Union Relationship Executive
Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits
Location: Manchester Store Support Centre and Home, Manchester, M4 3AL
Contract type: Permanent
Business area: Group HR
Closing date: 19 November 2025
Requisition ID: 400036793
Our people are at the heart of our business, and we are looking for those that are just as passionate about that as we are. Join our People team, and come with us on a journey as we transform the way we do HR. Our team is made up of business partners working with leaders to get the most out of their teams, specialist knowledge in our centres of expertise, and colleague-centric, efficient people services. Our work ranges from making sure that our 150,000+ colleagues are paid on time to attracting brilliant talent to drive our strategy, to unlocking the skills and capability of our colleagues. This is a fast-moving business, and we make sure our policies and rewards keep up with that too. We know flexibility is important and helps you be more productive so there's more choice than ever about where and when you work. When it comes to your development, we'll support your growth in your own unique way. When you join us, you’ll be joining a team that knows just what it means to be happy and engaged, and who makes a real impact across our business.
Why join us
As our Union Relationship Specialist, you will support effective relationships with our Unions across the Retail business, providing support to line managers to ensure union related matters are dealt with appropriately and in line with our retail union relationship strategy. You will also manage the day-to-day relationships with our Unions across the retail division in line with our respective National Agreements. This is an important role as you engage with a broad range of stakeholders, contribute to employee relations initiatives, and make a real impact in a dynamic and ever-changing retail environment.
What you'll do
You will develop and support effective relationships with our Unions across the business. This includes providing support to line managers in handling union-related matters in line with our union relationship strategy. Working closely with the Head of Union Relationships and the Union Relationship Specialist, you will develop and implement the strategy, ensuring that any employee relations (ER) or industrial relations (IR) risks and issues are effectively addressed. As a great communicator, you will engage with trade unions at a national level, co-ordinating formal meetings, capturing minutes, and ensuring timely communication of meeting outcomes.
With an eye for detail, you will analyse data, propose recommendations, and draft reports on the impact of change on the ER / IR climate.You will contribute to the development of ER policies and guidance, support line managers in navigating ER issues, and keep key stakeholders informed of key union activities. Your communication and influencing skills, along with your ability to build relationships across divisions and seniority levels, will be essential in successfully managing and navigating union relationships within the organisation.
Who you are
You have a proven track record/strong interest in union and employee relations. Ideally with retail and a broad understanding of the business beyond operations, you are able to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels. Your expertise extends to planning and delivering employee relations initiatives, managing a range of ER issues, and interpreting and analysing data to identify opportunities and make strategic recommendations. You possess excellent interpersonal skills and are able to build strong relationships across divisions and seniority levels. Comfortable with ambiguity, you thrive in an environment of rapid change and competing priorities. Your strong communication and leadership abilities, combined with your sound judgement and integrity, make you an invaluable asset in fostering effective union relationships and driving positive ER / IR outcomes within the business.
We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new - whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them: Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day. We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 10% of salary, depending on how we perform. Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme. Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave. Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).
