Burberry Employee Relations Complex Cases and Change Manager

Burberry; Leeds; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An international luxury brand located in the UK is hiring an Employee Relations Manager to lead complex case management and change initiatives. The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of employment law and HR practices, exceptional communication skills, and a proven ability to influence senior stakeholders. This role offers an opportunity to shape the ER strategy aligned with business needs and ensure compliance with legal frameworks.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in employee relations management across multiple sectors.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices in the UK.
• Experience leading high-profile investigations and senior stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the resolution of complex and high-risk employee relations cases.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on sensitive ER matters.
• Manage the implementation of ER-related change initiatives.

Skills

Employee relations management

Employment law knowledge

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Problem-solving abilities

Communication skills

Job description

At Burberry, we believe creativity opens spaces. Our purpose is to unlock the power of imagination to push boundaries and open new possibilities for our people, our customers and our communities. This is the core belief that has guided Burberry since it was founded in 1856 and is central to how we operate as a company today.

We aim to provide an environment for creative minds from different backgrounds to thrive, bringing a wide range of skills and experiences to everything we do. As a purposeful, values-driven brand, we are committed to being a force for good in the world as well, creating the next generation of sustainable luxury for customers, driving industry change and championing our communities.

JOB PURPOSE

As the Employee Relations Manager for Complex Cases & Change Management, you will lead our complex employee case management, provide expert guidance to leaders and senior stakeholders, and drive change programmes and initiatives. Your role will be critical in managing high-risk and high-profile cases, partnering with leadership on sensitive people issues, and ensuring our ER strategy evolves and is aligned to our People Strategy and supports the delivery of Burberry Forward.

RESPONSIBILITIES

In your role, you will focus on:

• Complex Case Management & Escalations: Lead the resolution of complex and high-risk employee relations cases, including disciplinary, resolution, performance, conduct and some high-risk Burberry Confidential.
• Provide expert risk assessment and mitigation advice on employment law implications and reputational impact in collaboration with internal employment law team.
• Ensure cases are handled in line with legal framework, Burberry Policies but encompassing commercial needs in any advice.
• Where required, take a lead on high-profile or high-risk investigations, provide regular comprehensive updates to stakeholders and provide comprehensive investigation reports with business recommendations.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and HR Business Partners on sensitive ER matters.
• Influence and guide decision-making by presenting clear, pragmatic, and legally sound recommendations while being sensitive to the commercial and operational impact of any decisions.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including Employee Services, B:Managers Advisory Service, HRBP, COEs.

Change Programme Delivery:

• Manage the implementation and execution of ER-related change initiatives (e.g., policy updates, organizational restructures, legislation changes which may impact ways of working).
• Where required, take a lead ER role on executing change programmes such as consultations related to business transformation or reorganizations.
• Support leadership teams through periods of change with clear communication strategies and robust ER frameworks.

Data & Reporting:

• Maintain accurate records of complex ER cases to ensure legal compliance and risk management.
• Analyse ER trends to identify systemic issues and develop preventative strategies in collaboration with HRBPs and COEs.
• Proactively escalate risks to relevant senior stakeholders.
• Contribute to policy development initiatives and line manager upskilling.

PERSONAL PROFILE

• Proven experience in employee relations management, ideally across multiple sectors (manufacturing, corporate and retail).
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices in the UK. Knowledge of EMEIA jurisdictions would be beneficial.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and resolve complex cases sensitively and efficiently.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leading on complex and high-profile investigations and senior stakeholder management in the process.
• Experience in delivering or supporting large-scale change or transformation programmes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to think critically and provide creative solutions to escalations while mitigating legal risks.
• Courage to challenge and guide leaders through risk management.

Burberry is an Equal Opportunities Employer and, as such, treats all applications equally and recruits purely on the basis of skills and experience.