M&A Employee Relations Lead

Willis Towers Watson; Reigate; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Private healthcare

Life insurance

Group income protection

Pension scheme (matched up to 10%)

Hybrid working options

Employee assistance programme

Volunteer day

Job summary

Willis Towers Watson is seeking an Employee Relations Lead – Projects to guide ER activity through mergers, acquisitions, transfers and organisational change. You will provide expert case management and strategic guidance to ensure compliant, commercially balanced outcomes aligned to policy and regulatory requirements.

Reporting to the Head of Employee Relations GB, you will lead consultation planning, manage high‑risk cases, develop repeatable ER processes, and support litigation readiness

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Human Resources with a strong focus on employee relations, employment law, policy application and complex case management.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and best practice, including TUPE and tribunal claims.
• Experience supporting organisational change, restructures, mergers, acquisitions, transfers or complex people-change activity.
• Ability to lead small-scale collective consultations.
• Ability to assess people-related risk in M&A and change activities.
• Stakeholder management and influencing skills with senior leaders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Knowledge of GDPR and SMCR advantageous.
• CIPD qualification or equivalent HR, employment law or business experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in HR, business, or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support and lead ER input into mergers, acquisitions, divestments, transfers and integration.
• Coordinate early-stage due diligence, people risk assessment, and TUPE analysis.
• Plan and manage consultation activities with clear, timely information.
• Escalate and manage complex, high-risk or sensitive ER cases.
• Identify ER risks and translate insights into preventative action and coaching.
• Develop repeatable ER processes, templates, governance standards for change programs.
• Prepare documentation for employment tribunal readiness with stakeholders.
• Act as escalation point for regulatory breaches and governance concerns.
• Contribute to wider HR and business projects.

Skills

Employee relations

Employment law

Policy application

Manager coaching

Complex case management

UK employment law

TUPE

Collective consultation

Risk assessment

Stakeholder management

Influencing

Communication

Discretion

Organisational skills

Data analysis

GDPR

SMCR

CIPD

Bachelor’s Degree

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in HR, business, or related field

CIPD qualification or equivalent HR/employment law/business experience

Job description

Willis Towers Watson is seeking an Employee Relations Lead – Projects to guide ER activity through mergers, acquisitions, transfers and organisational change. You will provide expert case management and strategic guidance to ensure compliant, commercially balanced outcomes aligned to policy and regulatory requirements.

Reporting to the Head of Employee Relations GB, you will lead consultation planning, manage high‑risk cases, develop repeatable ER processes, and support litigation readiness