Senior Employee Relations Manager

Via; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Discretionary bonus

Free shares

Health benefits

Dental benefits

Leadership opportunity

Job summary

Via is partnering with a leading UK consumer brand to recruit a Senior Employee Relations Manager to lead ER and IR strategy across the UK and Ireland. You will manage complex employee relations matters, guide trade union negotiations, and develop policies that support managers in a fast-paced, multi-site environment.

You will oversee complex ER cases, ACAS matters and employment tribunals, while leading and developing the ER team and delivering consistent advisory services across the

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in Employee Relations or Industrial Relations.
• Proven hands-on experience leading trade union negotiations and collective bargaining.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law, ACAS and employment tribunals.
• Experience managing complex ER cases and organisational change.
• Background in a fast-paced, multi-site business, ideally retail, hospitality, logistics or another consumer-facing sector.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the UK & Ireland ER and IR strategy.
• Own trade union relationships, negotiations and collective bargaining.
• Oversee complex ER cases, ACAS matters and employment tribunals.
• Lead and develop the ER team, ensuring consistent advice and service delivery.
• Develop HR policies, manager guidance and franchisee toolkits.
• Support organisational change, employee consultation and business projects.
• Monitor ER trends, risks and performance to inform business decisions.

Skills

ER/IR leadership

Union negotiations

UK employment law

ACAS guidance

ER case management

stakeholder management

Job description

Salary: £80,000–£100,000 per year

Car allowance: £6,000 per year

Location: Milton Keynes

Working arrangement: Hybrid – minimum 1 day per week in the office

About the opportunity

Via is partnering with a leading UK consumer brand looking for a Senior Employee Relations Manager to lead its Employee Relations (ER) and Industrial Relations (IR) strategy across the UK and Ireland.

You will manage complex employee relations matters, lead trade union relationships and develop policies that support managers across a fast-paced, multi-site business.

What you'll be doing

• Develop and lead the UK & Ireland ER and IR strategy
• Own trade union relationships, negotiations and collective bargaining
• Oversee complex ER cases, ACAS matters and employment tribunals
• Lead and develop the ER team, ensuring consistent advice and service delivery
• Develop HR policies, manager guidance and franchisee toolkits
• Support organisational change, employee consultation and business projects
• Monitor ER trends, risks and performance to inform business decisions

What we're looking for

• 5+ years' experience in Employee Relations or Industrial Relations
• Proven hands-on experience leading trade union negotiations and collective bargaining
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law, ACAS and employment tribunals
• Experience managing complex ER cases and organisational change
• Background in a fast-paced, multi-site business, ideally retail, hospitality, logistics or another consumer-facing sector
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management and communication skills

Direct ownership of Industrial Relations and trade union negotiations is essential. General ER experience or union engagement alone is not sufficient.

Why apply?

• £6,000 annual car allowance
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Free shares
• Health and dental benefits
• Opportunity to lead ER and IR strategy across a major UK business