ER Manager

Churchill Services; Gateshead; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Ownership

33 days holiday

Enhanced sick, maternity & paternity

Life assurance

GP access & wellbeing

Volunteering days

Discounts

Training & development

Inclusion & diversity

Recognition & rewards

Job summary

Churchill Services in Gateshead is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Manager to lead a team and deliver expert ER solutions. The role is hybrid, based in Gateshead with a flexible on-going onboarding, reporting to the Head of HR.

You will oversee high-risk cases, advise on disciplinary matters, TUPE transfers, and organisational change, developing a culture of accountability and continuous improvement across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Experience leading an Employee Relations, HR Advisory or broader HR team.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and its application.
• Proven experience handling high-volume ER activity in a multi-site organisation.
• Practical TUPE, organisational change, restructures and redundancy experience.
• Ability to lead and develop geographically dispersed teams.
• Coaching-led leadership style with strong stakeholder influence.

Responsibilities

• Providing effective coaching, mentoring and support while empowering team members to make informed decisions independently.
• Overseeing complex, sensitive and high-risk employee relations cases requiring escalation.
• Advising on disciplinary, grievance, absence management, performance, redundancy and organisational change matters.
• Managing and supporting TUPE transfers, including incoming and outgoing transitions.
• Managing complex industrial relations matters including trade union engagement.
• Reviewing casework quality and implementing robust audit and QA processes.
• Supporting Employment Tribunal preparation, ACAS matters and complex employee data requests.
• Using ER data and management information to provide insights for decision-making.

Skills

Leadership

Employment law

TUPE experience

Stakeholder management

Coaching leadership

Education

CIPD HR Level 3

Job description

Based in Gateshead, Team Valley (NE11) Hybrid working following a successful onboarding period Full-time 37.5 hours p/w - with flexibility to support business and operational needs

We're seeking experienced Employee Relations Managers to provide expert leadership in ensuring professional delivery of ER solutions and expertise.

Reporting to the Head of HR, you'll lead a team of Employee Relations professionals supporting our specialist businesses, driving high standards and creating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

As a trusted ER leader, you'll also oversee complex and high-risk employee relations matters, providing direction where needed while empowering your team to grow in confidence and capability. Working closely with stakeholders across the business, you'll ensure ER advice is commercially sound, legally compliant and aligned with business objectives.

As an Employee Relations Manager you'll be:

• Providing effective coaching, mentoring and support while empowering team members to make informed decisions independently.
• Overseeing complex, sensitive and high-risk employee relations cases requiring escalation.
• Advising on disciplinary, grievance, absence management, performance, redundancy and organisational change matters.
• Managing and supporting TUPE transfers, including both incoming and outgoing transitions.
• Managing complex industrial relations matters, including those involving trade union engagement.
• Reviewing casework quality and implementing robust audit and quality assurance processes.
• Supporting Employment Tribunal preparation, ACAS matters and complex employee data requests where required.
• Using ER data and management information to provide insights and support informed decision-making.

As an Employee Relations Manager you'll have:

• Experience leading an Employee Relations, HR Advisory or broader HR team - bringing credibility, structure and calm leadership to a high-performing team.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law, with the confidence to advise on complex ER matters and emerging legislative changes.
• Proven experience managing high-volume employee relations activity within a large, multi-site organisation.
• Strong practical experience of TUPE, organisational change, restructures and redundancy programmes.
• The ability to lead, motivate and develop geographically dispersed teams.
• A coaching-led leadership style that empowers others to build confidence and make informed decisions.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build credibility at all levels.

What we offer you

We believe in rewarding talent and creating a workplace where everyone feels valued. Here's what you'll get:

• Employee Ownership - You are part of our success!
• 33 days holiday (including bank holidays)
• Enhanced sick, maternity and paternity leave support
• Life assurance cover
• 24/7 GP access, plus mental health, wellness, financial, and legal support
• Two paid volunteering days per year - Give back to a cause that matters to you
• Exclusive perks and discounts - More than 250 deals available
• Ongoing training and development - From apprenticeships to leadership programs
• Wellbeing, Diversity & Inclusion - Our Mosaic Committee and Mental Health First Aiders are leading the way
• Recognition and rewards - Celebrating our shining stars all year round

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone belongs. As an inclusive and equal-opportunity employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. We believe that diversity drives innovation and excellence, and we strive to build a culture of respect, fairness, and opportunity for all.

Reasonable adjustments

Please let us know if there are any adjustments, we can make to support you during our recruitment process. We're happy to help

Please note: Security clearance (DBS) is required for this role.

Qualifications:

Key Qualifications

• CIPD HR Level 3

Keywords:

Resilient, adaptable, flexible, patient, organisedER ManagerEmployee Relations