Senior Employee Relations Manager

Oakleaf Partnership; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 83,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

Oakleaf Partnership is working with a leading UK financial services group to recruit a Senior Employee Relations Manager into its People function. This specialist role shapes the employee relations strategy across a large organisation.

You will work closely with senior stakeholders, recognised trade unions and employee forums, providing expert advice on complex industrial relations matters, negotiations and organisational change. The role requires strong IR credibility and leadership.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a dedicated Employee/Industrial Relations
• Strong industrial relations and employment law knowledge, particularly unions
• Proven experience managing complex union relationships and industrial matters
• Strong employee relations experience, advising on complex and sensitive cases
• Experience in a large, complex corporate organisation
• Credibility to influence senior stakeholders with specialist advice
• Understanding ACAS Codes, employment law and IR risk

Responsibilities

• Lead and shape the organisation's colleague and industrial relations strategy.
• Build and manage relationships with recognised trade unions, People Forums and senior stakeholders.
• Lead union negotiations, collective consultation and engagement.
• Provide specialist advice on complex employee and industrial relations matters, including legislation and ACAS guidance.
• Support large-scale change and transformation programmes.
• Influence people policies, procedures and wider business decisions.
• Identify and manage industrial relations risks using data and external insights.

Skills

Employee relations

Industrial relations

Employment law

Stakeholder management

Job description

Senior Employee Relations Manager/Industrial Relations Manager

• Permanent | Full-Time
• Salary: paying up to £92,000 with some flexibility depending on experience
• Location: Leeds, Bristol or Edinburgh
• Working Arrangement: Hybrid - 2 days per week in the office

Oakleaf Partnership is working with a leading UK financial services organisation to recruit a Senior Employee Relations Manager into its high-profile People function.

This is a specialist opportunity for an experienced Employee and Industrial Relations professional to play a key role in shaping the employee relations strategy across a large, complex organisation.

You will work closely with senior stakeholders, recognised trade unions and employee representative forums, providing expert advice on complex industrial relations matters, negotiations and organisational change.

The Role

• Lead and shape the organisation's colleague and industrial relations strategy.
• Build and manage relationships with recognised trade unions, People Forums and senior stakeholders.
• Lead union negotiations, collective consultation and engagement.
• Provide specialist advice on complex employee and industrial relations matters, including employment legislation and ACAS guidance.
• Support large-scale organisational change and transformation programmes.
• Influence people policies, procedures and wider business decisions.
• Identify and manage industrial relations risks, using data and external insight to shape recommendations.
• Coach and develop others, building capability across the wider organisation.

Skills and Experience

• Significant experience in a dedicated Employee/Industrial Relations
• Strong industrial relations and employment law knowledge, particularly in relation to trade unions, collective consultation and negotiations.
• Proven experience managing complex union relationships and industrial relations matters.
• Strong employee relations experience, including advising on complex and sensitive cases.
• Experience working within a large, complex corporate organisation.
• The credibility and confidence to influence senior stakeholders and provide specialist advice.
• A strong understanding of ACAS Codes of Practice, employment legislation and industrial relations risk.

Why Work Here?

This is a high-profile opportunity to join a leading UK organisation and take ownership of specialist employee relations activity across a large workforce

You will have genuine influence over industrial relations strategy, work directly with senior leaders and trade unions, and play a significant role in shaping how the organisation manages change and engages with its people.