Employee Relations Manager

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk - Jobboard; Nottingham; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council in Nottingham is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Manager to lead their employee relations strategy and support a collaborative workplace culture. This role involves shaping HR policies, fostering trade union relationships, and managing complex people issues. Ideal candidates will have a strong HR background and experience in conflict resolution. The position offers hybrid working options and opportunities for significant impact at a city-wide level.

Benefits

Hybrid working and flexibility

Collaborative HR & EDI directorate

Opportunities for real change

Qualifications

• Experience as an HR or ER leader with a strong track record in complex employee relations matters.
• Confident collaboration across all levels with political acumen.
• Experience delivering policies and frameworks in collective bargaining contexts.
• Deep knowledge of employment law and statutory frameworks.
• Calm and diplomatic approach to conflict resolution.

Responsibilities

• Shape and lead the employee relations strategy across the Council.
• Champion fair and inclusive HR policies and practices.
• Foster constructive trade union relationships.
• Handle complex employee relations and people issues.
• Oversee pay policy and casework frameworks.
• Guide managers in capability-building.

Skills

Relationship-building

Policy development

Complex issue management

Trade union relations

Employment law

Conflict resolution

Job description

Join Us as Our Employee Relations Manager

Hybrid working based at Loxley House, Nottingham, NG2 3NG
Grade K | Salary: £54,971 – £58,261 per annum (pro-rata for part-time)
Full-time | Permanent

Are you a skilled relationship-builder who knows how to balance fairness, policy and people? Can you lead with empathy while navigating complexity with confidence? If yes, you could be our next Employee Relations Manager at Nottingham City Council! ️

We’re looking for a champion of collaboration, inclusion and strong people practice leading our employee relations approach, working closely with our recognised trade unions and stakeholders across the Council to foster a culture of trust, respect and positive working relationships

What You’ll Do:

• Shape and lead our employee relations strategy across the Council
• Champion fair, inclusive and effective HR policies and practices
• Foster strong and constructive trade union relationships
• Lead on complex ER and people issues with confidence, care and compliance ️
• Oversee pay policy, casework frameworks and rewards strategy
• Support managers to build capability and confidence through clear, practical guidance and resources
• Be a key voice in shaping a progressive people-first culture at the heart of a public service organisation ️

What We’re Looking For:

• An experienced HR or ER leader with a strong track record in complex employee relations matters
• A confident collaborator who can work with influence and political acumen across all levels
• Someone with experience of shaping and delivering policies, frameworks and cultural change in the context of national and local collective bargaining arrangements
• Deep knowledge of employment law, equal pay, and statutory frameworks ️
• A natural communicator with a calm, diplomatic approach to dispute and conflict resolution

Who You’ll Lead:

You’ll manage a passionate and professional team (Grades I, H and F) committed to supporting and improving the employee experience across the Council.

Why Nottingham City Council?

We're a values-led organisation focused on making a difference for Nottingham’s communities. As an employer, we’re serious about inclusion, wellbeing and growth- for our city and for our people

You’ll get:

• Hybrid working and flexibility
• A collaborative and supportive HR & EDI directorate
• Opportunities to shape real change and impact policy at a city-wide level
• A progressive workplace culture with people at its heart

Ready to be the voice of fairness and the face of change? Apply now and join us in leading positive people practice for Nottingham!

You can find the job description for this post here

At Nottingham City Council, we believe that work is what you do, not where you do it. We offer different working arrangements, depending on the role, including hybrid working. Further information on Worker Types and what these mean in terms of how and where you work can be found on the additional information for applicants page.

For informal enquiries, please contact Kirsty Spencer, at [e-mail]

Closing Date: 5th August 2025

Please note that there may be occasions when we close the advert before the closing date, and we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Interviews will be held: TBC

If you have any technical issues when completing your application, please contact our Employee Service Centre: https://emss.org.uk/support

By applying to this job, you agree to our Terms & Conditions.