Employee Relations Manager

Macmillan Cancer Support; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable organization supporting cancer patients is seeking an Employee Relations Manager to lead their team, focusing on building relationships with trade unions and managing negotiations. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in a unionised environment, strong expertise in Employee Relations, and a deep understanding of UK employment law. The role includes guiding casework and collaborating with legal partners on ACAS claims, ensuring fair outcomes. This opportunity combines a strong focus on supporting employees with the organization's mission to assist those living with cancer.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holiday options

Pension matched up to 7.5%

120+ learning and development offers

Flexible working patterns

Holiday buying and selling scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a unionised organization.
• Significant expertise in Employee Relations.
• Strong track record leading an Employee Relations team.
• Deep knowledge of UK employment law.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Employee Relations team and deliver solutions-focused support.
• Build relationships with trade unions and colleague representatives.
• Manage settlements end-to-end for ACAS and Employment Tribunal claims.
• Shape improvements using data and insights.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Employee relations management

Coaching

Communication

Job description

Are you an expert in employee and industrial relations, passionate about creating positive workplaces and driving meaningful change? We're looking for a dynamic Employee Relations Manager to lead our ER team and deliver solutions-focused support to line managers. This is a pivotal role in our multi-union organisation, where you'll take the lead on union activity and support negotiation and consultation activity. You'll build strong relationships with trade unions and colleague representatives, supporting collective bargaining and ensuring constructive dialogue at every stage. You'll lead our established Employee Relations team, driving the effective delivery of casework and continuous development of this service. You will act as the trusted advisor for complex cases, working closely with legal partners to ensure fair and compliant outcomes. Keeping policies sharp, inclusive, and up to date is part of your remit, alongside coaching and developing advisers and managers to resolve issues confidently. Using data and insights, you'll help shape improvements and influence our wider people strategy. You'll work with our employment solicitor and external legal partners on ACAS and Employment Tribunal claims, managing settlements end-to-end. As a point of escalation for employee relations queries, you'll provide expert guidance on grievances and appeals.

You will have proven experience in a unionised organisation, with practical experience of leading negotiations and consultations. You will bring significant expertise in Employee Relations, alongside a strong track record of successfully leading an Employee Relations team. Deep knowledge of UK employment law and best practice is essential, as are strong negotiation, coaching and communication skills. You will combine a commercial mindset with a pragmatic, customer-focused approach, ensuring solutions are fair, practical and aligned with organisational goals. Experience advising on ACAS and Employment Tribunal claims is a must, and you will be confident in horizon scanning to identify how future legislative changes could impact Macmillan.

At Macmillan you'll find talented people working together to do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer. We're going all out to find even better ways to help even more people who need our support. Our values are at the heart of who we are and everything we do, inspiring our thinking and guiding our actions.

• 25 days holiday plus flexible bank holiday options, increasing by 1 day every year of service up to 30 days
• Pension matched up to 7.5%
• 120+ learning and development offers, with access to external professional qualifications
• Flexible working patterns, such as compressed hours, flexibility to work earlier or later around our core working hours of 10am-4pm
• Holiday buying and selling scheme, life insurance, free wills, retail discounts and much more