Senior Employee Relations Manager - Hybrid & Travel

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.