Senior Employee Relations Manager
*Annual Salary: £56,000 - £60,000 per annum
*Location: Westcliff, UK
*Job Type: Full-time
I am recruiting for a Senior Employee Relations Manager to lead and manage the Employee Relations function, providing expert, pragmatic, and risk-based advice on complex people matters. This role is crucial for ensuring a consistent, legally compliant, and high-quality ER service that mitigates organisational risk while enabling effective people decision-making.
Job Description:
Leadership & Team Management:
*Lead, manage, and develop a team of ER Managers and Advisors, setting clear expectations and defining performance standards.
*Oversee workload planning, prioritisation, and allocation of ER cases to ensure effective use of resources and timely, high-quality resolution.
*Provide guidance and quality assurance on complex, sensitive, and high-risk ER cases.
*Act as the senior escalation point within the ER team, ensuring consistent, fair, and legally robust advice.
*Build a high-performing, organised, and resilient ER team with strong technical capability and commercial awareness.
Employee Relations & Risk Mitigation:
*Provide strategic oversight and expert ER input into complex employee relations matters.
*Lead the team in the management of Employment Tribunal cases, including the preparation of COT3’s and settlement agreements.
*Ensure consistent application of ER principles, policy, and legal standards across the group.
*Proactively identify ER trends and emerging risks, advising on mitigation strategies and preventative actions.
Change, Restructures & Organisational Design:
*Lead ER team with the management of organisational change programmes, restructures, redundancy exercises, and TUPE processes.
*Ensure consultation processes are legally compliant, well-managed, and delivered in line with organisational and statutory requirements.
Process, Policy & Continuous Improvement:
*Review, redesign, and implement ER processes to improve efficiency, consistency, governance, and user experience.
*Provide training and coaching to ER Managers and Advisors, and deliver ER training to managers to support and improve capability.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
*Significant experience in a senior Employee Relations, ER leadership, or specialist HR role.
*Proven track record of managing complex ER cases, including Employment Tribunals and large-scale restructures.
*Strong people management experience, including leading and developing ER specialists.
*In-depth knowledge of UK employment law and best practice.
*Confident communicator with the ability to influence and advise senior leaders.
*CIPD qualification and a full driving licence are essential.
Benefits:
*Competitive salary package.
*Opportunities for professional development and growth within the company.
*Comprehensive health and safety training.
*Hybrid Working
*Supportive and dynamic work environment.