Employee Relations Manager

Macmillan Davies; Maidstone; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Macmillan Davies is recruiting an experienced Employee Relations Manager in the Sevenoaks area, Kent, with hybrid work (2 days on site). The role focuses on providing ER/IR guidance and managing disputes.

Reporting to Head of Industrial Relations, you will support collective agreements, advise on disciplinary and performance matters, and drive mediation and early intervention to resolve workplace issues. The ideal candidate will have strong UK employment law knowledge, experience handling

Qualifications

• Experience in an ER/IR advisory or management role.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law.
• Experience managing complex employee relations cases.
• Experience of dispute resolution, mediation or conciliation.
• Ability to remain impartial and objective when dealing with conflicting views.
• Experience working with collective agreements or trade unions would be advantageous.
• Genuine interest in alternative dispute resolution and conflict resolution.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical advice on the interpretation and application of collective agreements and working rules.
• Advise on disciplinary, grievance, capability and performance matters.
• Ensure advice reflects current UK employment legislation.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders and provide trusted ER/IR expertise.
• Lead mediation, conciliation and early intervention activity.
• Prepare case summaries, hearing papers and procedural documentation.
• Draft decisions, reports and recommendations arising from hearings.
• Identify trends and recommend improvements to guidance and processes.

Skills

ER/IR advisory

Mediation

Dispute resolution

UK employment law

Job description

Employee Relations Manager

£45,000–£55,000 DOE | Sevenoaks, Kent | Hybrid – 2 days on site

We are recruiting for an experienced Employee Relations Manager to join an established organisation based in Sevenoaks area , Kent.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Employee Relations or Industrial Relations professional who enjoys resolving complex workplace issues, facilitating discussions and finding practical solutions.

The role will involve providing expert ER/IR advice, managing disputes and supporting mediation and alternative dispute resolution processes.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Industrial Relations, you will support the effective operation and development of collective agreements and dispute resolution procedures.

You'll provide authoritative and commercially aware ER/IR advice, while helping employers and employee representatives resolve issues through early intervention, mediation and alternative dispute resolution.

Key Responsibilities

Employee & Industrial Relations

• Provide practical advice on the interpretation and application of collective agreements and working rules.
• Advise on disciplinary, grievance, capability and performance matters.
• Ensure advice reflects current UK employment legislation.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders and provide trusted ER/IR expertise.

Dispute Resolution & Mediation

• Manage disputes through established dispute resolution procedures.
• Lead mediation, conciliation and early intervention activity.
• Support parties in resolving issues before they escape.
• Prepare case summaries, hearing papers and procedural documentation.
• Draft decisions, reports and recommendations arising from hearings.
• Identify trends and recommend improvements to guidance and processes.

Governance & Engagement

• Provide secretariat support to employee relations committees, regional groups and working parties.
• Prepare agendas and papers, take minutes and track actions.
• Produce reports and management information for senior stakeholders.
• Deliver presentations and briefings where required.

Agreement & Employment Law

• Support the review and development of collective agreements and related documentation.
• Monitor employment legislation and regulatory developments.
• Contribute to guidance, procedural updates and improvements to documentation.

Negotiations & Insight

• Support periodic wage negotiations through research, benchmarking and drafting.
• Analyse dispute activity and identify emerging trends.
• Support surveys, reporting and evidence-based improvements to services.

About You

We're looking for someone with a strong background in Employee Relations or Industrial Relations, who is comfortable dealing with complex and sensitive workplace issues.

You’ll ideally have:

• Significant experience in an ER/IR advisory or management role.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law.
• Experience managing complex employee relations cases.
• Experience of dispute resolution, mediation or conciliation.
• The ability to remain impartial and objective when dealing with conflicting views.
• Experience working with collective agreements, trade unions or employee representatives would be advantageous.
• A genuine interest in alternative dispute resolution and conflict resolution.

If you're an experienced ER/IR professional looking for a role where your expertise can genuinely influence outcomes and help resolve workplace disputes, we'd be interested in hearing from you.