Industrial Relations Manager | Healthcare
Industrial & Employee Relations | Union Management
This is a specialist Industrial and Employee Relations position for an experienced IR practitioner who is comfortable representing management in union engagements and negotiations, managing complex employee relations matters, and providing sound advice on Singapore employment and industrial relations practices.
The successful candidate will play a key role in fostering constructive union-management relationships while safeguarding organisational interests and achieving fair, practical and sustainable outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Industrial & Union Relations
Serve as a key liaison with unions and build constructive, sustainable union-management relationships.
Lead and/or support union negotiations, Collective Agreements (CA), Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) and other union-management arrangements.
Develop negotiation strategies, management positions and responses to union proposals.
Advise management on union representation, membership, consultation and emerging industrial relations matters.
Represent and safeguard management's interests while maintaining productive relationships with union stakeholders.
Employee Relations & Case Management
Advise management on complex grievances, disciplinary matters, misconduct and employment disputes.
Conduct and/or support workplace investigations, including fact-finding and assessment of appropriate actions.
Facilitate fair, practical and timely resolution of sensitive employee relations cases.
Ensure consistency in the application of HR policies, due process and procedural fairness.
Maintain appropriate documentation and precedents for significant IR/ER cases.
Employment Legislation & Governance
Provide specialist advice on Singapore employment and industrial relations legislation, tripartite guidelines and prevailing employment practices.
Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and assess their implications for organisational policies and practices.
Review HR policies, procedures and industrial relations arrangements for compliance and effectiveness.
Identify and mitigate potential employee and industrial relations risks.
Management Advisory & Stakeholder Management
Act as a trusted IR/ER advisor to senior management, HR and line managers on sensitive and complex matters.
Coach and guide managers on grievance handling, disciplinary processes and employee relations practices.
Develop relevant IR/ER guidelines, playbooks and management briefings.
Liaise with relevant government agencies, tripartite institutions, unions and external advisors where required.
Requirements
Degree in Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, Law, or a related discipline.
Approximately 8–12 years of relevant Industrial Relations, Employee Relations and/or Human Resources experience.
Demonstrated hands-on experience in union engagement and negotiations.
Practical experience handling Collective Agreements, MOUs and/or collective bargaining.
Strong experience managing grievances, disciplinary matters, misconduct, workplace investigations and complex employee relations cases.
Strong working knowledge of Singapore employment legislation, industrial relations requirements and tripartite guidelines.
Strong negotiation, influencing, stakeholder-management and conflict-resolution skills.
Able to remain objective, pragmatic and composed when managing sensitive or contentious situations.
High level of integrity and confidentiality.
Able to balance the interests of employees, unions and the organisation.
Preferred Background
Candidates with experience in a unionised, operational or manpower-intensive environment are particularly encouraged to apply.
Relevant sectors may include:
Healthcare / hospitals
Aviation / aerospace
Engineering and manufacturing
Marine and offshore
Transport and logistics
Hospitality
Facilities management
Other large unionised or frontline workforce environments
Healthcare experience is advantageous but not mandatory. Candidates with strong hands-on Industrial Relations and union negotiation experience from other sectors are welcome to apply.
Who Would Be a Strong Fit?
This opportunity would suit an experienced Industrial Relations Manager, Employee Relations Manager, Employee & Industrial Relations Manager, Labour Relations Manager, IR/ER Specialist or experienced Industrial Relations practitioner who has personally handled union-management matters and is comfortable participating in negotiations.
We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate actual involvement in Collective Agreement negotiations, union engagement and complex employee relations matters, rather than solely generalist HR experience.
Interested candidates are invited to apply for a confidential discussion.
This is in partnership with the Employment and Employability Institute Pte Ltd (“e2i”).
e2i is the empowering network for workers and employers seeking employment and employability solutions. e2i serves as a bridge between workers and employers, connecting with workers to offer job security through job-matching, career guidance and skills upgrading services, and partnering employers to address their manpower needs through recruitment, training, and job redesign solutions. e2i is a tripartite initiative of the National Trades Union Congress set up to support nation-wide manpower and skills upgrading initiatives.
By applying for this role, you consent to Recruit Haus’ PDPA and e2i’s PDPA.