Senior Employee Relations Manager

HPRExecutive; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

HPRExecutive is seeking a Senior Employee Relations Manager to lead our client’s ER and industrial relations strategy. The role focuses on policy framework, employee engagement, and advisory support for leaders across the business.

Key responsibilities include leading the ER plan, managing escalated cases, developing an effective policy framework, and improving capabilities across line managers in employment law and ER practices.

Qualifications

• Degree educated and an MSc in Human Resources or equivalent.
• Progressive Senior Employee Relations experience in a sizeable Retail, hospitality, manufacturing, logistics or FMCG organisation.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills with the ability to motivate and develop a high-performing team.
• Strong knowledge and application of employment and immigration law is essential.
• Specialist knowledge of ER procedures and processes such as employment tribunals, disability, diversity and equal opportunities is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver the end-to-end strategic Employee Relations Plan to support the People Plan.
• Ensure ER team delivers to SLAs and provides high quality advice to line managers.
• Lead support for escalated complex cases and tribunals with timely guidance.
• Support implementation of projects requiring ER input with risk management.
• Develop and maintain an engaging HR Policy Framework and guidance.
• Develop line manager capability in employment law, ER practices and policies.
• Create ER dashboard and insights to flag risks and inform interventions.
• Engage with Trade Unions and attend meetings as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Employee relations

Employment law

Stakeholder management

Communication

Analytical

Diversity & inclusion

Change management

Education

MSc in Human Resources

Job description

Location: Northern Home Counties (2 days a week based at Head Office or out at manufacturing sites and 3 days working from home) Ideally based in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire or Warwickshire

Our Client is a market leading global retail organisation, they are seeking an influential Senior Employee Relations Manager to join their organisation.

The Senior Manager Employee Relations is responsible for leading our Client’s employee relations and industrial relations strategic agenda, building organisational capability and empowerment through the application of a strong policy framework, employee engagement initiatives and the provision of sound advice, coaching and development to leaders across the business. The role holder will drive effective working relationships with the recognised trade union and develop an effective framework and ways of working with Employee Forums, with the aim of creating a positive and engaging work environment.

The role:

• Lead, develop and deliver the end-to-end strategic Employee Relations Plan in order to support delivery of the overarching People Plan.
• Accountability for ensuring the employee relations team deliver to agreed SLAs and provide high quality, consistent ‘right first time’ advice, coaching and support to line managers.
• Through the employee relations team and in conjunction with the external legal provision, lead the support for escalated complex cases/employment tribunals by providing timely and accurate employee relations counsel and guidance.
• Support the implementation of Company projects and initiatives which require ER input in order to ensure a smooth implementation with managed risks.
• Through external benchmarking and networking, develop, implement and maintain an engaging HR Policy Framework and guidance/processes.
• Develop line manager capability in the understanding and application of employment law, policies and ER practices to ensure consistency and ultimately drive line manager accountability.
• Creation of ER dashboard and insights to help inform targeted ER and Capability interventions and to flag any wider risks or issues to the wider People team.
• Accountability for the UTRU voluntary recognition agreement and supporting/attending trade union meetings as needed.
• Develop an engaging framework and ways of working with the Employee Forums, including organisation of regular meetings and engaging the Forum in various initiatives.
• Leadership and development of direct reports and work in partnership with the wider People team.
• Play a key role in embedding the values and leadership behaviours across the business.
• Be an ambassador for Inclusion & Diversity across the business ensuring they take the right action to promote the organisation as a place where people can bring their true self to work daily.

The person:

• Degree educated and an MSc in Human Resources or equivalent
• Progressive Senior Employee Relations experience gained in a sizeable Retail, hospitality, manufacturing, logistics or FMCG organisation
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a high-performing team.
• Strong knowledge and application of employment and immigration law is essential.
• Specialist knowledge of ER procedures and processes such as employment tribunals, disability, diversity and equal opportunities is essential
• Experience of working in a fast-paced, lean multi-site consumer business
• Experience of Trade Unions
• Sensitive people skills: a high level of emotional intelligence and wide understanding of people issues
• Generalist knowledge of HR and the range of activities in the employee lifecycle
• Commercially aware, able to prioritise and plan with the ability to make sound judgments about issues that may have an adverse effect on the business from an ER/ risk perspective
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a high-performing team.
• Ability to demonstrate presence and credibility within the organisation through excellent communication and influencing skills both verbal and written.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on process improvement and efficiency.
• Ability to understand Company strategy, operational requirements and external employment agenda to shape and deliver appropriate solutions that are easy and simple to understand
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to demonstrate presence and credibility within the organisation through excellent communication and influencing skills both verbal and written.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on process improvement and efficiency.