People Operations Lead: Employee Relations & Change

Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust; West Bromwich; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust in West Bromwich is seeking an experienced People Operations Manager to provide comprehensive HR advisory and employee relations services across designated divisions. You will lead casework, investigations, sickness absence management, and workforce planning, supporting managers to apply Trust policies consistently.

This hands-on role combines HR advice, case management and workplace investigations, with responsibility for maintaining records, coordinating

Qualifications

• Excellent employee relations knowledge
• Investigative skills
• Organisational ability and attention to detail
• Experience in HR casework and investigations

Responsibilities

• Provide expert HR advice and support to managers and staff across allocated Divisions and Directorates.
• Lead and support employee relations casework including conduct, capability, grievance, dignity at work and attendance management matters.
• Undertake workplace investigations and act as an Investigating Officer where required.
• Support managers acting as Investigating Officers through all stages of formal HR processes.
• Manage and coordinate employee relations casework, ensuring case trackers, records and documentation are maintained accurately and cases progress in a timely manner.
• Arrange and coordinate investigation meetings, hearings, appeals, consultation meetings and case conferences involving multiple stakeholders.
• Identify and resolve barriers that may delay case progression, escalating issues where appropriate.
• Support organisational change programmes, including consultation processes and workforce restructuring.
• Monitor workforce metrics and provide analysis and recommendations to support workforce planning and performance improvement.
• Coach managers in the application of Just Culture principles and best employment practice.
• Support recruitment activity, job evaluation processes and workforce establishment management.
• Deliver HR training and guidance to managers.
• Build effective working relationships with trade union representatives and key stakeholders.
• Support the delivery of Divisional People Plans and wider workforce objectives.

Skills

Employee relations

Case management

Investigations

Change management

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust in West Bromwich is seeking an experienced People Operations Manager to provide comprehensive HR advisory and employee relations services across designated divisions. You will lead casework, investigations, sickness absence management, and workforce planning, supporting managers to apply Trust policies consistently.

This hands-on role combines HR advice, case management and workplace investigations, with responsibility for maintaining records, coordinating