Partner - Industrial Relations

Hours: 37.5 per week, Monday to Friday 
Location: Hybrid working 3 days a week in Virgin Atlantic HQ, Fleming Way, Crawley, West Sussex 
Contract: Permanent 
Closing date: 10th June 2026

We review applications on a first-come, first-served basis and may close the application window early if we receive a high volume of applications.

In a nutshell

Industrial Relations at Virgin Atlantic is about far more than policy, process, or managing risk. It’s about building trusted relationships in one of the UK’s most operationally complex and people-focused environments.  

As our new IR Partner, you’ll play a central role in shaping how we work collaboratively with our recognised trade unions, operational leaders, and employee representatives across the business. Supporting areas including Flight Operations and Cabin Crew, you’ll help navigate the real-time challenges and opportunities that come with running a dynamic, unionised operation; balancing commercial priorities, operational realities, governance obligations, and colleague experience.  

This is a role for someone who thrives in complexity and ambiguity. Someone who can influence confidently, build credibility quickly, and bring calm, pragmatic judgement when priorities compete. You’ll help evolve and strengthen our industrial relations landscape, ensuring our governance, consultation structures, and collective agreements continue to support both our people and the future direction of the business.  

Working closely with senior operational stakeholders, People Partners, our employee committees and recognised unions, you’ll become a trusted voice in conversations that genuinely matter to the organisation.  

Day to day

• Lead operational and tactical industrial relations activity across key operational directorates, including Flight Operations and Cabin Crew  
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with recognised trade unions  
• Provide expert guidance on the interpretation and application of collective agreements, consultation frameworks, and industrial relations governance  
• Support operational leaders and People teams in navigating complex industrial relations matters, balancing commercial priorities and employee impact  
• Lead and coordinate consultation forums, employee committees, and representative engagement activity  
• Identify emerging industrial relations risks early, escalating appropriately with clear recommendations and mitigation options  
• Support dispute resolution activity and help drive proactive, relationship-led outcomes  
• Influence internal and external stakeholders across complex, fast-moving operational environments with competing priorities  
• Contribute to the continued evolution of governance frameworks, consultation approaches, and employee voice mechanisms across the business  
• Partner closely with ER colleagues, People Partners, Reward, and operational leadership teams to ensure consistent and compliant decision-making  

About you

• Proven experience operating within Industrial Relations, Employee Relations, or HR Business Partnering roles in highly unionised environments  
• Demonstrated experience working with recognised trade unions and supporting formal consultation processes  
• Strong operational judgement with the ability to balance commercial decision-making alongside colleague and governance considerations  
• Proven ability to influence internal and external stakeholders, representatives, suppliers, and operational leaders across complex environments  
• Experience navigating ambiguity, conflicting priorities, and resistance-to-change environments with credibility and professionalism  
• Strong understanding of collective agreements, consultation frameworks, and UK employment / trade union legislation  
• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex information and translate it into clear, practical advice for operational stakeholders  
• Demonstrable experience in excellent communication skills, with confidence handling sensitive conversations and producing structured recommendations or briefing papers  
• Strong organisational capability with attention to governance, detail, and risk management  
• Proven ability to identify emerging issues early and provide pragmatic, solution-focused recommendations  
• Experience within aviation, operational, or highly regulated environments  

Be yourself – Our differences make us stronger  
Our customers come from all walks of life and so do our colleagues. That’s why we’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and actively encourage applications from all backgrounds. At Virgin Atlantic, we believe everyone can take on the world - no matter your age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion, or beliefs. We celebrate difference and everything that makes our colleagues unique by upholding an inclusive environment in which we can all thrive. So that everyone at Virgin Atlantic can be themselves and know they belong.  

To make your journey with us accessible and individual to you, we encourage you to let us know if you’d like a little extra help with your application, or if you have any individual requirements at any stage along your recruitment journey. We are here to support you, so please reach out to our team, ([email protected]) feeling confident that we’ve got your individual considerations covered.