Employee & Labour Relations Leader

At Apple, we’re a diverse collection of thinkers and doers, continually reimagining our products, systems, and practices to help people do what they love in new ways. This is a deeply reciprocal place, where everything we build is the result of people in different roles and teams working together to make each other’s ideas stronger. That same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices, strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it! The Employee & Labour Relations team are a globally connected team, focused on caring for our employees and enhancing the experience of our diverse global workforce. Integrity and fairness are at the heart of everything we do. We provide subject matter expertise on issues including workplace investigations, compliance, employee and labour relations. We are solutions-oriented advisors and strategic partners, helping employees, leaders and stakeholders to embody Apple’s values in solving employment and business challenges. The Employee & Labour Relations Leader is a critical role responsible for shaping and executing the company's employee and labour relations strategy within Spain and Portugal. This role will proactively manage employee relations issues, ensure compliance with local regulations, foster a positive and productive work environment, and serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on all employee-related matters. The position involves close collaboration with the People organisation, works councils and unions, as well as closely working with the Leadership teams of several Lines of Business and Legal entities in Spain, Portugal and Senior leaders in EMEA and in the US.

Description

Key Responsibilities will include: - Strategic Labour Relations: Develop and implement a comprehensive labour relations strategy aligned with the company's overall business objectives. - Works Council & Union Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for works councils ("Comité de Empresa") and union representatives, building and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships based on mutual respect and understanding. Manage the information and consultation processes with works councils as required by Spanish law. - Collective Bargaining: Lead and manage the negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements ("Convenios Colectivos"), ensuring favourable outcomes that support the company's business goals and employee’s needs. - Strategic Advisor: Provide expert guidance to senior leaders and the broader organisation on implementing initiatives in compliance with local legislation, safeguarding Apple's culture and values. - Compliance & Legal Risk Management: Ensure compliance with all applicable Spanish labour laws, regulations, and collective bargaining agreements. Identify and mitigate potential legal risks related to employment practices. - Employee Relations Case Management: Lead and conduct thorough investigations into potential misconduct and policy violations, ensuring fair and impartial outcomes. Consult with Leadership on disciplinary actions to be implemented, ensuring alignment with Apple's values and legal requirements. Lead the local ELR team to ensure timely and effective resolution of ER cases, capturing critical data to inform future strategies. - Policy Development: Develop and implement company policies and procedures related to employee relations, ensuring compliance with Spanish law and promoting a fair and equitable workplace. - Training & Development: Develop and deliver training programs for managers and employees related to , employee and labour relations to promote compliance and best employment practices in the workplace. - Reporting & Analysis: Track and analyse key employee and labour relations metrics, providing regular reports to leadership on trends and issues. - External Representation: Represent the company in interactions with labour authorities (e.g., Inspección de Trabajo y Seguridad Social) and other external stakeholders (e.g. Employer Association). - Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Employee and Labour Relations professionals, fostering a high-performance culture and ensuring their continued professional growth.

Minimum Qualifications

• Deep understanding of Spanish labour law (Estatuto de los Trabajadores), collective bargaining agreements (Convenios Colectivos), works council regulations (Comités de Empresa), and applicable legal frameworks.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, stakeholders, and work streams across diverse markets.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, organizing, planning, and prioritising tasks effectively.
• Exceptional leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to inspire action.
• Ability to build strong partnerships and collaborate effectively with multiple functional and business partners.
• Outstanding communication skills, both in English and Spanish, including active listening, clear writing, and compelling presentation abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven experience navigating the complexities of a large, international, and matrixed organization, with a strong understanding of HR/ER principles and practices.
At Apple, we’re not all the same. And that’s our greatest strength. We draw on the differences in who we are, what we’ve experienced, and how we think. Because to create products that serve everyone, we believe in including everyone. Therefore, we are committed to treating all applicants fairly and equally. We will work with applicants to make any reasonable accommodations.

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