR metrics analysis, including preparation of ER/IR indicator reports, negotiation updates, and interpretive analysis of workforce trends.
• Proficiency in HRIS platforms, case-management tools, and Microsoft Office Suite, with the ability to prepare high-quality reports and negotiation documents.
• Ability to deliver IR training, coach line managers, and strengthen IR capability across multiple sites.
• Exposure to the construction sector or heavy industrial operations, with an understanding of its unique workforce dynamics, safety environment, and union engagement patterns.

Experience

• At least five (5) years’ experience in a dedicated industrial relations or senior employee relations role.
• Experience supporting executive-level decision-making, including providing IR advisories, drafting negotiation mandates, and managing complex IR risks across multiple locations.
• Direct experience engaging with trade unions, Ministry conciliation officers, and legal representatives on behalf of an organization.