ER & Change Manager

DWF; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

DWF in Manchester is seeking an ER & Change Manager to lead a team of six Employee Relations professionals, delivering expert ER guidance and driving strategic change initiatives in a global environment.

You will partner with senior stakeholders to manage complex cases, employment law matters, restructures and TUPE activity, ensuring a legally compliant and colleague-centered approach. The role offers a hybrid working model with two days in the office each week.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading Employee Relations functions and managing ER teams.
• Strong employment law expertise with experience handling complex ER cases and investigations.
• Proven experience delivering organisational change programmes, including restructures, consultations, redundancies and TUPE activity.
• Demonstrated success leading HR projects, transformation initiatives or major business change programmes.
• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills.
• Experience working within a large, complex organisation with multiple competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of six Employee Relations professionals, providing expert guidance on ER matters.
• Escalation point for the most challenging ER cases and investigations.
• Drive business-wide change initiatives, including restructures, consultations and TUPE programmes.
• Collaborate with HR and business leaders to deliver transformation programmes.
• Manage organisational risk and stakeholder engagement for strategic projects.
• Support successful delivery of transformation programmes aligned with long-term objectives.

Education

CIPD Level 7

Tools

Bob

iCIMS

ADP

Access

Job description

Why join us?

This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of employee relations and organisational change within a growing, global business. Based in Manchester with a hybrid working model of two days per week in the office (Tuesdays essential), you'll lead a high-performing ER team while partnering with senior stakeholders to deliver meaningful transformation programmes across the organisation.

Responsibilities

As ER & Change Manager, you'll lead a team of six Employee Relations professionals, providing expert guidance on complex ER matters, employment law, organisational change and workforce transformation. Acting as the escalation point for the most challenging cases, you'll ensure a commercially focused, legally compliant and colleague-centred approach across all employee relations activity. Alongside your ER leadership responsibilities, you'll play a key role in delivering business-wide change initiatives, including restructures, redundancies, consultations and TUPE programmes. Working closely with HR and business leaders, you'll drive strategic projects, manage organisational risk, lead stakeholder engagement and support the successful delivery of transformation programmes that align with the organisation's long-term objectives.

What will help you succeed in this role?

Essential

• Significant experience leading Employee Relations functions and managing ER teams.
• Strong employment law expertise with experience handling complex ER cases and investigations.
• Proven experience delivering organisational change programmes, including restructures, consultations, redundancies and TUPE activity.
• Demonstrated success leading HR projects, transformation initiatives or major business change programmes.
• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills.
• Experience working within a large, complex organisation with multiple competing priorities.

Desirable

• Experience working within a global or matrix organisation.
• CIPD Level 7 qualification or equivalent.
• Project management qualification such as PRINCE2, PMP, APM or Agile.
• Experience supporting HR technology or process transformation initiatives.
• Exposure to international Employee Relations activity.
• Experience using HR systems such as Bob, iCIMS, ADP, Access or similar platforms.

What we offer?

We are committed to ensuring that each member of our team feels valued and duly rewarded during their time at DWF. We are an equal opportunities employer that celebrates diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We aim to create a positive experience for all candidates and offer any adjustments or additional support needed. If you're excited about the opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all the requirements, please apply anyway. You may be the right candidate for the role or others across the wider team.

About Us

DWF is a leading global provider of integrated legal and business services. We empower people to be themselves within an inclusive and supportive environment, enabling everyone to achieve their full potential in line with their abilities and career aspirations.