Employee Relations Manager (Temporary)

Dovetail & Slate; England; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Dovetail & Slate Ltd is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Manager to lead the employee relations function for a further education provider. You will provide expert advice and hands-on support to managers across the organisation, handling complex cases with fairness and compliance.

Working with senior leaders and HR colleagues, you will review policies, guide formal hearings and appeals, and use casework data to strengthen manager capability and improve practice across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Significant employee relations experience with complex casework.
• Strong, up-to-date knowledge of UK employment law.
• Experience advising and coaching managers at all levels.
• Confident communication and influencing skills.
• CIPD qualification or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Managing complex employee relations casework, including disciplinary, grievance, performance, absence and capability matters.
• Advising and coaching managers on employment law, policy and best practice.
• Supporting formal hearings and appeals, ensuring processes are fair, consistent and well documented.
• Working with trade union representatives and supporting consultation and negotiation.
• Reviewing and developing employee relations policies and procedures.
• Using casework data and trends to identify risks and improve practice across the organisation.

Skills

Employee relations expertise

Employment law knowledge (UK)

Manager coaching

Communication & influencing

CIPD or equivalent

Education

CIPD qualification or equivalent experience

Job description

Employee Relations Manager

Temporary

Location: the East of England

Start date: 16 November 2026

About the Role

You'll lead the employee relations function for a further education provider, providing expert advice and hands‑on support to managers across the organisation.

Working closely with senior leaders and HR colleagues, you'll manage complex casework from start to resolution, making sure matters are handled fairly, consistently and in line with employment law and organisational policy. You'll also take a proactive view, using casework insight to improve practice and strengthen manager capability.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing complex employee relations casework, including disciplinary, grievance, performance, absence and capability matters.
• Advising and coaching managers on employment law, policy and best practice.
• Supporting formal hearings and appeals, ensuring processes are fair, consistent and well documented.
• Working with trade union representatives and supporting consultation and negotiation.
• Reviewing and developing employee relations policies and procedures.
• Using casework data and trends to identify risks and improve practice across the organisation.

What We're Looking For

Essential:

• Significant employee relations experience, including complex casework
• Strong, up-to-date knowledge of UK employment law
• Experience advising and coaching managers at all levels
• Confident communication and influencing skills
• CIPD qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable (but not essential):

• Experience within further education or the wider public sector
• Experience of working with trade unions

If you're ready to bring your employee relations expertise to a role where your advice makes a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.